Year: 1866

that the Blacks of the South destined to extermi
nation because do not believe they are to be left o
the tender mercies of her Whites. As to the Freed
mems Bureau, it is to-day subssting quite as many
Whites as Blacks and joyfully trust that 1t may
very soon be dispensed with. Give US Equal Rights
secured by Equal Laws, and let the Bureau be
abolished at once Some will die whom its opera
tons would keep alive; but the Blacks are very
willing to take their chance without it if they may
thereby secure the inestimable blessing of just and
equal laws.


Y. You and I are not likely to view the late Rebel
lion alike You hold it an assertion of the right OF
selfgovernment;" Iregard il as the fruit of con-
spiracy of shareholders to extend the area and in
crease the power of their Internal institution" You
talk of "the right to change ard alter their form OF
government" in the same breath that you deny the
right Of -Four Millions Of Southern people to any
voice whatever in framing or modifying their govern
ment or the laws under which they live. 1t is plain
that We are at variance with respect to first prnci
ples and cannot proftably argue Till we have settled
the meaning of terms. From your point OF view,
the firing on an unarned steamboat sent with food to
the Federal garrison in Fort Sumter, the encTcng
cf that fort with fowning ronclad batteries the rob-
berry of the Federal arsenas armores and sub'treaS-
ures throughout the South, the seizure of the Ma


onal fortresses, the betrayal and captivity (under
Buchanan, mind you y of the Federal army guard
ing the frontiers Of Texas, the mob violence and
terrorism which hunted down and silenced
Unionists, especially if Northerners, throughout
the slaveholding region, and finally, the bom-
bardment and reduction OF Sumter, were
all striking exemplifcations of the pacific, lamb


like tendencies of the consprators for Secession
Why, then, should you and discuss the matter I!
That the Southern people, mean, for this once
the Whites only)-were not for Secession until buhed
terrorized lied into acquiescence IN the plot through
dread of more immediate if not more formidable
perils hold myself at all times ready to demonstrate
That the cOnsprators knep they were not, IS proved
By the haste of the South Carolina ogarchy to rush
their State ont Of the Union without awaiting any
form of cooperation" The facts that in all the
States that seeded before Sumter was bombarded to
fire the Southern heart" there was cautious avoid
ance of any fair, frank submission of the mOmentous
Ordinance to popular vote with the utter rout OF
the Seoessonists in majority OF the Slave States,
have an eoquence that far outweiShs argument.
need not expatiate on them.


Gov. Perry it is the hight Of presumption III those
who for four years did Their utmost TO destroy the
Union now to assume to measure and limit the rights
of tho loyal men, White or Black, at whose hands
they experienced so terrible defeat-so complete an
overthrow. You ought to counsel them to accept
readily gratefully, Equal Rights secured by Equal
Laws as the basis of prompt, thorough, beneiicent
Reconstruction When before did ever the absolute
yctors in so mighty struggle say to the vanqushed,
"Let us henceiorth be equals" only to have the
overture repelled and scouedl entreat You TO con-
slider, Yours, uQ8ASE VREhLhi'


Ne,,.Y York MAY l. 1856 '''