Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-09-18
.ANIMPORTANT LETTER FROM HENRY
WARD BEECHER.

WARD BEECHER. l ..
THE POLITICAL SITUATION As
VIEWED FROM THE PULPIT
OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
4
The Duty of the Hour ne Pointed out
by the Great Radical Divine.
PEEKsKILL, Thursday, Aug. 80.
GENTLEMEN am obliged to you
for the invitation which you have
made to me to act as Chaplain of the
Convention of Sailors and Soldiers
cannot attend IL, but heartily wish
it, and all other conventions, of what
party soever, success, whose object is
the restoration of all the States lately
In rebellion to their Federal relations.
Our theory of government has no
place for q State exceptin the Union.
1t Is sjustly taken for granted that the
duties and responsibilities of State
in Federal relations tend to its politi-
cal health, and to that of the whole
nation. Even Territories are hastily
brought in, often before the prescribed
conditions are fulfilled, as If it were
dangerous to leave the community
outside of the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Repre-
sentatives of Tennessee been admit
ted at once, on the assembling of
Congress, and, i'm moderate succession,
Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, North
Carolina, and Virginia, the public
mind Of the South would have been
far more healthy than it is, and those
States which fingered on probation
to the last would have been under
more salutary influence to good con-
duct than If dozen armies watched
over them.
Refusing to admit loyal Senators
and Representatives from the South
to Congress will not help the freed
men. 1t will not secure for them the
'ote. 1t will not protect them. 1t
will not secure any amendment Of our
Constitution, however just and wise.
1t will only increase the dangers and
cOmplicate the difficulties. Whether
We regard the whole nation, or any
section Of IL, or class oft, the first de-
mand of our time is entire reunion!
Once united, we can, by schools,
churches, a free press and increasing
free speech, attack each evil and Sc
cure every good.
Every moment that we delay this
healthful step complicates the CASE
The excluded population, enough un-
settled before, grow more irritable;
the army becomes indispensable to
local government, and supersedes it;
the Government at Washington is
called to interfere in one and another
difficulty, and this will be done in
aptly, and sometimes with great in
justice-for our Government wisely
adapted to its own proper functions,
Is utterly devoid of those habits, and
unequipped with the instruments
which tit a centralized government
to exercise authority in remote States
over local affairs. Every attempt to
perform such duties has resulted in
mistakes which have excited the ma
ton. hatcverimprudence there
may he in the method the real criti-
cism should be against the requsitiOn
of such duties ofthe General Govern
ment. s-.- 90. >. - fisIffrss ,le-is.{'
The Federal Government Is unfit
to exercise minor police and local
government, and will inevitably
blunder when 1t attempts it. re
keep half score of States under Fed.
eral authority, but without national
ties and responsibilities; to oblige the
central authority to govern half the
territory of the Union by Federal
civil officers and by the army, is a pol
Icy not only uncOngenial to our ideas
and principles, but pre-eminently
dangerous to the spirit of our Gov.
ernment. However humane the ends
sought and the motives, Ii Is, in fact,
q course of instruction, preparing ouI
Government to be despOtic and famil.
iarizing the the people to streach Oi
than dangerous to liberty. -, -.
l am aware that the good men are
withheld from advocating tho prompt
and successive admission of the en-.
lied States by the fear, chiefly, OF its
effect upon parties and upon freed
men.
1t is said that If admitted to Con.
gress the Southern Senators and Re
presentatives will coalesce with
Northern Democrats and rule the
country. Isthis nation then toremaiI
dismembered to serve the ends ofpar
ties? Have we learned no wisdom
by the history of the past ten years
: in which just this course of sacrificing
the nation to the eXigencies of par
ties plunged us into rebellion ant
war?
Even admit that the power shoulC
pass into the hands of a party made
: up of Southern men and the hither
to dishonered and misled Democracy
of the North, that power could no
be used just as they pleased. Thu
war has changed, not alone institu
tions, but ideas. The whole country
has advanced. Public sentiment Il
exalted far beyond what 1t has beer
, at any former period. A new party
would, like river, be obliged TO seel
its channels in the already existing
slopes and forms OF the continent.
We have entered new era ofllber
ty. The style of thought Is free ant
more noble. The young men of ot
times are regenerated. The grea
, army has been a school, and hundred
. of thousands of men are gone HON,
5 to preach truer and nobler view o
human rights. All the industrial In
terests of society are moving with in
: creased wisdom towards intelligence
. and liberty. Everywhere--in church
, es, in literature, and nature and nat
I ural sciences, in physical industries
l In social questions, as well as in poll
tics, the nation feels that the winte
is over, and a new spring hangs II
the horizon and works through al
the elements. In this happll,
, changed and advanced condition o
I things, noparty of the retrograde cai
maintain itself. Everything, march
! es, and parties must march.
hear with wonder and shame ant
scorn the fear of a few that the Soutl
once in adjustment with the Fedora
I Government will rule this nation !
; The North is riCh--never so rich; thu
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