New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-16
THE POLICY OF VENGEANCE.
GEN. BUTLER IN REILLY TO MR.. GREELEY.

of
terminate the war OF the Rebellion IN successful reco
,rno,on Indeed there is but other the legacy OF
tina war 40 momentous-that OF finance. assume you
desire public expression Of my opinions because VI '
publicity OF the vehicle which you have chosen 10 convey
o. me your own views am quite ready now an ever
20 give them In fun Not trust In fppan language OF
without consideration, but with thought ana Tone De-
lifting the Importance Of the topic.
am constrained first Of all, 10 apologize Tor the delay
IN my reply, and beg leave to assure you' my dear Sir
that has arisen from inattentou TO yourself
but solely that have awaited the result OF the elections
in Tovas Mississippi to instruct me more fully IN the
spbects upou which you have addressed me, so that
could reply with fuller understanding OF the state OF
the public mind the rebellOus States which seemed all
the more necessary had in your epise awful
example Of the futily of discussion without knowledge
let me- AT first correct mistake into which you, with
others have fallen, that l identified with policy
Nslch "prOlonGs indefinitely the prescription and dis
reimbursement OF large portion of the men Of the South
their part in the late Rebellion" Not would
prOlOng hour the Acknowledgement OF any man
who has fully reponted Of the part lie took in the Rebel
lion and who hereafter intends 10 remain good and
patriotic citizen of this country YOU others do, seem
60 assume that because for party purposes have been
th object Of vituperatiye attack SANDER and calumny
the part Of Southern men, therefore must OF
necessity, retalato that wrong upon the communities
which they disgrace. by no means.
As early the 81 Of April, 1868, in the Academy OF
Music, upon full consideration, at the request Of the
merchants OF YORK, gave 10 the country views
u2Ou the question Of restoration Of the rebelOus States
quote from memory, but doubt not substantially.
then said. the return Of the Southern States and
our reception Of them, all Governmental action toward
communities must be put upon the basis that as commu.
0ties the people erred led astray; that upon
communities SUCH for any rebellion crime against
The Government punishment could be inflicted; that
when again received portions Of the parent country
only such safeguards should be thrown around their
Oeplon consistent with future public safety
stated then and think nOwtha the leaders who mis-
He'd their communities and brought war with all Its at
PENDANT evils upon the country should punished
examples to deter others like cases lOf offending.
Iaye nothing since 20 change my OPINION either as
70 the prOprety policy Of such course Of action toward
the leading Rebels Of the South And think now that
Rad an example been made of some halfdozen, more
less, OF the leading traitors Of the South espe.
caly those who. educated the military school OF the
United States and trusted with commands in armies,
resigned their to take command in the armies of
Rebellion. and those who being intrusted with places
in Congress Cabinet used their places to hatch trea
son. foment instruction, and maintain rebellion TO de
stroy their Government, ought 10 have been sgnally
punished and II that punishment had been awarded
which every other Government in like has meeted
Out-except, perhaps in the chronic rebeons Of the
Spanish American Repubncs-a this day all matters in
1he Rebel States which disturb public peace would
have been settled, and quiet, commercial prosperity,
agricultural industry. emigration of labor and capital
aud reviyfcaton of every benefcent enterprise would
have filled the Southern country and every insurgent
State weuld have long ere this readmed into the
Union the and wounds upon society caused by the
would healed and been forgotten; and the
country been united in sentiment than before
and long since renewed that OF prosperity and
aud glory to which it's destined
But it 10 too late TO make operative such opinions
while whether they night wrong can easily be
asceraiued yet whether sound policy and good states
manship never be expermentaly and practically de
tonnined because the absence Of this mode Of ending
rebellion, different state Of things has arisen, and all
idea Of punishment either retriouve justice for
crime upon the individual offender example 70 deter
Others from like reasons and felones out when he
who when the began, cried oudost, on TO Rich
xnond !" crush the rebellion TO the sacrifice Of the
lives OF thousands Of his feOwcitzens ere peace was
had grass had grown green their graves be-
sponsor and mainprze for the archtraitOr OF Rich
1nond who, sustain the rebellion starved % murder
Gus death other thousands Of his feowcitzens in the
prison pens OF Belle Isle and Audersonville.
All that remains to the statesman is 20 sec to it
that every safeguard given the loyal and true
OF the South white and black who stood by their flag
and their country the darkest hour Of its history so
that protection Of person and property and equality Of
political rights shall be assured. Therefore IN any
action may take in Congress or elsewhere shall have
this end only II IN any Of the InsuuecuOnary
States there has upon the people true feeling Of
accepting the situation Of acknowledgment Of the supe
TOrty OF the Government, Of the and Sin OF re-
beon 40 that love Of the lost is not superior 20
love OF country that hatred Of the negro does not over
come the humanities Of their religion that proper con
sutonal provisions 70 carry ont the true principle OF
equality Of all before the law have been enacted
aud will be preserved, ready to welcome that state
into the Union, and take by the hand in political and
personal friendship, with the fun assurance that
bygones shall be bygoDes," any man. however
strongly he may have varied against the Union,
who has brought himself and aided in bringing
his fellow citizens back Of feeling toward the
country and this acknowledgment Of the rights Of all
Aud there are hundreds brave officers and Of the
confederate army whom have thus met and can thus
welcome. To use your own words, it is not the ex.
Rebel" TO whom opposed, but the present Rebel,
only restrained by the strong arm Of the Govern
inent from showing the Of his hate and the bit
terness OF his manIty toward the Union. And IL IS but
lust 20 say that have found but few such the Con
Tolerate army. 10 has been among the bombproofs'
who found and soft places at home in the COnfede
racy. aud especially the newspaper editors Of the South
in whom / find such hatred Of all that is loyal and
patriotc-men who seem to feel themselves obliged to
make up their Of activity during the war by the
exhibition OF their magmy since the war-precsely as
North Of the class seem IN like manner
endeavorug 70 atone for bitterness with which they
required the be prosecuted by urging universal
amnesty" since.
do yield to you superiority In the ardor Of my de-
sire for the triumph Of the Fifteenth Amendment l
have reasons for desiring adoption that yOu know not
or aud might appreciate II you did wish that you
could put the argument 70 fire my zeal for upon
higher motive than mere party success. am not
for its success solely In order that may ind
the votes the colOTcd citizens exceedingly useful in
Conn ecucut Apr that the United states Sen
aOrs Pennsy and NewJersey be secured 10
the Republican party possibly by colOred yOtes that
che elections for Congress IN Ohio and other States may
be won or lost by such These considerations may
%, Nynp layq IN NJ