The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-04-23

!. - - = : A SsrS-1Re Fatri
RIoanorD. Va, March 81, 1862
Reu. James Michel. f 80
DEAR 9IR: Inreply to yours of the 2stl
Instant, can only soy that am perfectl
content TO ewait the ssdeldy' simply whici
was resolved on. 1t may be 'aOise aa to action
put Is dangerous rs to the work of preparo
lon Of this, however, your authorities ar
the proper judges.
AS TO the points i'll my first letter touch
Ing the effects of the abolition of slavery o,
the relations of the two branches of th,
Methodist Episcopal Church, 1 can but sn,
that my convictions are strong, and if
clearly expressed them to yon, L have II.
sort OF objection to their publication. M,
letter main subject-matter called forth in
ciuehtaiiy an expression on these points
but not fully enough, perhaps, to be under
stood in clear light What 1 said, exactly
IN that letter. don't remember, but know
what meant to say, aud should have said
and have no hesitation in repeating now m,
true meaning.
The long agitation of the question o.
slavery. its history before the war, and the
war Itself, convinced me that an erodus from
African bondage was obliged to be by the
almighty hand of Providence. God knew
what poor finite minds North and South did
sword, of war and its blood and violence.
could emancipate negro slaves on this con.
t1nent, IN country governed, as the United
states, In the form of constitutional repub
.lcS bocnd together by n constitutional
union. BY no steps in normal times could
Congress ever have abolished slavery: and
the States would never have commenced
emancipation by peaceful means, gradual or
otnerwlse, Tor reasons which it would be
IA I n f., ckx
say that too many in the South fought for
nothing 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 people fought for something
tar more precious than the legal privilege of
being the masters of slaves. They fought
Tor t'e more glorious privilege of self
government They are willing to enamel
pate slaves In their own time and own way
but were not willing to allow Congress to
regulate their domestic government and
anything else. Thus, these were double
restraints against emancipation which could
not be removed In time to prevent either
dissolution of the Union or civil war. The
war was national necessity, permitted by
DIVINE Providence, to prevent lin the end. T
hope,l greater evils than the war itself
And mark this view of the case MS essen
tial to guide all good Christians and patri-
OTIS In their endeavors now to ease q most
glorious country, still suffering from the
awful conflict, and in the greatest dangor of
losing civil liberty for all races in the strug-
gle to emanclpate one race. Tho view 7
have taken is helioccnh'ic one. It strives
to reach Gods throne, and to look thence
out upon the ways and the end. That He
ordered and directed and forced the result
OF emancipation of slaves in America.
knowing that there was no Other way to
bring 1T about and at the same time save oll
that is precious, L have not the least doubt.
AND feel that he who resists, or in any un-
reasonable way obstructs, the legitimate
consequences Of this special providence.
''kicks against the pricks" This brings ND
the question:
What should be regarded us the legitimate
consequences? My answer is peace. The
old strlfes must cease and be hushed. Next
charity, toleiation, brotherly and patriotic
kindness. It is not for me to upbraid Won.
or you me. for the offences and injuries Of
this war. Slavery was its cause, was our
weakness If not our wickedness, and God
has purged out its sin and satanic influence
by hre and blood His fire and blood, for
the war was His if the sin was mine. But
woe unto those, on either side who shall
cause the fires to burn and the blood to heat
alter the sin and causes of woes have been
burnt to ashes. We must not keep the fires
lgnited-the ashes must be allowed to cool,
and then, as from battle-felds, the green
herbage may be made to grow more luxu-
RANT than ever; SO good fruit may be made
to spring even from the cinders 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 O heathenish
and unchristian way, Jehovah never failed
to make them, too, feel His wrath Let the
North remember that and that if the war
was Providential, then we all were but mere
Instruments of the Divine Goxernment and