Year: 1867

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PARTY.


To the Editor of the Tribune.


SIR: You have commented in the Tribune
on my recent letter to committee OF Atlanta,
Ga, expressing my views in part upon the
scheme of reconstruction adopted by Congress
and offered to the ten prescribed States for their
acceptance. Your comments are intended to
be severe; they are also unjust to me and those
who agree with me, though, [ am bound to
presume not so intended by you. [ should
have felt grateful if you had published the let
ter, which, L believe you have not done. |
claim no right to its publication in the Tribune
for l fully recognize your right to publish or re-
ject whatsoever you may deem expedient and
proper. | therefore prefer no complaint on
that score, though, from your usual fairness, |
might have expected you to pursue different
course.


The masses at the North-and am not sure
that the remark is not applicable even to your
self and very many OF the editors and leading
men of that section-are not informed of the
true condition of things in Georgia and the 9TH
er nine States which are termed disloyal. Es-
ings and motives of those who are adverse to
the Congressional scheme of reconstruction. If
they were, [ fain would hope that the policy of
the dominant power would be less exacting and
proscrlptlve, not to say oppressive Ii those
who lead public sentiment in your portion OF
the Union be true patriots and statesmen, their
real desire IS to promote the welfare OF our
whole country and perpetuate good govern
ment, IN contradlstlnctlon to mere party ascen-
dancy. This, certainly, should be the aim of
all good men, | assure you that no other feel
ing has place in my breast, ! never, in my
whole life, cherished sentiment or did an act
Of inf oil host 10 +hn it11tIn nf
the United States, OR to the Union OF the States,
according to my honest opinion of its spirit and
meaning.


The late war has wrought great changes in
the Southern States, and has brought before
the people of the Union, for final decision, many
grave questions, involving, in my poor judg-
ment, the character and destiny of our govern
ment. Indeed, constitutional liberty itself is in
great peril. This is my honest conviction
Statesmen should survey our surroundings, with
the view OF avertlng that peril, rather than the
maintenance OF party ascendancy No man can
more ardently desire the restoration of the
Union, upon the principles of the Constitution,
than | do. | submit to all the legitimate re.
suits OF the war, and | would gladly adopt any
plan OF reconstruction which would not seek to
impose terms upon us inconsistent with those
results, and calculated to imperl Constitutional
liberty. You seem to think that am factlous-
y opposed to the Congressional scheme that
wish to prolong and aggravate present politi-
cal disturbance and discord that am actuated
by spirit of disloyalty; that throw the small
mite OF my poor influence into the scale Of strife
and discomfort Little do you know, and less
do you appreciate, my earnest longings for
peace, harmony, prosperity, national equality
and justice. The scheme Of reconstruction Of
fered to us processes to extend to US the right
Of choosing by vote; it calls on US to say wheth-
er we are for or against convention, such as
that scheme contemplates. When [, in the
exercise Of that volition, express myself as op-
posed to it, you and the other leading republi-
cans of the North, who consider my opinions
worthy of notice, infer therefrom that / am dis
loyal, faetious and rebellious. If those who are
opposed to this plan of reconstruction are thus
to be branded, why call on us to choose? If
we be free to choose is it quite consistent char
not choose as the Republicans desire that we
should? Aye, more than this; to threaten us
with perpetual disfranchisement and conisca-
ton if we do not so choose? Is that the way
to establish State governments, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed
1T is true am disfranchised-I am not per-
mitted to register under the Sherman BILL But
[ did not know that [ was, therefore, not at
liberty to speak and write freely to my fellow
citizens, without beng denounced as dlsoyal
and factious l profess to be loyal to the Con-
stitution and intend to be loyal to the Union.
But if loyalty means fidelity and adhesion to
the Republican party, shall never belong to
it, nor be loyal to it, so long as it persists in
course of policy which must end in the over
throw of the Constitution. [ have taken the
oath of amnesty, and intend to keep it in good
faith, in letter and spirit; 1t binds me to sup
port the Constitution. That l will do to the
best of my ability. 1t binds me to support the
emancipation of the negroes from slavery
That | intend to do, and favor their invest
men b g v1 e erey the sn5 nere shat % IS M
ganized society, and the perpetuation of good
government. More than this you would not
ask of me. We may differ honestly as to what
rights are compatible with these ends; but that
difference does not constitute either of US trait
ors or disoyalists, in any legitimate sense of the