The Van Buren press., 1869-12-14

The following is Horace Greeley let
ter to Gen. Butler, mentioned in our tele
graphic dispatches day or two since:
The Republicans and the South.
To MAJ GEN BENZ. +. BUTLER, NJ. C..
Ny Dear S6 Your name, think you
will have remarked, is very often pro
uounced, lom one end OF our country to
the other. I--traveling somewhat, OBJ.
serving little, and reading newspapers
considerably often here it men
toned, Git may surprise you to learn
not always admiringly. And yet, while
have for many years heard and read all
msnppsr as sp! ef eyi! said of yoa--some Of il alb
collect that l ever heard or read a sug-
gestion that you were fool. Now,
come before the public to impeach-not
yourself personally. but policy where
with your name is popularity and promi.
nently identified, as lacking rational mo.
tive and at war with common sense.
allude to that policy which prolongs in
definitely the prescription and disiian
chisemen' Of large portion OF the men
Of the South for their part in the late re-
bellion.
Understand that / speak from the
stanap0int not Of sentiment, but Of bust
ness, 1 do not here impeacli that policy
as harsh or hateful, but ns deficient in
tact--n yumplien. impeach it as nurs-
ing aud insensilying enmities cea,ain to
subvert, ut ne distant day, the party
which is identified with it.
! will not dwell upon the well known
fact that the late Gov. Andrew, in his
farewell message or address, put forth
four years ago, strongly urged policy
antagonistic to this--a policy that con.
tempated the early and complete concili-
alton Of the South, through the enfran.
chisement and magnanimous treatment
of her natural leaders, Nor need invite
your attention to the fact that Gen. Sick
les IA shrewd, thoroughly practical poll
tician) officially demonstrated, more than
three years ago. against the prescription
ofpromincut and wealthy ex-rebels, as
depriving him OF the services of the very
men he urgently needed and could make
most useful in governing South Carolina.
Nor do care to press home the fact, Of
which you cannot be ignorant, that the
southern men OF education and property
are by far more reasonable and less bit.
ter than their poorer. more ignorant
neighbors--are less implacable more ra-
tionnl. and more ready to unite heartily
in rebuilding the waste places fthc land.
Nor will dwell upon the noble addition
made, on motion Of Gen Carl Schurz, TO
thu latest national platform of tue repub-
lican party--that plank which declares
prescription temporary expedient, rem
dered necessary by grave public peril,
and to be abandoned when that peril
shall have vanished. rest on the naked
fact that the republican party imminently
needle the good will which this policy re.
pels, and must go under if that good will
be not secured.
assume that you realize the absolute
necessity Of the triumph Of the XVIII
amendmentto the success Of Gen. Grant, $
administration. and that you must be
aware that the fate of that amendment Is
yet doubtful. Ten adverse States suffice
to deieat it; and seven--( New jersey,
Delaware, Maryland. Kentucky, Tennes-
see, California and Oregon) are already
beyond hope. The loss Of Tennessee
was at once a calamity and blunder--
one Of those intense stupidities which n
goat party is seldom allowed to repeat.
How Rhods Island. Indiana, Georgia and
Nebraska, stand, need not inform you.
Suffice it that it will require the wiscst
counsels and the best efforts TO avert the
threatened failure Of that great and wise
measure of safety, beniguity, aud peace.
The men now coming TO Congress to
demand that Tennessee he upset, and Vr
ginia remandoi, and Mississippi and Tex
as held as satrapies for nm indefinite peri
od. unless they vote rs they arc hidden,
utterly fail to comprehend the situation
They evidently suppose that wc have no
thing at stake-that we may keep three
or four States unreconstructed and un
! represented in Congress during pleasure