Thaddeus Stevens to William D. Kelley, 6 Sept. 1866
Transcribed by Keith Richard Carson and reverse-order proofing by Ryan Burgess, Furman University, from the Thaddeus Stevens Papers
Introduction:
The congressional elections in 1866 promised to reflect the ongoing conflict between President Johnson and the Republican Radicals. In August of 1866, Johnson and his supporters called a National Union Convention in Philadelphia. At the convention, men from Massachusetts and South Carolina paraded arm in arm to symbolize national reconciliation and social equality.[1] Among the men there were Frederick Douglass and Theodore Tilton. Frederick Douglass was a former slave and black abolitionist who championed the cause of the black man during Reconstruction. Theodore Tilton was a white man who became editor-in-chief of the "Independent," a paper which expressed the plight of Northern abolitionists.[2] Along with others, Douglass and Tilton walked arm in arm down the aisle of the convention to demonstrate social equality.
William D. Kelley, whom Stevens wrote to, was a representative to Congress from the fourth congressional district.[3] Both Kelley and Stevens agree in the confiscation of plantations, the emancipation of slaves and vigorous prosecution of the war. In the letter, Stevens shared with Kelley his thoughts on the future consequences of the convention. Stevens feared the Convention would remind voters of the mythical prejudice that Radical Republicans were against social equality. The letter revealed not only Stevens fear, but details of the conflict between himself and President Andrew Johnson.
[1]George Brown Tindall and David E. Shi, America: A Narrative History, 752 - 758
[2]The National Cyclopedia of American Biography: Theodore Tilton 8 (Clifton, N.J., 1984)
[3]The National Cyclopedia of American Biography: William D. Kelley 6 (Clifton, N.J., 1984)
Bedford Jennings, Sept. 6, 1866
Dear Sir:
A good many people here are disturbed by the practical exhibition of social equality in the Arm - in - arm performance of Douglas and Tilton – It does not become radicals like us to particularly object – But it was certainly unfortunate at this time – The old prejudice, now revived will lose us some votes – Why it was done I cannot see except as a foolish bravado. The Massachusetts & S. Carolina opinion was disgusting enough – This I fear will neutralize it. The Creswell resolutions are atrocious.
Thaddeus Stevens
(benson/HST41/green/stevens4.htm)