The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-14
Letter 20 Hon. Msssrs. Morgan and
Srheurk

Letter 20 Hon. Msssrs. Morgan and
schenck.
The following letter, prepared by a commit
teo OF the Printers Grant and Colfax Club,
Of this city, was authorized, at their meeting
Saturday night. to be presented to Hon. L. ID
Morgan and Hon. II. q. Sohenck, urging upon
them their views Of the necessity for converting
Congress on the sd Monday Of tho present
month
WAsnISaros, D. O. Sept. Il, ls.
GENTLEMEN The "Prlntersi Grant and Dol.
fax Club OF the District OF Columbia" learning
that to you has been Gonldcd The responsible
tion Of national affairs is such as 10 demand
| q session of Congress on the third Monday of
the present month, have appointed the under
signed committee to urge upon you their
view Of the considerations and reasons why
| snoh . session should be called.
We are impeiled to this unusual stop as the
result OF most anxious survey OF the present
tion In the late rebel States, Including the
menaeing attitude Of the executive branch OF
the Government, which, in our judgment,
constitutes not the least dangerous phase OF
the present national situation.
There 10 no longer room to doubt, from the
overwhelming mass Of estimony that reaches
US from every quarter OF the Southern States,
that anarchy IL At length fairly organized in
That eection of the country, and society Itself
transformed into a seething he'll OF violent in
limitation, prescription, rapine and midnight
assassinations Even now, through public
and private channels, we arc assured that
whole communities, In several ofthese States
have fed from their homes, and are suhsisting
10 the woods md swamps, to save themselves
from the persecution Of the men who are yet
under the parole OF General Grant, to "ObCy
The idps in force iohcrc they reside" These out
RACES and horrors are deepening In intensity
when and whore are they to endl The malta
are burdened, day by day, with the almost de-
spaiLing appeals OF the huntcd Union men OF
nlau IiaF TNR halls.
pubic and private, where they can hope to no
The petition Of Hon. J. IL. Caldwell, mem.
Der OF the Georgia Legislature, and member OF
the Republican National Committee for the
state OF Georgia, copy Of which 10 herewith
inclosed, Is only one OF hundreds of similar
the knowledge OF this club. Tho troubles
foreshadowed 10 this Communication have
hIready come TO pass. Twenty-Five members
o. the lower house having been declared ineii:
gtble to their seats, contrary to the spirit of
the Constitution. Worse to follow.
Gentlemen, We firmly believe that, should q
quorum OF Congress fail to assemble on the
appointed day, the sutferings of the loyal men
OF the South will be increased tcnfold; =
more, we are Impressed with the firm CO
t,on that, 10 hepregnsnt words OF Rev. y
icdr 10 the South again"
II is whispered In executive circle,
and we have reason to know that thes
perings are inspired from author
sources, that should Congress fall to a..
Bile as proposed, the Administration "wil,
show Its hand" In the coming campaign In a
way that will tell upon the result. That the
President has not already done so is alone
due to the fact that Congress may yet assemble
to punish and undo the mischief he may at
tempt.
In the event OF a final adjournment till De.
cember Il Is well understood that Generals
Meade, Thomas and Canby are to be relieved
from duty In the South, and commanders who
have more "eonhdence in the purity aud pa
tIiotismn and "loye for the Union and Con-
stitution" OF such men as Lee, Beauregard,
Wade Hampton, Forrest, and Hill, are to DO
put In their places. With such commanders,
aided by the United States troops, and rein
forced By the "fue hundred dad nv houSdHdn
Members OF the ku.Klux Khan, OF whom
Butcher-General Forrest tells us, It requires
no active Imagination to picture the terrible
consequences that will certainly ensue. The
least Of these consequences would he the sue
cess OF Seymour and Blair In every one of the
"so.called reconstructed States"
We do not need to remind you that the new
internal revenue law has remained, and still
remains, . dead letter upon your ststutc-books
through the wilful and defiant Interference Of
the Executive with the functions OF the COM
missioner charged with Its execution. That
law was intended to put the collection Of taxes
and revenue into the hands OF honest, efficient
officers, and thus wrest from the organized
and powerful gang Of thieves and wiIsilers-
who now, through the favor and protection of
Andrew johnson, control or obstruct its ope.
rations-thc further robbery of the national
revenues. At present, there Ia u "dead lock"
In that department; but, do you doubt, If Con.
gress adjouIns till December, that tho very
hrst act of Mr.. johnson, on the day thereafter
such adjournment, would be the suspension or
removal of Commissioner Rollins, and the
supplanting OF Secretary McCulloch by still
more plant tooli DO you doubt that their
places would be at once tilled by such worthless
as Edmund Cooper and Perry Fuller, late
treasurer and collector OF the impeachment
fund !" with such extended hnan cial resources
freely at their command, you can judge whether
ugtuH perdicts might not be obtained In several
NI NhA Ia I.I. -
November.
with Congress thus adjourned no power
under heaven can call II into official existence
until December. The present extraordinary
and menacing attitude Of the old, original
leaders OF secession In the South, combined
with their close alliance with the most vlru-
lent Copperheads OF the North, tells unmis-
takably Of new conspiracy that draws its
confidence and courage from some more insplr-
Ing source than the hope that Seymour and
Blair will be elected by the peaceful agency
Of the ballot. The whole southern section is
charged with the same hery and explosive ele.
ment that burst In flame and fury upon the
Upon you, Mr. Morgan, and upon you, Mr..
Schenck, has devolved this mighty rcspon-
bibility. The Congress is the loyal nat ions
COMMITTEE OF public safety" to whom alone,
In this dire emergency, II looks As the rallying
point around which millions OF defenders can
lawfully assemble In case of need and danger.
Gan you, dare you, gentlemen, upon candid
survey OF all the possibilities, not to say prO6d-
Jliiici, recommend Congress to Gbdicdfc-for
that Is the English OF it-in favor of Andrew
johnson, at the very crisis of the struggle
which Ia TO secure the fruits OF the fearful
sacrifices the nation has already made.
Pardon US for the earnestncss and plainness
with which we speak, but we do believe that
We only give utterancc to the unRhimoU. voice
Of Intelligent aud thinking lUyalists all over
the land, when We say TO you that the MON |
people, and especially the Union soldiers who !
risked their lives and shed their blood to save |
the republic. will hold you and your colleagues |
Of the Fortleth Congress 10 a most rigid ac-
II, through your failure 20 DO
found at your Official posts OF duty at this
capital, serious complications, such As we
have indicated, should result.
Our firm belief is that Congress should re-
main in permanent session until Gen. Grant IL
President, rs a check upon tho
mhd purposes OF these cOnGpirAtoFs agAiust
the public peace and safety but, II that is
deemed impracticAblc, then, the very least
that could safely be done, In our judgment,
would be TO provide for further recess until
alter the October elections, thus holding the
lDamOc clean sword still suspended over the head
Di the Executive, to constrain him, as the
iionary Manifestations Of his well.understood
designs.
Praying that you may DO guided Alright In
your decision upon this all-important matter,
u such vital concern to the welfare OF the
Republic, We have the honor to be your ODE
lient servants,
Signed by q. II, SERVER, \. y. Broek, aud \.
n, Thomp6On, committee Printers Grant and
.lOlfaX Club, Of the District OF Columbia.
non, /. u. Morgan, Hon. Robert G, ThfnCk, com
mR'"c on pant Of Senate Gli iIOuW Of RTp'r-
"H'diirtS, SC.
Architects.