CINCINNATI, October
1, 1866.
MY DEAR GUY:— Your
letter of the 18th came duly to hand. It finds me in the midst of an unusually
exciting political struggle. The election is next week. I am a candidate for
re-election and expect to succeed by a large majority. I will bore you with
only a few words on politics.
I think the election
will show that the people are resolved to adopt the Congressional plan of
Reconstruction. It does not "disfranchise" anybody in the So uth. It
disqualifies for holding office those who have been leaders the old
office-holders. All young men are qualified although implicated in the
Rebellion. The disqualification probably applies to no man in your State who is
now under twenty-seven or eight years of age. Recollect too that the
disqualification can be removed in any case by a two-thirds vote of the Senate
and House. That vote will be obtained in all cases in a few years, if peace and
loyalty are restored in the South. You have, of course, seen our plan. I send
you one of my electioneering speeches which contains the different sections,
and let me frankly say that if we carry these elections, this plan contains the
best terms you will ever get — and they should be promptly accepted. The young
men are with us almost universally. The life and energy of the North is with
us. If the elections are against us, we shall submit. If they are for us, the
Democracy will submit. We shall be united in any event. Do not be again
deceived with the hope of Democratic help in a further struggle. I hope you
will give the Congressional plan a fair hearing. If we succeed you must adopt
it, if you regard your own welfare.
I am very much
obliged by the photographs album of particular friends and near relatives. My
wife is in love with the fine faces of your children. I can readily believe all
you say of your boy.
I have three boys
living- my three eldest. We lost two boys—both under two years. Birchie, aged
thirteen is in all respects a noble and promising boy. Webb aged ten and Rud
aged eight are good boys also. They are all absent from home now. The two big
boys with their uncle at Fremont and Ruddy at Chillicothe. My mother now aged
seventy-five is at Columbus in good health. Uncle often talks of you and would
give a good deal to see you. If you come North, do try to visit him as well as
myself. My brother-in-law (whom you know), Dr. Webb, is travelling in Europe.
My wife's mother died a few weeks ago. With no small children and no old person
about the house, my family seems small. I hope I shall see you soon.
I am sure you did
all that friendship required to meet General Fullerton. I count upon the
constancy and sincerity of your feelings by what I know of my own towards you.
The only things he could have said to you was to give you my views of the
future duty of the South. If we succeed in the elections now pending, don't be
deceived by Andy Johnson. The North will be far better united during the next
struggle, if unhappily there is one, than during the last. Johnson and his
office-holders will be "a mere snap-a flash in the pan." Ten thousand
majority in Ohio is as good for practical purposes as a unanimous vote. We
shall be united in action. We shall submit, if the majority is clearly against
us. Our adversaries will submit, if it is otherwise. My last word is, don't let
Andy Johnson deceive you. He don't know the Northern people.
Texas.
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