The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-16
Iefters fr6>a Ex.President Baehanan, Sec
rotary >tward, Secretary AeCuuoeh and
DeereCary w lies

oeereCary WeliesA
Among the many letters sent to the eighth of
January banquet In Washington we're communi-
cations from ex President Buchanan, Secretary
seward and Secretary McCulloch.
Mr.. Buchanan wrote as follows:
You have my cordial thanks for your opinion.
that no responsibility for the years of blood and
sorrow we have endured rests on me, who tried,
in moment OF terrible exigency, to do my 6aty
under the Constitution Proceeding, as this does.
from large number OF my feow-eitizens, equal
in intelligence. character and patriotism to any
similar number Of gentlemen in the State, may
Dot, with much confidence, indulge the hope that
you but anticipate the general sentiment OF future
times! Under this impression, and always firmly
relying on Divine Providence, | have bore with
tranquil and contented spirit all the harsh criticisms
which have been published on my official conduct
throughout the last unhappy years. Assuming,
IS you do, the immediate future Of the country
to be full Of peril you ask me for words of
counsel, of consolation. and, If possible Of hope'
Consistently with my self imposed reticence,
may say TO you: Adhere steadily to the Consti-
tuition Of your country; exert all your power
and influence in disseminating and enforcing its
genuine principles, by means of the press, public
speeches, private conversations, aud in every
other honorable manner, aud employ the same
uDtiring energy in exposing aud condemning
every departure from its precepts. Never
despair, for the time will surely come when these
shall triumph and control the administration of
the government"
The following is from Stewards letter:
al shall be unable to accept the kind invitation
of your committee to the Sth of January cele.
brstion this evening. without departing from the
habit Of self.denial which have found necessary
to maintain, in the hope of recovering constitu-
tioDal health and vigor, which have been some.
what impaired. ! would, however, oheerfully
make such a sacrifice now, as have occasionally
done heretofore, IL it seemed to be necessary
now-as il certainly was then-for the vindica-
ton of the president Of the United States and his
administration in their policy Of seeking the
earliest and cOmpletest possible restoration
OF the Union. New advocates and defenders of that
policy have arisen in the North, as well as in the
South, in the East, and in the West, while it has
come 10 command the admiration and respect of
all foreign nations; and those of our fellow cti-
zens, who have opposed, resisted, and hindered it
by iegitimate processes, have ceased to be as
saiants, and have been brought to an attitude of
self-defense or evasion. The unerrug instinct of
great and enlightened people has promptly dis.
covered the exact political situation. Il Is there
fore DO longer necessary for those who are engaged
Ia administering the executive department of the
government TO show that chronic disintegratiou
would be as fatal as violent separation, or that
prosperity. peace and harmony eau be obtained
only by laying aside the sword without delay. and
by restoring 10 the subjngated States all their con-
slitutonal rights, faculties and franchises"
Secretary McCuloch wrote as follows:
las civil liberty Is not the offspring of military
power, but is in danger of being destroyed in.
the establishment Of military governments in the
Southern States. As a true Union sentiment is
not 10 be renewed in these States by d general
ostrac.sm Of their p1ominent and trustworthy zen,
have reguded with great apprehension the en-
actment and continuance Of laws which exclude
from Federal offices and from the ballot citizens
Of ability, integrity, and influence, without
whose co operation reliable reunion of
the States is not 10 be expected; and, be-
lieving, as | do, that the question of suffrage
ghn ~ ID 81 L 4
federal government, and that the elective fran
chise cannot be safely bestowed upon a race
recently in bondage, and, with few exceptions,
utterly unprepared to use it intelligently, have
deeply regretted the legislation which deprives
part of the States Of rights heretofore enjoyed
by them, and still exercised by others, and which,
by ignoring all distinction between races so dts
similar, ard by its sweeping Acknowledgement of
certain classes, virtually subordinates the supe.
rior to the inferior racer
Secretary Welles wrote as follows:
The schemes projected to destroy State gov
ernments-t0 annihilate their arcient laws and
traditional local governments, when consistent
with the federal CODstitutOn-snd to elevate
ignorance over intelligence by the unwarranted
assumption and exercise of central power, cannot
be permanently successful. Il is to be lamented
that the policy of the administration. commencing
with the late president and adopted and honestly
pursued by the present chief magistrate, should
have been interrupted. The effect of that inter-
Tuption, and the establishment of military gov
ernments over the Southern States, has been
disastrous upon the country, psralyzing its pro.
duclive industry and iDjuring the prosperity and
character of the nation.n