The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-24
LETTER FROM LEWIS 0. CAMPBELL TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON


LETTER FROM LEWIS D. CAMPBELL TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, April 22 1858.
To THE EDITOR OF TEE HERALD:-
The following letter. which has recently come into
my hands, may be OF interest to the public at the
present time:-
HAMILTON, Ohio, May s, 1886.
My DEAR SIR-In compliance with your own sug-
gestion and my promise when we parted at WASH
ington few days since, write hastily to express
frankly my ideas In regard to the general line Of
policy by which your official action should be gov
erned with the understanding that you will only
read when you have leisure and give them just such
weight, and no more, Us In your better judgment
they may deserve
1t is fortunate, indeed, that In your Off hand
speeches TO various delegations you referred to
your past history as furnishing a more reliable
guarantee for your future conduct than any promises
now made And l especially liked the announce
ment Of your determination not to decide important
questions until they should be legitmatey presented
for your Official action. Stick to that. A Judge, on
the bench who would take up cases on the docket
out OF their regular order and decide grave
questions OF law not at all involved In the cases in
hearing or who would give Judgment in cases not
reached or heard, would soon make himself an OBJ
ect OF ridlcule among sensible men. There are men
about Washington, and perhaps elsewhere, who, for
sinister purposes press you to take ground upon alb
stract theories, aud If once you begin to yield you
Diet the Maine liquor law, "woman's rights {"
&C., &c. beg OF you to stick to your idea OF giving
opinions upon important propositions only when
your Official action becomes necessary There Is no
practical wisdom in inviting opposition prematurely
by taxing sides on all the various abstract sms and
ills to which the human intellect Is heir.
Your views expressed In regard TO the proper treat
ment Of rebels meets hearty concurrence among
the people Your Discrimination between the lntel-
gent leaders and the caJoed masses Is well made
and just The whole country endorses it.
| Our relations with England ana France are inter
eSting and perhaps delicate, there Is prevalent IN
the country pretty strong war spirit, which Will
probably be enhanced when orr soldiers are dis
banded and return home l would avoid
foreign war and resort to it only when
our rational honor imperatively requires it.
The country needs repose ana the recuperative in
huences Of peace. If diplomacy should fail in bring
ing England to proper redress OF the wrongs she
has allowed TO na inflicted on us during the rebellion
ii will be time enough to call her 10 account after our
fighting men shall have had little rest and the
whole nation shall have been reunited and prepared
with good ready" IL Juarez, with the floating
strength he may receive from this and other coun-
tries fails 30 eject Maxniian in reasonable time and
re-establish the Mexican republic, then we may with
more proprety than now serve notice on the French
Emperor to withdraw his bayonets. In prosecuting
the Monroe doctrine should be cautious not to
violate American principle OF 'non-interventon."
r. the peOplc OF Mexico, Of their voluntary free
WILL see nc TO change their form OF governments from
republic to u monarchy, do not see how we could
consistently Interfere; but II they are compelled, at
the point of the French and Austrian bayonet to do
this. IL WILL at the proper time, become nigh duty
10 our historic record and 10 the integrity OF
our policy, long since enuncated and on al proper
occasions reiterated, TO Interfere, even though war
ensue.
Among other questions in domestic policy there
Is one which Is beginning To assume much sgnifi-
cance--that OF negro suffrage THIS is being every
where pressed by those who style themselves radi-
cals-a class who sometimes In the grand march Of
human progress are inclined to get " ahead Of the
music.o OF course, you will be called on TO take
| sides. regard that question as one belonging
exclusively to The States, and not TO the federal gov
eminent. Congress has declared what an alien shall
do 10 become citizen, but has never undertaken to
decide vino shall be entitled TO voe-pOt even for
federal officers. illinois and other States allow an
alien before he becomes citizen TO vote on resi-
ize under the act Of Congress and reside twelve
months In the State Massachusetts allows the Afri-
can To vote: Indiana excludes him. mention these
instances to show that the qualifications OF voter il
subject over which the States and not the federal
government have always heretofore exercised jurs
dlcti0n. And as You have very properly assumed
the ground that State once in the Union cannot go
and that the rebellion has only been gigantic
mob that temporarily impeded the operations Of the
government | cannot see with what conss-
tency you can now interpose federal authority
to settle the right OF suffrage III, IN state:
for the state or Tennessee or Louisiana, why may
you not also settle II for Ohio and Pennsylvania
and relieve the people Of its embarrassnienisY You
| have already TOO many embarrassmeuis, and my
advice 10 you s, let this question alone. Leave 1t
| where il always has becn-with the States
I Your determination to make no sudden change in
the Cabinet UNTIL at least the funeral services OF
| and meets universal approval. The pr0prieties or
lie and respect for public opinion required this.
But whenever, in your Judgment the shocked SEN
sibilities Of the people are Gained II may be Ques
ton whether yOu should not reOrganlze TO some ex
tent. On this subject expressed my opinion pretty
! freely when at Washington. II you live you are to
administer the government for four wears. II your
administration fails the odlun will fan on you; and II,
with the present Cabinet continued IL u successful
the credit will go to the men whom Mr. Lincoln called
| into power. The naked question presented Is
whether the administration Is to he marked In Ameri-
history yours or ~ mere continuation of Mr..
Lcolns; whether you to open books for business
on your own account or merely to act a. an adminis
traitor with the will anDeXed- uf your predecessor.
Your friends will expect you to carry on business on
| your own account.
| l was fully advised Of the hot haste OF several
parties to get Mr. Seward out even when IL was I'M
certain that he would live from day TO day. sOn this
subject expressed my views to you fully, perhaps With
too much Indignation. | will now only add that all
grades OF loyal men in this regionra,iical and
| servative-becve that Mr. Seward Is the right man
in the right place during the existence OF our present
complications with foreign Powers, and his removal
\ would cause much regret. Public opinion seems to
settle down upon Mr.. McCulloch the proper person
| for the Treasury Department. but f the residue OF
the Cabinet were replaced think the country would
generally approve OF II. Mr. Stanton whether justly
| OF The army, and new man In his place would, per-
| haps, give satisfaction and produce harmony. l
have hut little acquaintance with the residue OF the
| Cabinet, except Mr. Dennison. He Is very pleasant
| gentleman, and being an OMAN would not II |
| could utter anything In disparagement OF him.
| But / have already bored you enough for one
| occasion and l VIII close. Won must lind an
| excuse, my dear sir, for the freedom with
which write In the fact that feel al Understandable
| interest in your success. do most sincerely
! desire that your administration may be one that viii
| rebound 10 the prosperity and true glory Of the
American republic, and TO the honor of yourself and
friends And II can ~ any time, by word or deed,
| aid you IN your great work or relieve you oi any
burden Il Wi, affordme great pleasure TO do In
LEWIS II. CAMPBELL.
| ANDREW JOHNSON, President, Washington, ID. G.
|