Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-03-05

Thurlow Weeds Letter.
Mr. " eed has reached an age at which
his strength Of body. and doubtless his force
Of mind, Ina. somewhat abated. There are
those that call him supeHnnuated but the
fact remains that his long head has carried
il it for more than generation large
share Of the political wisdom of his day.
He has the oll mans weakness Of thinking
that no men and no DAYS of modern times
ean equal the men and the days OF his early
prime. But hi experience with public al
fairs his political ,lgacity and his unselfsh
patriotism entitle his views to respectful
attention and the independence of his
position--lor lie i past active connection
with PARTY and political life-will add,
with independent thinkers, to the value of
his opinions
In his recently published letter, Mr.. Weed
begins Ly abiding to the Republican re
verses of last fall. tie thinks that the finan-
cial. commercial aad manufacturing de-
rangenent and distress were sufficient for
the overthrow OF any party. Yet there were
other causes. Tie administration was ser;-
ou>.y weakened by the Sc back pay grab,
E. Treasury department imbecilities, San
born contracts. d" Washington City govern
meat frauds, " and the third term agitation.
We quote h- words ,n this subject
When the pres began to agitate about a
Third Term" lew, ii any, supposed that
such 81 idea was seriously entertained. No
such thought found responsible expression.
But the agitation continued until consldera-
be popular solcitude was awakened. As
tie elections approached Republicans grew
arpreheneiye and anxious. Republican
members f Congress not only wrote 10, but
visited Washington, in the hope of being
authorized to contradict the accusation.
Bu, 10 word VA, >pcken, no sign given by
the only person who could by the utterance
%. Il single sentence, have disarmed his op-
ronents and treasured his friends.
There has not been DAY OF an hour since
General Ma-hington'- enlightened AID pa
trlotir vi-w-.. enforced and fortified 10y the
strong. clear aud conclusive arguments OF
General Hamilton. were submitted 10 the
people, that any president, however wise,
useful and popular NAY have been hls ad-
mini>tration. cuU!i have secured or ap-
preached an election for " Third Term"
Nor Wa it ever alleged that jefferson, Madi
-on. Monroe or Jackson (who served two
terras) either permitted their friends to en-
terta.n slcn an idea, or deludel themselves
with such AL aspiration. |! there be any
thing unaiteIahiy fixed and determined in
the American mind and heart-if there be
any one urincip,e 10 which our people have
anchored it Is the d" Third Term" example
of Washington And am deyoutly thank
iul that there is 50 much left of the teach |
ius> Of our political Fathers to which their |
descendants cling
NJ Weed zoe, on to ,ay that the Re
publican party, Ion the good work it had /
done before and during lie rebellion, ought
q, have held the government at least one or
two presidential terms longer. The Demo
cratic party, hc says " both on account Of |
its :aisr1le before and it, iisloyalty during /
the rebellion Justly forfeited tie confidence
of the people Nor has it eyinced since the
rebellion ANYTHING Of the wisdom which
formerly characterized that great party. On |
the contrary, it, teachings and tendencies
Justify apprehension that malign element,
now aS to heretofore, ezerts a prepondera
ting influence in it, councils"
Leaving party questions, Mr.. Weed pro-
ceel~ to consider the Obstacles to resumption
OF specie payment, in gold speculationS ex
tra'agant importations Of Injuries; and the
deportation Of gold TO Europe by Americans
who are iiling away their time and money
abroad. lie fayorS gradual contraction and
4 protective tariff, and strongly rebukes the
; laundering Of the public domain through
g homestead laws" and cztraugant land
grants to railroads he considers ten and
eight hour systems Il prolific source of mis-
chief, and that the despotism Of labor
i unions has become uncomfortable. We
quote from Mr. Weeds letter. his views on
Reconstruction, from the beginning a
most difficult problem. has been embarrassed
~ want Of wisdom at Washington, and by
memories in the South The dis
organized condition Of the southern States
attracted thence bold and INSCRIPTIONS
Northern adventures, who: associated with
li>handcd soldiers, - the cankers of long
var, remained 10 deyastate conquered
country. These wretches have inflicted upon
south Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, etc,
tic, tie worst possible specimens Of State
government. At the niamies perpetrated
"a these aud other rebel States, civilization =,
'iuSheS. And vet, those who suffer from ,
arpet-aaE dishonesty and oppression are |
themselves largely 10 blame for it, When |
ebellion was conquered, if the white inhabi- /
ants, yielding 10 the inevitable had recogni- @
ed their former slaves as freedmen. treat
~ them kindly, and Offering them employ !
lent with reasonable wages, the designs Of /
would have been thwarted
lhrm this because there is undeniable evi-
ence that in localities where the law Of !
lndncss preIaIls, where masters endeavorel .
} concI,iate their former slaves, they were :,
nliormly successful and that in such To- h
iiities not only nothing is heard Of d" war V
9tween races, but reconstruction has been
accomplished. These instances Y
good sense and torhearance, | regret to v
y, are exceptional. For the most part. a
lose who rushed into 4 rebellion to divide v
le Union are now as aggressive and defa Mt "
they were when Fort Sumter was fired upon. e
nahle to establish confederate government a
icy seemed determined to ayenge them =
l'es upon the freedmen, who, but for the - :,
4 III - |
I've still remained in bondage. =,
The - White Leagues of Louisiana were n,
it too accurately described by General D,
lerldan. Such organizations are not need Il
to subserye the purposes of good govern OF
ent. They are banded together to hunt.
'und, and, if needs be, murder the ne W
oes. Reconstruction, therefore, seems as &c
lheult and distant as it was at the close of n
c war. Georgia, always less ultra and ~
Ire practical than South Carolina or Ala ei
ma, has re-established law and order. a;
nth Carolina, UNANIMOUSLY governed for Of
. or three years, seems now to be doing If
tier. That I. 5. soldiers are required in Il
ne excited sections to protect freedmen can
be doubted. The officers in comma nd te
ould be men of intelligence and prudence, pc
ting only when the duty is clearly impera- vi
e We
In Louisiana there has been nothing but al a.
srule, disorder, fraud, corruption, anarchy :"
violence from the close Of the war. 1t ii,
difficult to ascertain which party, or what
ton, Is the worst. Gen. Grant was not. tn
ear, fortunate in his early appointments tn
federal officers ; nor do believe the KEEL Sol
g government worthy of the sacrifices re- re-
lred to maintain it. The Congressional ha
mmittee recently in New Orleans may ha
d 4 remedy for the evils which have so W.
g scourged that fertile and rich but mis- a.:
bly, distracted State a. a.
Mr.. Weed considers the civil rights bill m,
asure of " questionable wisdom" While *
Is free in his criticisms of the Republi- 49,
/ party and Administration, Mr.. Weed, it
lardly necessary to saw sees no hone IF ,