| Show beerli BEECHER E R TO beecher ii A 1 J REPLY OF EDWARD BEECHER beechen TO III ill warl WARI tt I 1 1 rev E edward dward beecher DD of gales blar burgh biar gh ill lii hav hat addressed a letter through the chicago tribune to his brother rev bev henry ward beecher in reply to the celebrated letter of the latter upon n the letter of reconstruction he tio tto e charges ageg that that letter Imp implies lles lieg this false assumption that there are some wibo who are not in favor of speedily restoring the seceded states it is an argument against such after aftel c critically ay revl reviewing fewing it lie he says saya iv Y svening evening post do not deceive yourself by the assumption that the peculiarity of your position is that you are in favor of the immediate restoration of the seceded states and that herein you a agree oree gree with johnson and differ with the republican party this assumption is unfounded the republicans areas are aro as much in favor of the of the immediate restoration of the seceded states as ZIS you or as johnson the p point of difference is this johnson insists on admitting aristocratic despo timms organized by leaders of the rebellion clothed with peculiar and extraordinary power and subjecting loyal men to their sway and congress does not in this antagonism on which side freyou there is no middle ground are y pa ou aon ava against dinst such despotism then en say so boldly and alid deno denounce fance fince them and their author as they deserve doctor beecher accounts for his brothers singular obliquity on the ground that one portion dortlon of divine truth has lias become unbalanced in his mind making his theories of reconstruction one sided and false these are the duties of forgiveness gi veness confidence in evildoers eyal evil doers magnanimity gani nani mity and overcoming evil with wil good on these you were speaking lie he remarks when you denounced the policy of thaddens stevens as satanic you assigned no specific reason far your denunciation bilt but the implication was strong that it was because it did not agree with your ideas of magnanimity forgiveness and overcoming evil with good you would restore the rebels to power V greater than that of loyal men honor them confide in them royally load them with benefits and gifts and then thon work through them in their prosperity perl peri aty ity to elevate the freedmen whom you have stripped of all power this you ou think is and any policy of penalty deprivation and restriction towards traitors is satanic r i in conclusion doctor beecher gays says so farls faris far is it from being true that there is no danger of retrogression that if the policy polley of john johnson s 0 n prevails the south will wiil have a bal bai balance a nce nee of power in connection ne action with northern allies and by sol Tol following lowina his principles as to congress up to their logical bissu issues eg will be able to invalidate all the legislation of the war restore slavery assume the rebel debt and repudiate that of the nation if all states have an indefeasible right to representation at all times if all amendments to the constitution should be initiated bya hya by a congress composed of the representatives of all the states to be valid if the present congress only as to be a congress hanging on the outskirts of the government and all this johnson and his partisans have taught what surer premises are needed to lead logically to all the result which have been specified and ap arp we to trust to the honor or moral integrity of those who through perjury initiated the rebellion to avert t the e result there is no safety safely but in a firm adherence to the fundamental principles of justlee justice and honor if we deviate from them god will make our sin our punishment if web wel we believe elleve thab that there is a god and that as nations sow so shall they reap if justice honor and humanity are not mere empty names let us not dare to do I 1 am your affectionate brother edwand EDWARD DWARD bercheit BEE CHEIt I 1 |
