Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-03

ksg The following letter from Thad.
Stevens is interesting as disclosing the
fact that there is still remnant of con-
seryatism in the Senate. Some of the
members of that body refused to act,
because they doubted their power under
the Constitution, which that body had
already repudiated ! This looks like
returning society-or, what is more
likely, q sight of the handwriting on the
wall of swiftly coming revolution in
the public sentiment Of the north, which
will demand return to Constitutional
landmarks. We publish the letter as a
mart of the current history of radical
revolutionary action
LANCASTER, Pa, August 20, 1867.
Col. Samuel schoch. Columbia, Pa:
DEAR SIR: You are right in supposing
that Congress made mistakes, as IS the
;nevitable lot of man, but you mistake
in sunnosiug that there is any law to
nrobibit the removal of district COM
manders without the consent of the
Senate. Soon after the commencement
of the last session Of Congress | reported
n bill from the committee OF the house
of Representatives which contained
provision prohibiting removal without
the consent of the Senate. 1t passed
the House and was sent to the Senate.
The Senate struck it out and returned 1t
"a the House, who refused to concur in
the amendment. The result was COM
mittee of conference, where an animated
contest ensued.
There were several other questions in
controversy between the Houses, which
the House offered to yield if this could
be granted. The Senate persiStently re-
fused, declaring that they would sooner
lose the bill As that would Illustrate all
our legislation, it could not be allowed.
The House yielded, with warning of
the evils it would inilict upon the coun-
try. Some of the members Of the Senate
seemed to doubt their power under the
Constitution, which they had just repu-
dated, and outside Of which all agreed
that we were acting, else our whole work
of reconstruction was usurpation; or
perhaps they had desire to be thought
gravely conservative and msgnanimous.
These ideas seemed to control the &C
ton of some half dozen Senators who
preferred trusting the President. My
. dear Colonel, few Senators of great
ability, nndoubted patriotism and purity,
have become so saturated with what they
were pleased to call conservatism
Whose meaning | confess am unable
10 understand) that fear they will for
get the monster that was slain in l776,
and again in 1861, and will thus do great
damage to the creation of a government
now SO capable Of being converted into
political paradise This is liable to hap
pen, not so much by direct and palpable
attack upon its framework as by gradn-
ally forgetting the vital principles Of the
Declaration of Independence.
Strike out one of the living sparks
which give life to our Goddess of Liberty
and the mysterious and intense heat
whose welding fires nearly q century ago
and at present are fusing principles Of
freedom and reducing despotism to Gin
ders will gradually cool until the most
conservative despst could thrust his
sword into it without affecting its tenn
per have said above that did not
know the meaning Of the word
conservatism" / have since seen
the report of q speech said to
have been made by an Ohio Senator at
Canton, Ohio, which, if it be truly re-
ported, and is to be considered dehni'
ton of that doctrine, then it to me is
very alarming-worse than copperhead-
ism. 1t is legislation without authority,
and reconstruction by usurpation.
am, very respectfully, your obedient