Essay On Thaddeus Stevens Letters,
12 November 1997.
Transcribed by Alex MacClenahan and written by Holly Harper, Chris
Jonas, and Alex MacClenahan
This was undoubtedly a troubled time period in our nation s history. A storm was brewing in Congress over who should have control over Reconstruction, and Thaddeus Stevens, as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, sat directly in the middle of it. We explored six months worth of his letters, from January to July 1864, and sought to choose four to post that would give adequate representation to the variety of letters and requests contained in that time period. These letters were chosen for their ability to give the reader a unique view of the political, social, and personal aspects of the 1860s. They provide us with some insight into what the issues were during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War.
The letter to Uncle Thaddy was one of the most amusing letters because of its intimate nature. It appears that Jonathan B. Clark, Jr. Was a family friend of Stevens, as the end of the letter is an exchange of pleasantries. Research on Clark seemed to contradict the letter, as indicated in the introduction, but it is possible that Clark switched party loyalties during the upheaval of the 1870s.[1] Most intriguing about this letter is the obvious trepidation the Republicans felt concerning Lincoln s re-election. This unease is also displayed in the July 10, 1864 letter to Edward McPherson.
In this letter, Stevens articulates the growing sentiment in Congress that Reconstruction was a Congressional power. If the infamous proclamation was, indeed, the one issued on July 8, 1864, then the letter is clearly a response to Lincoln s insistence that Reconstruction was the responsibility of the President. [2] Congress had tried to respond to Lincoln s 1863 Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction by declaring the governments of Arkansas and Louisiana null and void, but Lincoln s infamous proclamation asserted the right of these governments to exist.
The final two letters serve as a possible cry against the growing nationalization of the American corporation. They represent the little man, the small business alienated by high fees and non-uniform methods of taxation. These are the types of letters that abound during this time period, and they are truly a cry for help.
The letter dated on January 16, 1864, was picked as representative of the numerous pieces of correspondence regarding concerns over certain aspects of the Revenue Laws that addressed the method of taxation on tobacco products. The view is consistent with those expressed in other letters from this time period--the tax should, indeed, be placed upon the leaf tobacco, rather than on the manufactured cigars, as directed by the legislation. Unfortunately, however, research on the author in numerous sources proved fruitless in identifying him beyond the name provided in the letter.
Finally, as to the letter dated 22nd of January, 1864, it, too, was chosen in an effort to give voice to the concerns of the little man expressed in many of the letters that passed across Stevens desk during this time period. This correspondence exemplifies a by-product or consequence of the emerging nationalized American corporation that was indicative of the times, in which, smaller, perhaps family owned businesses were left out. Corporations originally born out of a state initiative to assist the public good no longer existed, as special interests dominated the corporate hierarchical structure.[3] The letter requests consideration for the $50 license fee imposed on brokers of this time by the Revenue Laws and the larger percentage of revenue it represents for the smaller firms. Here, the author is referring to the Tax Act of 1862, which placed significant licensing fees on most types of businesses. [4] The anonymous author, a little Broker, also refers to his life-long adherence to the principles of the Republican Party and to the putting down of the rebellion, a view of the Southern states as traitors, which Stevens himself supported. According to Barney, the e war only solidified the party standings of Americans, and naturally, this man is appealing to someone whom he felt could sympathize with his plight.
These letters offer a unique insight into the problems and concerns of Americans during this time period. They give us a glimpse into the minds of the men of yesteryear, men troubled by the political issues facing them and the preservation of the parties they hold dear. They also show us what it was like to be the little fellow in the midst of Reconstruction and shed light on his concerns over the difficulties he was facing. They cry out for unity and fairness, and ask for mercy from the pressures of the growing corporations throughout the country. Most interesting was how little our history books tell us of the repercussions of the tobacco tax and the Tax Act of 1862. Judging from the Stevens letters, this was an extremely important issue of the time; yet, we hear nothing of it now.
(benson/HST41/clear/stevens5.htm)