Year: 1866

the sentiments expressed III MS recenI
Cleveland letter, that gentleman has re-
piled to them in another letter, from
which we make the following extracts:


PEEKsKILL, Saturday, Sept. 8.


MY DEAR FRIEND-I am obliged to
you for your letter. am sorry that my
friends and my congregation are grieved
by my Cleveland letter. This feeling,
however, has no just grounds, whatever
may be the seeming. 1 have not left,
and do not propose to leave or to be put
out of the Republican party. l am in
sympathy with its aims, its great prin-
ciples, and its army of noble men. But
l took the liberty Of criticising its policy
in single respect, and to do what |
could to secure what / believed, and
still believe, to be better one. l am,
and from the first have been, fully of the
opinion that the amendment of the Con-
stitution proposed by Congress eqalizing
representation in Northern and Southern
States was intrinsically Just and reason
able, and that it should be sought by a
wholesome and persistent moral agita.
tion. But from the present condition of
the public mind, and from the Presi.
dents attitude, deemed such a change
to be practically impossible in any near
period by political action, and a plan of
reconstruction based upon that seems
to me far more like plan of adjourning
reconstruction for years at least, with all
the liabilities of mischief which are al
ways to be expected in the fluctuations
Of politics in free nation.


1t is not the North that chiefly needs
the restoration Of the Government to its
moral sphere and regular action. Either
the advantages of union are fallacious,
or the continuous exclusion of the South
from it will breed disorder, make the fu-
ture reunion more difficult, and espe-
cially subject the freedmen to the very
worst conditions Of society which can
we'll exist. No army, no Government,
-" eaytalv power can eoInpSi'tsia s2of' /.
,s,s.,NE.s;,s,,. ;e q
wrongly, regard these men as the cause
or oven the occasion of their unhappi-
ness and disfranchisement. But no army,
no Government, or power will be requir-
ed when Southern society is restored,
occupied and prospering in its renewed
Union. Then the negro will be felt to
be necessary to Southern industry, and
interest will join with conscience and
kindness in securing for him favorable
treatment from his fellow citizens.


We that live at distance may think
that the social reconstruction involved
in the emancipation of four millions of
slaves is as simple and easy as it is to
discourse about it, but such change is
itself one of the most tremendous tests
to which industry and society can be
subjected. and to its favorable issue is
required every advantage possible. The
longer, therefore, the South is left in
turmoil the worse it will be for the negro.
If there were no other reason; if the
white population were not our fellow
citizens; if we had lost all kindness and
regard for them, and all pride for the
Union as in the past represented by
Southern States, and confined our atten-
ton exclusively to the negro, the case
would be strong beyond my power OF ex-
preston for an early resumption of Fed.
eral relations with all the States. If
this is to disregard the negro, then all
social and natural laws have been studied
in vain.





shall not attempt to apportion blame
where both sides erred It is enough to
say that unity secured at the seat of
Government would have been a noble
achievement of leadership. Deeming
the speedy admission of the Southern
States as necessary to their own health,
as indirectly the best policy for the
freedmen, as peculiarly needful to the
safety of our Government, which for the
sake of accomplishing a good end, in
cautious men are in danger OF pervert-
ing, / favored and do still favor the
election to Congress of Republicans who
will seek the early admission of the
recusant States. Having urged it for a
year past, was more than ready to urge
it again upon the various Conventions
which preceded the nomination of rep
resentatives to Congress this fall. In
this spirit and for this end, l drew up
nv Cleveland letter deem its views
sound. l am not sorry that | wrote it.
regret the Misrepresentation which 1t
has caused, and yet more, any sorrow
which it may have needlessly imposed
upon dear friends. AS look back upon
| NV COURSE, SEQ lO uONloblOh iANh4 Shoe
straight line which have made without
wavering for near thirty years of public
life in favor of justice, liberty, and the
elevation of the poor and ignorant. The
attempt to class me with men whose
course / have opposed all my life long
will utterly fail. shall choose my own
place, and shall not be moved from it
| have been from my youth a firm
unwavering, avowed and active friend OF
all that were oppressed. l have done
nothing to forfeit that good name which
I have earned. | am not going weakly
to turn away from my settled convictions
of the public veal nor fear that bad men
may praise nor good men blame. There
is a serious difference OF Judgmeni
between men as to the best policy. We
must all remit to the future the decision
of the question. Facts will soon judge
US


Mr.. Beecher concludes by temperate
Christian appeal to his congregation and
friends to accord to him purity of pur
pose and fidelity to the principles OF clvl
liberty. He will not, he says, become
partizan, but reserves the right to dittel
and dissent, and respects the same righ'
in others.


| D,,1,r~ = Rr-uFR-The peoul,