The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-03-06
Peter Cooper =. P~ssisss~s JoA~.e~.

to President johnson, although written In
the spirit Of friendly counsel rather than Of
hostile criticism, 10, In effect, one Of the
most merciless exposures of Executive
fai,hlessness and inconsistency that We have
ever read:
.4ndrno Johnson, Presidest Of the United
States. .l.HL4 .-lL
My Dear Sir-It has been with heartfelt
sorrow that have witnessed the conflict OF
opinion that has unfortunately prevailed be-
tween yourself and the Congress Of the
United States, in relation to matters believ.
ed to be vital to the welfare Of our com.
mon country.
Such differences of opinion, when hon.
cs,ly entertained, (and sometimes violently
contended for,) show the reason why char.
| ity is tho greatest Of oil virtues, because the
exercise Of charity Is so constantly required
to enable us to bear with the weaknesses
and imperfections Of each other.
There is, believe, no better way to rec.
oncile differences Of opinion than 10 get n
full understanding OF the causes out Of
which such Misunderstanding originate.
To do this eiisctuslly, It Is necessary to
begin by admitting the fact thut oil effects,
physical, moral, and political, are the result
Of causes that arc equal to their produc'
ton. ,....
A little reflection on the almost almighty
power, that the circumstances OF birth, ed.
uca,ion, climate and country have exerted
to form and fix erroneous opinions that OF.
ten lead men, like Paul Of old, to believe
that they are doing God service when they
are hailing men, women and children to
prison and to death. Reflection on these
facts will show how very wise Il is for those
who have never made mistake to send
the first stone nt those who honestly enter.
tain opinions different from their own.
It has always been to mo source Of sor.
sow and regret to hear OF men In Com
gress. or in any other department Of Gov.
ernment, who destroy their influence for
good by calling each other hard names,
which never better the condition Of them.
selves or their country.
am sure If Mr.. Sumner could have been
born Of your parents, and subjected to all
the circumstances and conditions that have
fallen to your lot through life, he would
then have been the man that would have
declared the many patriotic truths that have
been proclaimed by yourself.
And il you could have been born and
subjected to all the conditions that have
made Mr.. Sumner what he is, you would
then have been cxerting, as he has done,
all the powers Of q mighty mind TO abolish
slavery in all its forms from the face OF tho
eurth, as one of the most corrupting evils
that ever brought death and desolation, us
the scourge Of God, to teach US to do to
others as we would that others should do
unto US; you would then have been like
Sumner, reading what Solon said two thou
sand six hundred years ago: That whaterer
day makes man siape takes half his sco1h
atcdy!
II it were possible for us to see ourselves
rs others SEQ us, Il would inspire us with
charity, and teach Us to overcome the evils
Of which We complain, instead ofreturning
railing for railing and evil for evil.
lhave thought i. strange and unaccount.
ablo that you should so severely censure
the large majority in Congress, for adopt.
ing so mild form Of measures az o means
for tho guarantee for a republican form Of
government in the States SO lately in rebel.
lion; measures so much moro mild than
those so iorcibly recommended by yourself,
when you said, "Treason against the Gov.
enment Is the highest crime that can be
committed, and those engaged in Il should
suffer all its penalties : and when you do.
clared that ''trcason mus, be made odious |;
that ,raitors must be punished and impov.
erished." ...
You say "they must not only be punish
ed, but their social power must bc destroy.
cd. If not they may maintain an ascen.
dancy, and may again become numerous
enough for treason to become respectable. !"
You 60 further, and say that "ailer making
treason odious, every Union man should be
enumerated out Of the pockets Of those
who have inflicted this great suffering upon
the country" IN
Again you say: "I hold 1t a solemn obli.
CATION in every one Of these States where
the rebel armies have been beaten back or
expelled, care not how small the number
Of Union men, if enough to man the ship
Of State, hold Il TO be high duty to pro.
tect and secure to them republican form
Of government until they agnin gain
strength. They mus, not DO smo.hered by
inches"
In calling a convention 10 restore States,
you usk "Who shall restore it' Shall the
man who gave his influence and his means
to destroy the Government who brought
this misery on the Statef 7" fthis be so,
then you say in truth, that all the precious
blood Of our hnye soldieS and officers will
have been lost, and al oar battle.6elds will
have been memorable in vain.
You ask "Why all this carnage! 1t
wss that treason might be put down. aud
trri,ors punished. Therefore you say 1thas
traitors should take back seat in the work
Of rcssoration.", f-,.-It .iI, .'rr1r y
You cay sthe traitor hes ossssd 70 DO .
citizen, and in forming tho rebellion be'
came public enemy" II