The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-12
RECONSTRUCTION.
Further Guarantees Required from the

Further Guarantees Required from the
South.
That Senator Sherman's Reconstruction bill
is not severe enough in its provisions to suit
some people, and even many living in the
South ITSELF is daily evidenced by letters re-
ceived by ultra radical Senators and Re-
representatives.. Senator Sumner, in his efforts
yesterday to get his new declaratOry resolu-
tiOns through the Senate, states that the really
loyal people in the lately Rebel States were
utterly dissatisfied with Sherman's bill, and
demanded further guarantees from Congress.
He said he had received letters from John
Minor Bolts, Judge Underwood, and other dis
tinguished loyalists of Virginia, showing this
feeling. BOtts' letter is as tollows:---
RICHMOND, March g. 1s67.-My Dear Sir;-
Thank you, Mr.. Sumner, thank you with all my
heart not only for myself, but in behalf OF every
Union man in this State for your effort to pro-
teCt the loyal men of the South, not one of
whom have yet seen or heard of that does not
protest against this Sherman bill, as it is called
which does not rise to the dignity of an abor-
ton, but IS what, in medical terms, is called a
"false conception" Kelleys resolution, offered
in the House, mends the matter a good deal;
but let me beseech you not only to give us regis
tration, but vote by close ballot instead of
Utud UOCe, as we have II III this State. Unless
this is changed we cannot bring One-tourth of
the loyal white vote to the polls for fear of the
social effect on Themselves and families, and
the effect also on their business pursuits. |
suppose it would hardly be worth trying to
limit the vote on the election of members to the
convention and on the adoption of the consttu-
tion to those who can take the Congressional
test oath. Why should we run the risk of let
ting the Rebels Outvote us on either? am,
respectfully and truly, yours IN haste
JOHN MINOR Boris.
Senator Sumner has also received the follow
ing letter from Judge Underwood
UNITED STATES DISTRICT CoURT, ALEXANDRIA,
Va, March 8, 1867.-Hon. Charles Sumner
Dear Sir:-Shall the Southern states still be con-
uolled by the men and the policy that have
already brought ruin, disgrace, poverty. and
starvation upon them, or shall they adopt the
policy of the enlightened States OF the North
and of the nineteenth century? Shall laws,
monopoly, and class legislation, with the neCes
sarily attending Ignorance and degradation Of
the masses, still prevail, or shall we take new
departure from the old course and secure uni
versal education and free schools, with their
inevitable accompaniment OF enterprise,
equality, wealth, temperance, morality, religion,
public, private, and domestic happiness Dur
ing my Northern exile from hone in 1856 for
opposition to the extension of slavery into
the free Territory of Kansas, l spent months in
studying the tIee.school system of the Northern
States and found in it the spring and cause Of
Northern wealth, strength, power, and uneX-
ampled material, mental, and moral progress.
1t Is perfectly demonsrable that every dollar
judiClously expended in those States for educa-
ton has been returned tenold in material
wealth, to say nothing of the more important
culture and refinement which have given
dignity of character and elevation of purpose,
and those prlncely benefactions and Philan-
thu ooic charities Of their LaWlences and Pea
bOdys, the wonders of the world, and which
never fail to spread their gentle and elevating
influences, their Christian and ciyllizlng char
acteristics, though every avenue and department
OF social and domestic life. Ii tho state of Vir-
ginia, in her present apparently hopeless condi-
tion, should adopt the maxim Of the North,
that the property of the State shall educate the
children of the State, and impose "A tax of three
per cent. on all her real estate, her only present
means, for the purpose OF building school
houses procuring libraries, and creating fund
for the payment of teachers, it would not only
aid in rdding the State of its most terrible
remaining curse of land monopoly, but within
three years the So, 900, 900 thus provided would
greatly reduce the false pride of our foolish
aristocracy and raise our real estate
from its present assessed value of $4,000 ,OOC
to at least $500, 100000, with all the
other manifold and lnestimable benefits o
the humanizng and ennobling power OF educa.
ton. 1t was the glory of the good King Alfred
of Old England that he made justice cheap, and
brought 1t to every poor mans door. How
much greater glory shall those statesmen
achieve who, in imitation OF the wise founder:
of New England institutions, shall make educa
ton cheap and bring il within the reach of al
the children OF the poor South 1t is now the
province of the FOrtieth Congress to determine
whether the old Bourbons, with their crue
code of class privileges, the bowie-knives anC
IeyolVers, shall be restored to power, ol
whether the sweet amenities and mild charities
of the new dispensalion established by the
fathers and sages OF New England shall 0t
rebellious States. In the name of our common
Christianity beseech you, in the reorganiza
tion of these new governments, leave pothinE
to the hazards of chance or accident. Kindly
but firmly, adopt those well-matureC
measures and principles which shall
assure to those in the future all tn,
blessings which you enjoy in your own happy
and peaceful hOmes-the blessings of free anc
equal laws, of universal education, of freedom
OF the press, and of freedom of religion; and
above all, prevent the ferocious and blood!
men who have destroyed many lives, an(
so much accumulated wealth, from wreakin!
their threatened revenge upon their feilow-citl
zens who, for their confidence in your justice
and humanity, and by adherence to you AM
the flag of our country have already suhere
more dreadful persecution than this centur
has anywhere seen inflicted upon any peopl
in any civilized country on this green earth
Save us from being fashioned like Rebel Demo
cratic Kentucky, but conform us to recon
structed, republican Tennessee, and we VIII
then feel that those of us who still livecan than
you and our Heavenly Father, and that thos
of us who have fallen in the struggle oy Tn
violence OF our common enemies have not die
in vain, Your obedient servant,
JOHN G. UNDERWOOD.