Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-16
Correspondence.
GRAND RAPIDS, Wis, Mc'h 9, '76


II. B. PHILLEo :-Editor Reporter
My Dear SIR: In the Reporter of
this date, referring to portion of the
lecture lately delivered before the
Young Peoples Debating and Literary
society of this city, [ think you mis-
stated my position. [ much regret
that you should have done so even un-
intentionally as you might-had you
deeme it worth the asking -have had
access to the manuscript Of the lecture
referred to, In which case | think you
would not have deemed it necessary to
saver that he too indistinctly expressed
his views upon this all-engrossing ques-
ton"
On the occasion referred, to my views
were very emphatlcally and distinctly
expressed (if [ understand the force of
language upon all matters of which [
spoke. And as those views as express
ed were in permanent form, and were
at your service if called for, [ think
there was no occasion fol- any misap-
| prehension of them. If they were
worthy of your criticism at all, they
were worthy of your candid, truthful
criticism. [ believe the statement that
they were partizan in their nature is
equally unwarranted.
My opinion as expressed that the
best of good feelings should exist be-
tween the North and South and all
other sections Of our country is quite
positive and [ think not unwarrantably
so. The manuscript to which [ con-
fined myself with usual strictness, does
not show single allusion to "South-
ern unrepentant Rebels Neither did
[ allude to the Northern Traitor,
traitor of another stamp, but to be
equally despised, by all good citizens,
and loyal men. Neither now nor at any
period of my life did [ ever entertain
the thought "that it is duty the
North owes to the South to extend the
right hand of fellowship to Jeff. Davis
B. III. Hill and rebels of their ilk,"
much less have | ever thought of ex-
pressing such an idea.
The only a1lusion made to Jefferson
Davis, during the lecture, (was, while
speaking of the principle of hate
which is manifested by a school of
modern politicians, which school is COM
posed of a small sect of politicians
North and South) is in the follow
ing language: eve are told that it
was customary in ancient times to
create images and idols to be worshiped,
but it remained for one sect of this
school Of modern politicians to suspend
the penalty of the law and let the
greatest criminal on earth go unwhip-
ped OF justice in order to preserve an
object for their unwholly hate" to
which sentiment, [ think you must
state your exceptions in some other
form.
My opinion is, and was unequivo-
cally SO expressed, on the occasion re-
ferred to, that no section of our country
owes allegiance to another, but that the
North, South, East and West, are
bound under common obligations and
by mutual ties to one common consti-
tuition ''ordained to form q more perfect
Union, establish justice, insure domes-
tic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity."
i And, believe that any man whether
he be Jefferson Davis, B. III. Hill, 0.
p Morton or J. G. Blaine, who seeks
to renew and keep alive, the dissen-
tions which were settled years ago be-
tween the Northern and Southern sec
tions Of our united country, or who ia
stitutes or countenances any other Sec
tional strife, whether his motive be
: personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or partisan
success, is traitor to the great princi-
Piles of peace, security, justice, liberty
and domestic tranquility the stability
of which was the declared purpose of
the constitution That ''all engro ssing
| questions was settled years ago to the
entire satisfaction of its brave arbitra
, tors, and to the satisfaction of all parties
concerned except few demagogues
who now seek to make political capital