The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-09-14
p E A Q z.
An Important Letter from
Henry Ward Beecher.
The Political Situation q
Viewed from the Pulpit OF
Plymouth Church.
PEEKsKILL, Thursday, Aug. 80.

y
the invitation which you have made to
me to act as Chaplain of the Conven-
ton of Sailors and Soldiers about to
convene at Cleveland. / cannot attend
it, but heartily wish it, and all other
conventions, of what party soever, sue.
cess, whose object is the restoration OF
all the States lately in rebellion to
their Federal relations.
Our theory Of government has no
place for State except in the Union.
It is Justly taken for granted that the
duties and responsibilities Of State 10
Federal relations tend to its political
health, aud 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 admitted
at once, on the assembling of Congress,
and, in 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 conduct than if q dozen armies
watched over them.
Refusing to admit loyal Senators and
Representatives from the South to COR-
gress will not help tho freedmen. 1t
will not secure for them the vote. 1t
will not protect them. 1t will not Sc
cure any amendment of our Constitu-
ton, however just and wise. 1t will
only increase the dangers and compll-
cate the difficulties. Whether we re-
gard the whole nation, or any ssctien
of it, or class of it, the first demand OF
our time is entire reunion!
Once united, We can, by schools,
churches, a free press and increasing
free speech, attack each evil and secure
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 1t; the
Government at Washington is called to
interfere in one and another difficulty,
and this will be done inaptly, and some
times with great injustice-for our Gov
ernment wisely adapted to its own pro-
per functions, is utterly devoid of those
habits, and unequippod with the instru-
ments which fit a centralized govern
ment to exercise authority in remote
States over local affairs. Every attempt
to perform such duties has resulted in
mistakes which have excited the nation.
But whatever imprudence there may be
in the method the real criticism should
be against the requisition of such du-
ties of the General Government.
The Federal Government is unfit to
exercise minor police and local govern
ment, and will Inevitably blunder when
it attempts it. To keep half score
of States under Federal authority, but
without national ties and responsible
ties; to oblige the central authority to
govern half the territory of the Union
6y Federal civil officers and by tho ar.
nv, 1, O. policy ,.st only e..~~ss~asoi tv
cur ideas and principles, but pre-emi-
nently dangerous to the spirit OF our
Government. However humane the
ends sought and the motives, it is, in
fact, a course of instruction, preparing
our Government to be despotic and IA
miliarizing the people to q stretch of
authority which can never be other than
dangerous to liberty.
l am aware that good men are with.
held from advocating the prompt and
successive admission of the exiled
States by the fear, chiefly, of its effect
upon parties and upon freedmen.
1t is said that if admitted toi Congress
the Southern Senators and Representa-
tives will coalesce with Northern Dem
ocrats and rule the country. Is this ma
ton then to remain dismembered to
serve the ends of partiesi Have we
learned no wisdom by the history of the
past ten years, in which just this course
of sacrificing thenation to the exigencies
of parties plunged us into rebellion and
war!
Even admit that the power should
pass into the hands of a party made up
of Southern men and the hitherto dis
honered AID misled Democracy of the
NorthLtiat power could not be used
Nst as they pleased. The war has
changed, not alone institutions, bat
ideas. The whole country has advanced.
Public sentiment is exalted far beyond
what it has been at any former period.
A new party, would, like a river, be
obliged ts seek its channels in the al
ready existing slopes and forms of the
continent.
We have entered new era ofliberty.
The style of thought is free and more
noble. The young men of our times are
regenerated. The great army has been
q school, and hundreds of thousands Of
men are gone home to preach truer
and nobler view of human rights. All
the industrial interests of society are
moving with increased wisdom towards
intelligence and liberty. Everywhere
in churches, in literature, and nature
and natural sciences, in physical indus
tries, in social questions, as we'll as in
politics, the nation feels that the winter
is over, and new spring hangs in the
horizon and works through all the ele-
ments. In this happily changed and ad-
vanced condition of things, no party of
the retrogade can maintain itself.
Everything marches, and parties must
march.
l hear with wonder and shame aud
scorn the fear of few that the South
once more in adjustment with the Fed
eral Government will rule this nation
The North is rich-never SO rich; the
South is poor-never before so poor.
The population of the North is nearly
double that of the South. The Industry
of the North, in diversity, in forward
ness and productiveness, in all the
machinery and education required for
manufacturing, is half century in ad-
vance of the South. Churches in the
North crown every hill, and schools
swarm in every neighborhood; while
the South has but scattered lights, at
long distances, like lighthouses twink
ling along the edge of o continent of
darkness. In the presence Of such con.
trast, bow mean and craven is the fear
that the South will rule the policy of the
land That il will have an influence,
that it will contribute, in time, most
important influences or restraints, we
are glad to believe. But lift rises ut once
to the control of the Government it
will be because the North, demoralized
by prosperity, and besotted by grovel.
ing interests, refuses to discharge its
share of political duty. In such a case
| a. c..xL rot only -iIl coptrol The 80,