The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-05-07
EX-GOVERNOR WISE.
His Views on the War and the Abb
clifton of slavery--Thc Patriots
DUTY To-day.

Uusy To-Day
lfrom The Atlanta (Georgia) Christian Advocated /
RICHMOND. VA, March 81, 1869.
Rev. James Mitchell:
| DEAR SIR-In reply to yours OF the
l2sth instant. can only say that j am
pcricctly content to await the ''delay''t
simply which was resolved on. 1t may
le wise as to action, but is dangerous as
Ito the work OF preparation. or this,
however. your authorities are the proper
Judges.
AS the points in my first letter touch
ling the effects of the abolition of slavery
Ion the relations Of the two branches of
1.-THE Methodist Episcopal Church, l can
Ibut say that my convictions are strong.
land if clearly expressed them 10 you i
Ihave 40 sort Of objection TO their publi-
Ication. My letters main subjcct-matter
lcalled forth incidentally an expression
lon these points but rot fully enough,
lpcrhaps. To be understood i'm Il clear light.
What ! said. exactly, in that letter.
ldon't remember. hui | know what
mcant to say. and should have said. and
have no hesitation in repeating here my
itruc meaning.
The long agitation of the question OF
slavery. its history before tie war, ard
1.-The war itself. convinced me that an cx-
|odus from African bondage was Obliged
10 be by the almighty hand of Provi-
dence. God knew hat poor finite minds
lNorth and South did not torescc = that
nothing short Of fire and sword. of war,
land its blood and violence. could cman-
lcipaic negro slaves OH this continent. III
la country governed. rs the United states,
lin Sic form Of constitutional republics
bound to@cthe. by constitutional union
Bv no steps in normal times could Con.
gress ever have abolished slavery: and
1.-The States would never have commenced
lclGancipation by peaceful means. gradu
lal or otherwise. for reasons which !
would be irritating now 10 state. IL j
sufficient TO say that too many in Tx
ISoulh fought for nothing but the RICH
o. property in slaves: aud il is time tlia
1.-The North was informed that by iar th
Imost respectable portion Of the Southern
, l,roplc fought for something far NOR
Errecious than the legal privilege of bcini
lihc masters Of slaves. They fought 10
l!hc more glorious privilege Of sclf-gov
=. ernnent. They are willing to emanci
!. lpa.c slaves in their own time and owl
T. wan. but were not willing to allow Con
G. rrr.s to regulate their domestic govern
eminent and concerns for them. either as I
,clslaycrv or ANYTHING else. Thus thcr
! i.lv,cre double restraints AGAINST cmanc
,lpation whic. could not BE removed ]
~ dnimc TO prevent either dissolution of I'll
Mon or civil war. The war was II;
,isiiona necessity, permitted by ihy,r
Providence to prevent lin the end,
hope) greater evils than the war itself.
or And l mark this view of the case ;
:, y,'cs.ontial to guide all good Christians an
lpatriots in their cndeavors now 10 ease
,,-Ilnost glorious country, still suiicrir
- iron tie awful conflict, and in the grca
:" est danger of losing civil liberty for q
m races in the struggle 10 cmanc pate ol
race. The view | have taken is q hell
Iccn;ric one 1t strives TO re .ch God
..Itironc. ani TO look thence ont upon Il
u vays and the end. That he orderc
ana directed. and forced the result
emancipation of slaves in Amerlt
~ y. knowing that there was no other way
M bring il about. and. at the same Tin
"a "a save al that is precious, have not Z
ocilcast doubt. And / feel that he who !
&c, .;sts. or in any unreasonable way O
hu structs the legitimate consequences
tl,is spccial Providence, "kicks agaiI
'rh thc pricks." This brings up the qu'
ue, tom
my What should be regarded as the leg
'hu innate consequences My answer
us' peace. The old strifes must cease a
re- be hushcd. Next, charity, tolerate
vas brotherly and patriotic kindness. Ii
uiiy not for me to upbraid you or you me
ck- the oflenscs afid injuries of this war
IN Slavery was its cause, was our wcakn
10 if not our wickcdncss, and God
purged ont its sin and satanic influel
lby fire and blood. His fire and blo'
ocs' : for the war was His if the sin was mi
!, Rut woe unto those. on either side. W
Ii'''. shall cause the fires to burn and the bio
= =. 10 heat after the sin and causes of w
ire. Wv have bccni,urnt to ashes. We must !
'of keep the fires ignitcd the ashes must
ALLOWED to cool. and then. as from bait
fields, the green herbagc may bc made
oau nrow more luxuriant than ever; so &c
VIZ '.:s fruit may be made TO spring even Fl
,,ia- the cindcrs and ashes Of this borrid "
'e', No man. or set of men. must dare to Il
"iu any bolts of vengeance in their hands
"rc- God often used the hcathcn 10 pun
me his own chosen people but if they da
h'he to do even Ills will in a hcathcnish {
e. unchristian way. jehovah never failet
~, make them. too. feel His wrath. Let
lie North remember that. and tina. II
o;,,, war was providontial. then we all W
lace. W. 'iloic ~, = a,,,,a at.o,,a,
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