Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-08-27
Letter to General Grant.

The following extracts are from an able letter
written to General Grant on the 4th of July
last by distinguished citizen of the United
States, and published in the Boston Courier:
1.-THE Republican party has always been, and
still is, a minority party. Though republican in
name, it has been anti republican In character
and in practice. 1t has always been, and still
is, disuasion party professedly and practically.
Their present struggle with the President is to
prove that they have succeeded in destroying
the Union. Its aim has been to keep control of
the government and they do not hesitate to do
whatever is necessary to such an end.
1t is now more than two years since the Con-
federate army surrendered to you, and it was
done in good faith that peace was to be the re-
suit. By pursuing manly course on that oc-
casion you secured the confidence and respect of
the nation-perhaps excepting few such men
as Phillips, Sumner, Stevens, &c. If the spirit
of your policy had been adopted, if the War
Department had been newly organized, an i'm
mense amount of misery and suffering would
have been avoided, and the nation to-day would
be enjoying profitable peace. But the fanati-
cism which caused the war was not content to
see it ended. The various and absurd Acts of
Congress, the uniform system OF irritation and
hate which it has framed and adopted, sufficient
ly show that the Republican party can do no
thing to make peace They do not want peace,
unless they can make voters of the miserable
negroes, control their votes, and enslave the
whites. They are fanatical and ignorant
They care nothing for the Constitution, they
know nothing of honest legislation, and they
count the country nothing, unless ltylelds them
power and paying contracts.
The military reconstruction bill is a disgrace
to the age, and [ am disappointed that SO many
officers Of the army are willing to hold their
commissions, to be employed in endeavors to
execute it. | need add nothing to the views
expressed in the veto message OF the President
and in the able document Of Mr.. Stanbery.-
The military reconstruction bill is literally based
on malice and ignorance, and it will prove to be
a sad monument Of infamy to its authors.
There is everything to disgust and nothing to
approve in the miserable attempts of the Radi-
Gals to give equality to the ignorant negro
the States on this subject, and the fact that they
are willing to usurp it ought to be sufficient to
satisfy all honest men that they are not to be
trusted. 1t is the greatest error of the Presl-
dent, that he ever recognized Congress as
constitutional, while eleven States were eXcud-
ed. Such Congress is not the government it
is new rebellion.
P. S.-Since writing the above, have seen
the Supplementary Reconstruction Bill just
passed by Congress- and the Presidents veto of
the same. If anything were wanting to estab-
lish the utter Discrimination, or more properly,
the utter incapacity of the Republican party, y
so-called, to restore the Union and to give peace
to the country, it has been supplied by this act
of Congress- 1t is revolutionary in its provis-
ions, and whoever participates in the execution
of its bold acquisitions must share the odlum
which will attach to its authors. The President
has ably exposed it's dangerous errors, and no.
thing need be added so long as he remains I'M
answered"