Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-26
Ex-Governor wise-His Views ON the
War and the Abolition of slavery
The Patriots Duty To-day.

War and the Abolition of slavery
The Patriots Duty To-day.
From the Atlanta (Gs.) Christian Advocate
RIcHMoND, Va, March 81, 1869.
Rev. James Mitchell:
DEAR SIR-In reply to yours Of the
18th instant, / can only say that am per-
fectly content to await the delay ="
simply which was resolved on. 1t must
be wise as to action, but is dangerous as
to the work of preparation. OF this,
however, your authorities are the proper
judges.
As to the points in my first letter
touching the effects of the abolition of
slavery on the relations of the two
branches of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, can but say that my convic-
tions are strong, and if clearly express
them to you have no sort of objection
to their publication. My letters main
subject-matter called forth incidentally
an expression on these points, but not
fully enough, perhaps, to be understood
in clear light. What / said, exactly,
in that letter, don't remember, but |
know what meant to say, and should
have said, and have no hesitation in re-
peating now my true meaning
The long agitation of the question of
slavery, its history before the war, and
the war itself, convinced me that an ex-
odus from African bondage was obliged
to be by the almighty hand of Provi-
dence. God knew what poor finite minds
North and South did not foresee-that
nothing short of fire and sword, of war
and its blood and violence, could eman-
cipate negro slaves on this continent, in
q country governed, as the United States,
in the form of constitutional republics
bound together by a constitutional union.
By no steps in normal times could Con-
gress ever have abolished slavery; and
the States would never have commenced
emancipation by peaceful means, gradual
or otherwise, for reasons which it would
be irritating now to state. It's sufficient
to say that too many in the South
fought for nething but the right of
property in slaves, and it is time that the
North was informed that by far the most
respectable portion of the Southern pee
pie fought for something far more pre-
cious than the legal privilege of being
the masters of slaves. They fought for
the more glorious privilege of self-gov-
ernment They we're willing to emanci-
pate slaves in their own time and own
way, but were not willing to allow Con.
gress to regulate their domestic govern
ment and concerns for them either as to
slavery or anything else. Thus there
were double restraints against emanci-
nation which could not be removed in
time to prevent either dissolution of the
Union or civil war. The war was ma
tional necessity, permitted by Divine
Providence to prevent lin the end, l
hope). greater evils than the war itself.
And | mark this view of the case as
essential to guide all good Christians
and patriots in their endesvors now to
ease y most glorious country, still suffer
ing from the awful conflict, and in the
greatest danger of losing civil liberty for
all races ia the struggle to emancipate
one race. The view / have taken is
heliocentric one. 1t strives to reach
God's 8 throne, and 10 look thence out
upon the ways and the end. That He
ordered and directed and forced the re-
suit of emancipation of slaves in Amer
lea, knowing that there was no other
way to bring it about and at the same
time save all that is precious, have not
the least doubt. And feel that he who
resists, or in any unreasonable way OBJ
structs, the legitimate consequences OF
this special providence, kicks against
the pricks." This brings up the ques-
ton:
What should be regarded as the legiti-
mate consequences My answer is
peace. The old strife must cease and be
hushed. Next, charity, federation, broth
erly and patriotic kindness. It's not for |
me to upbraid you or you me for the Of
fenses and injuries of the war. Slavery |
was it's cause, was our weakness If not |
our wickedness, and God has purged out |
it's sin and satanic influence by hre and |
blood His FIRE and blood, for the war
was Els if the sin was mine. But woe |
unto those on either side who shall cause
the fires TO burn and the blood TO heat
after the sin and causes of woe have been
burnt to ashes. We must not keep the
hres ignited. The ashes must be allowed
TO cool, snd then, as from battlehelds,
the green herbage may be made to grow
more luxuriant than ever, so good fruit
NAV be made to spring even from the
eiuders and ashes of this horrid war. No
man or set of men must dare to take any
bolts of vengeance in their hands. God
often used the heather to punish his own
chosen people; but if they dared to do
even His will in a heatheuish and un-
way, Jehovah never failed to
make them, too, feel His wrath:
Let the North remember that, and
that IL the war was Providential,
then We. all were but mere
Of the Divine Government,
and should not attempt to play petty
in the place of Gsd. II We
do we will curse ourselves and our coun-
ty-we will become petty tyrsnts:
Guided by catholic spirit like this, and
looking TO God all the time, in every act
aud plan, We will prevent the white man
from being enslaved by the causes which
made the black man free; We will pre-
vent the continuance Of the causes which
made the black man free; We will pre-
vent the continuance Of the causes which
the Methodist Church IS the
....,,,r.ora of the aftempted separation |