The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-19
WISE.
The Ex-Governor Expresses his Views ON the
Wnr-WItat he Declares to be the "Patriots
nuty,, To.day.

Wnr-Wlmt he Declares TO DC tne ''fatriots =
Dutyo To-day.
RICHMOND, Va, March 81, 1869. - Rev. James
Mitche:- Dear Sr-In reply TO yours OF the 2Sth
await the "deay" simply whichtwas resolved on. II
may be wise as to action but is dangerous as to the
work of preparation. OF this, however, your author
AS to the points in my first letter touching the eff
fects of the abolition OF slavery on the relations OF
the two branches of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
can only say that my convictions are strong, and If
clearly expressed them to you have no sort OF ob-
lection to their publication my letters % man sG1
on these points, but not fully enough, perhaps to be
understood in a clear light. What said, exactly III
that letter. l don't remember, but i Know what
meant to say, and should have said, and have no
hesitation now in repeating my true meaning.
The long agitation Of the question OF slavery, It's
history before the war and the war ITSELF convinced
me that exodus from African bondage was
obliged to be by the almighty hand OF Providence.
God knew what poor finite minds North and Soutn
did not foresee-that nothing short OF hre and
sword, of war and its blood and violence, could
country governed as the United States, in the form
of constitutional republics bound together by con-
sttuonal UNION ny mo stePs In nd te Stats
would never have commenced emancipation by
peaceful MEANS gradual or otherwise, for reasons
which it would be irritating now to state 1t is stf-
fcent to say that many in the South fought for
nothing but the right of property in slaves and it is
most respectable portion of the Southern people
fought for something far more precious than the
legal privilege of being the masters OF slaves They
fought for the more glorious privilege Of sef-gov
ernment. They were willing to emancipate slaves in
their own time and own way, but were not willing to
allow Congress to regulate their domestic govern
ment and concerns for them either as to slavery or
anything else Thus there 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, per-
mitted by Divine Providence to prevent dn the end,
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 endea
Yorsnow to ease most glorious country, still suffer-
the awful conflict and in the greatest dam
ger Of losing civil liberty for all races in the struggle
to emancpate one race. The view have taken is a
helOcentric one. 1t 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 other way to bring about, and at the
same time all that is precious, have not the
least doubt And feel that he who resists, or in
any unreasonable way obstructs, the legitimate con-
sequences of this special providence kicks against
the pricks." This brings up the question:
What should be regarded as the legitimate cOnse-
quences? My answer is peace. The old strifes must
and be hushed. Next, charity, liberation, bro
therly and patriotic Kindness 1t is not for me to
uprad you you for the Otenses and injuries of
the war. Slavery its cause was our weakness
if not our wickedness, and God has purged out its
and blood, for the war was His If the sin was mine.
But woe unto those, on either side who shall
the fires to burn and the blood to heat after the sin
and causes OF woes have been burned to ashes. We
must not keep the fires ignited-the ashes must
be allowed to COOL and then as from batte-felds,
the green herbage may be made to grow more
luXurant than ever; so good fruit may be made to
spring even from the cnders and ashes of this hor-
rid 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 heathenish
and unchrstian way, Jehovah never failed to make
them, too feel His wrath. Let the North remember
that and that if the war Providential, then we
all were but mere instruments of the Divine Govern
ment, and should not attempt to play petty provi-
dences in the place of God. If we do we will curse
ourselves and our country-we will soon become
petty tyrants
Guided by catholic spirit like this, and looking
to God all the time, in every act and plan, 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 which separated
the Methodist Church as the precursors of the at
tempted separation of the whole country; and we
will cause the whole country to be stronger and
safer and freer than it ever could be before.
have written enough, and you are welcome to
weave these views into those OF my first letter and
print them together.
have examined your pamphlets, and thank you
for them.
Very truly and respectfully yours,
WIou