Whitelaw Reid: “The original proposal would have in itself done far less harm than its…”

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The original proposal would have in itself done far less harm than its opponents imagined and far less good than its supporters hoped.

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Whitelaw Reid

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Reid reflects on the original proposal's potential impact, suggesting it was misunderstood by both sides.

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In November nothing could exceed the hatred which seemed everywhere felt to the freedmen.

Give them order and justice, and trust to these to win them in other regards to our ways.

Isn’t it better to have the laws in some way take the matter out of their hands and make them work?

But proofs were not wanting of the spirit in which, to the very last, the conflict against the Government had been waged.

Whitelaw Reid: “The original proposal would have in itself done far less harm than its opponents imagined and far less good than its…”