New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-10
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM GEN. sICKIEs TO SENATOR
TRuAmIII.

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM GEN. sICklEs TO SENATOR
TRUMBUIL,
CHARLESTON, S. c., July 9.-Gen. Sickles has adj
dressed the following letter TO Senator Tmmbull:
CHARLESTON, s. c., July s, 1867.
MY DEAR SIR: have decided not 10 begin registration
In this District until Congress determines who shall be
registered trust therefore, that win be the pleasure
Of Congress to extend the time for the completion OF my
reglstration-say October on November. II proceed
now the wishes OF the President my action
would he regarded as characterization II follow his
ntimstiGns they would probably be registered not eg
Congress II "a meant thp all who have held Office,
Federal State municipal having taken an oath oiee
support the Constitution Of the United States and after
ward engaged In Rebellion or given aid or comfort etc,
are dsfranshsed THIS should be eapressy d cen
officers included than those CLASSES enumerated
I'm Article the Constitution and that to these
a fun pardon removes the disqualification. fit is meant
60 eXeude lawyers they should Dc expressly mentioned
or else described by sonic easscatonas for example,
after the word Office" add, "any licensed calling,
employment, on profession otherwise u the eligibility
tina. q lawyer ia not public officer although
a functiOnary OF court or other Judicial body.
In truth VIC have now In operation two distinct sysems
OF Reconstruction originated by Congress and engraed
upon the Presidents plan Of Reconstruction. The first
tionai Amendment leaving suffrage 70 DO regulated by
the several states and imposing upon certain classes OF
Rebellion and s5fsgI1rd for the fnt1rc That plan
the Reconstruction Act which forms second scbeme OF
Reconsruct0n entirely distinct IN principle and plan hon
iol Of the question Of suffrage which is extended all
who can take a prescribed OATH and also eDforces the
dsqualncations for Office which would have been the
penal feature Of the first plan. Now
seems 10 me that tho true conservative guarantee
against reaction Is In the addition made 10 the loyal vote
by the enfranchlSemcnt Of the colored people That
being done the occasion for the disqualification clause
ceases Hence the rs solution, believe 10 TO declare
WIN universal sunrai- "A Ecnefal amnesty, naming
The exception more liberal amnesty w. ~, IN
Congressional plan of reconstruction IL viii enlarge the
Of popular choice for the important judicial E1ec
Deu IN
otherwise ncOnf enenty confined 10 casses very
few OF whom NJ 10 hold Office The people surely
be ntrused 20 judge ard select nom those who took part
I'm the Rebellion, the AZ qualified and sincere In
their adhesion to the order OF things Such things
being eligible to Office, will have motives TO identity
themselves with reconstruction, and TO support
the Views OF the majority. Now more than ever
men Of ability and experience In public business are
truly unfortunate that ~ such moment nearly all VINO
know anything Of public AFFAIRS are dsfranehsed and es
pSclally Those w&S Sepd al judicial stations This
hazards II the experiment fails 10 Is likely TO fail
from the inability OF tbs people TO put In Office those who
could and would IL would have been all
persons especially judge shern and magistrates in the
execution OF the sixth section OF the act Of March
II competent successors could have been found among
possession now OF wider field OF choice for civil officers
as one Of the most effective instrumontates In the
execution Of the military authority conferred rPon
as win the people by and by, nom occurring
for the public service men OF aptitude and
character whose repentance as certain as TIE devotion
Of the most consistent loyalist In truth, this zeal OF
Of the Courts oufns the discretion or many 81 the
faithful With reference 60 other practical suggestions,
u might be useful II Congress BY one o. IT'S conmttSes
trcts upon the operation of the Reconstruction acts and
the further LEGISLATION required. o,o
Very respectfully, d. f. biCkLEs
Chairmau Judiciary Committee, US Senate.