The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-03-06


You say "you have been deeply paine'
by soma thingu that como under your oh
servation." You say, 1--WE get men Il
command who. under the influence Of Eat
tey, fawning and carcaing, grant protec
tion to rich traltos, while the poor Unior
man stands out In the cold"
You add, "Traitou can get lucrative con
tracts, while the loyal man Is pushed aside
Indulge the hope ,hn. such practice vii
no longer be tolerated in any branch OF The
Government. .... r.i,.r.,...
In relation to tho reconstruction Of The
Government you have wisely said, 1--WE
mus, no, be In too much Of shury." You
add, ut 10 better to lot Them reconstruct
themselves than to force them in it.
In conformity with your own wise rec
concentrations. tho majority Of Congres.
have devised and adopted an amendment
TO the Constitution that renders Il convent.
emily practicable for oil the rebel States tc
reconstruct themselves, and como again In
10 the possession Of lhose rights which they
have forfeited by rebellion-a rebellion thai
has cost the lives and limbs Of untold thou
sands, and thousands Of millions Of deb
tina, remains yet to he wrung from the toll
ing labor of our people.
The rebel States will certainly accep,
and adopt the amendment that reuders ro'
construction 90 favorable and convenien,
before the assembling Of another Congress
unless they are encouraged to delay. In
the hope that those who were half traitors
during the war will como to their relief and
reinstute them In power, when they would
hope to &c, paymen, for or re-enslave their
negroes by Legislation, which they fairly
forfeited by rebellion.
And having read the VARIOUS patriotic
sayings and dsnunciation that you have
made against rebels and their rebellion,
wss led to believe that you would be abou
tho last man that would recommend or &C
cept of any terms for reconstruction tha
would not offer full security for the fii'
turs, even if you might bo persuaded by
myself and others to waive all indemnify
for the past.
was gricved and disappointed, whilt
showing my respects to YOU as President o.
the United Stntes, to find myself listening
to whui appeared to me an unwise an I'M
merited censure of the measures which O
largo majority OF the peoples representa-
tives believed to bo right, and the mildesl
measures for reconstruction that chance ol
,'cstnblisLing justice, or Of promoting the
general welfare"
], with thousands Of others who labored
to aid the Government in putting down the
rebellion, would have reioiced if Congress
could have found all tho reports Of the
continued persecution Of Union men
throughout tho South to DO groundless and
false.
The whole Republican party would have
rejoiced if Congress could have found II
mie to admit The members offered from
Southern State at once to full share In
the Government.
This being my wish, does not authorize
me to denounce the majority Of Congress,
and accuse them Of being Radicals and
traitors, changing on the skirts Of Gov.
enment which they are trying to dc.
stroy."
II was said of old-the sin Of ingratitude
is worse than that Of witchcraR.
To my mind, our nation must live in
everlasting iniamy If we fail to secure a
full measure Of justice to an unfortunate
race Of men, who were originally hunted
down In their own country, aud carried of
and soli like beasts into an ubject slavery,
with all their posterity.
The enslavcd race has the strongest pos.
sible claims for kindness, as we'll US Justice,
at the hands oi the people and Govern.
ment of tho whole country, and moro cs.
pccially from tho people Of the South.
These unfortunate slaves have done a
great portion Of The labor that has fed and
clothed the whites and blacks Of the
Southern country.
As tr,Io as the laborer Is worthy Of his
hire, SO true Is II that we as nation cannot
withhold Justice and equal rights from q
mce Of men that hos fought and lahored to
defend and protect the union Of States In
the hour Of our nations greatest extrem.
iy.
The enemies Of our country and Gov.
eminent are now trying to persuade the
community to believe that war Of
races would result from giving the black
man the same measure Of justice and rights
which the white men claim for themselves,
This will be found to be a gronndIess
fear. Our national danger will always 70.
suit from unequal and partial laws. We
cannot make laws which will opprcss md
keep In ignorance the poor, without bring.
ing on ourselves and our country the just
Judgment Of righteous God, who will re.
ward us as nation according to our works