The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-14
A REMARKABLE LETTER.
HENRY WARD BEECHER AS A PROPHET,

thinker ana an aDle writer, and the following
letter written by him to the Cleveland Con.
vendon, on the Both of August, 1866, is SO
fell Of wisdom, is SO prophetic and states
manlike, that we reproduce it entire 1t is
said that Mr. Beecher was forced by the
pressure of public opinion subsequently to
retract this letter, and if that be true it only
proves that, while great man intellectually.
he is weak man morally. His letter, which
deserves to be printed in golden letters, was
written in reply to an invitation from CON-
mittee Of the Soldiers and Sailors Conven-
ton, at Cleveland, to act as chaplain:
''PEEKsKILL, Thursday, August 80, 1866.
''Chas. G. Halpine, Brevet Brigadier General: r.
W. Slocum, Major General; Gordon Granger.
Major General, Committee:
"Genttemen-I am obliged to you for the invi
tation which you have made to me t, act as
Chaplain to the Convention Of Sailors and Soldiers
about to convene at Cleveland. can not attend
it. but heartily wish it and all other conventions,
of what party soever success, whose object is the
restoration of all the States late in rebellion to
their Federal relations.
'Our theory of government has no place for
State except in the Union. 1t is just taken for
granted that the duties and responsibilities of a
State in Federal relations tend to its political
health, and to that Of the whole nation Even
territories hastily brought n often before the
prescribed conditions are fulfilled, as if it were
dangerous to have community outside the great
body polite.
sHad the loval Senator's and Representatives
of Tennessee been admitted at once, on the as
semblng Of Congress, and, in moderate success
sion, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, North Caro-
lima ana Virginia, the public mind Of the South
would have been far more healthy than it is, and
those States which fingered ON probation to the
last would have been under a more 'salutary in
fiuence to good conduct than if dozen armies
watched over them.
"Every month that we delay this heathful step
complexities the case. The excluded population.
enough unsettled before, grows more irritable !:
the army becomes Indispensable to local govern
ment and supersedes it; the government at
Washington is called to interfere III one and an
other difficulty, and this will be done inapty and
sometimes with great injustice for our govern
ment, wisely ada lied to its own proper functions
is terly devoid of those habits, and unequpped
with the instruments which fit a centralized gov
eminent to exercise authority in remote States
over local affairs. Every attempt to perform such
duties has resulted in mistakes which have excited
the nation. But whatever imprudence there may
be in the method. the real criticism should be
against the requisition Of such duties Of the Gen.
eral Government.
"The Federal Government is unfit to exercise
minor police and local government and will ineyi-
tably blunder when it attempts it. To keep a
half score OF States under Federal authority, but
oblge the central authority to govern half of the
territory OF the Union by Federal civil officers
and by the army. is policy not only uncongenial
to our ideas and principles but pre-eminently
dangerous to the spirit Of our government. How
ever humane the ends sought and the motives,
it is in fact a course Of instruction, preparing
our government to be despotic. and familiarizing
the people to stretch Of authority which can
never be other than dangerous to liberty.
81 am aware that good men are withheld from
advocating the prompt and successive admission
of the exlled States by the fear, chiefly of its
effect upon parties and upon freedmen.
cit is said, that if admitted to Congresg, the
Southern Senators and Representatives will CO. |
alesce with the Northern Democrats and rule
the country. Is this nation, then to remain dis
to save the euds Of parties :? Have we
learned no wisdom by the history of the last ten |
years, in which just this course of sacrificing the
nation to tne exigences of parties plunged us |
into rebellion and war
'Even admit that the power would pass into |
the hands of party made up Of Southern men |
and the hitherto dishonored and misled Demo- |
cracy OF the North, that power could not be used
just as they pleased The war has changed not
alone institutions, but ideas. The whole country
has advanced. Pubic sentiment is exalted far
beyond what it has been at any former period.
new party would, like river, be obliged to |
seek its channels in the already existing slopes |
and forms of the continent.
"We have entered new era Of liberty. The
style Of thought is free and more noble. The |
great army has been school, and hundreds Of
thousands Of men are gone home to preach true |
md noble view of human rights. All the indus
trial interests of society are moving with in
creased wisdom toward intelligence and liberty. |
churches, in literature in natural
sciences, in physical industries, in social ques-
ions las well as in politics-the nation feels that
the winter is over, and a new spring hangs IN the
horizon and works through all the clements In
his happily changed and advanced condition OF
,hngs. no party of the retrograde can maintain
itself. Everything marches, and parties must
march.
81 hear with wonder and shame and scorn the
ear of few that the South once more in adj
ustment with the Federal Government, will rule
his nation! The North is rich never so rich
he South is poOr-never before SO poor The
population of The North is nearly double that Of
he South. The industry Of the North, in
diversity, in forwardness and productveness, in
III the machinery and education required for
is half century in advance OF
he South churches in the North crown every
ill, and schools swarm in every nelghborhood,
While the South has but scattered lights at long
like the lighthouses twinkling along
he edge of continent Of darkness.
In the presence Of such contrast, how mean
nd craven is the fear that the South will rule
he policy of the land! That it will have an In
uence, that it will contribute in time most i'm
Ortant influences or restraints, we are glad to
elieve; but If it rises at once to the control OF
he government, it will be because the North,
emOfallZ6Q Dy prosperity hLu UesOtIcu ny SIoN
ling interests, refuses to discharge its share of
Official duty. In such case, the South will {
OF only control the government. but ought to |
o it.
SIT is feared, with more reason, that the
estoraton Of the South to her full independence c
ill be detrimental to the freedmen: The sooner f
re dismiss from our minds the idea that the
.eedmen can be classified and separated from
he white population, and nursed and defended Ii
' themselves the better it will be for them and t
r. US. The negro is part and parcel Of Southern
ociety, He cannot be prosperous while it is
nprospered. It's evils will rebound upon him. q
8 Happiness and refrigeration cannot b, kept
ON his particil alton. The restoration OF the a
outh to amicabe relations with the North, the C
sorganization Of its industry, the Transportation f
enterprise and thrift will al 1sdoane ae
, the freedmen as an unsettled state Of society W
the South.
lprice and revenge. He will be made NE scaPe a
Dat of Law less and heartless men. Unless we a
lrn the government into vast military machine