The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-18

SPECIAL TflEeaam 70 TINE HERAlp.

Letter of tseneral EOpc ~ ecueTai SEunt-
HIS Views of the Propriety Of Permitting
she Old Rebel Leaders 40 Discuss Recon.
ssruetion-A Reproduction of the Evils Expe.
rspnceS sy Tennessee the Effect OF Recon-
sracIior Under Their Teachings.
wAsH,sGros, August IL. lsert
II O'Clock P. NJ
The following letter from General Pope. Commander
Of the THIRD Military District, received By General
6Ian this morning
HEADQUARTERS THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT,
GEORGIA, ALABAMA AND FLoRIpA, ;
ATLANTA, Ca, July "a, 1861
GEvEsAL--i have the honor TO send enclosed news
paper containing a speech made in this city oy Il H.
Hii OF this State late Senator n the reeel Congress
This person only few weeks since pardoned ey the
President snd In common wthsamosi every paiconea
rebel ns rs the use he makes OF the clemency o. me
government You can readily see rom the speech ,s-n
abe character OF the man, who IS the iepresen,aIlve
Of large class and the hopelosspass OF any
reconstruction of the Southern states "nie Sue' 'en
II has been aud will continue 10 be my course to per,
mil and encourage the widest sutuae ., ,a "a b
press this district consistent with tle law 1lo tho
public peace. 40 MOI incnde among those VINO are
permitted exercise this latitude OF speech ,ne cvil
officers Of the PROVISIONAL State governments areauy
prohibited by ny from using any influence what
ever 10 deter dssuade the people rom an active
part reconslructing their stae governments under
sbe Reconstruction acts No such advantage as the use
The machinery of the exiH!ng state governments
ought TO he OF win given 20 The MISREPRESENTATION
party consider n desirable that the government and
She people of The United states should thoroughly I'M
ierstand the feelings and purposes the leading poll
Means OF ,he South in order that the country may
the result OF the coming elections precisely the
OF influence possessed by these amen, and the
and extent OF legislation required TO counterfeit It's
balefu effects In my opinion reconstruction can be
satisfactory at all reliable to future results unless
these permitted discuss openly and acc0Sd
Ing 10 their nature the issues presented II they
SIM retain influence enough with the masses or
active efforts to defeat reconstruction under the late acts
Of Congress II is better that the country should know
before after tho readmsson OF tue outnern states
INTO the Union. II would not be difficult 10 bad. IN the
vioient speeches Of such men, abundant cause Tor
sencing them but reconstruction mplished in this
would be index OF tho public sentiment, and
might and probably would result after year or two in
a relapse Of the people into the condition OF bond
age 20 these leaders that would lead necessarily
production Of the Same cond!uon OF things which de-
manded the passage Of the Reconstruction acts
II is better that the battle should be fought Out now
and openly If the people of these states have the
and the manhood 10 Withstand the influence
of the secession party and Of tue political leaders who
have long controlled hem who have led them into their
present desperate condition, and who seek TO plunge
them s deeper into misfortune and if they prove able
And wiling TO reconstruct their state governments upon
the only true principles OF government in defiance OF
headers and against active opposition, there viii
be good ground for hope that reconstruction
will be satisfactory and permanent II they cannot
do this il may well become question whether recon
any reasonable terms is possible long as
ahese unrepentant and rcactonary political leaders
suffered TO remain in this country Ii better tina, the
country should Know the truth on this subject now than
mistake has been made in the plan and execution OF the
Reconstruction acts.
need scarcely repeat that reconstruction to be IN the
spirit Of the acts OF Congress and TO be permanent
be the act OF The people themselves after fullest and
frecst discussion Congress has done wisely enabling
them TO make this fight by ds.rancLising
the leading rebels, and at least making II i'm
possible Tor them to vote or hold office.
would have been s better to enore their permanent
absence from the county The personal influence they
might brine 10 bear II they candidates themselves
Is thus greatly weakened and they forced 10 discuss
Issues and not appeal to personal feeling in their own
favor The people thus left freer than they ever
were before TO choose their own candidates. and are
foco 10 think for themselves as they have not hitherto
So far from being willing to The disfranchised
classes relieved from political disability, consid-
CT these DISTINGUISHING clauses oil the acts to be
amcng their wsest and best considered provisions.
II they do no other good than 10 relieve
hey have accomplished ncacuable service 1t is not
dcnsied that many worthy and now loyal men who
shsses Of the Military bills; but such result
avodole and can 10 their be easily remeded. II
WI no doubt be wise At early day TO relieve by
zach OF the disiranchised persons as have hitherto
proved shall prove by thor conduct IN the of
The next six months, that they worthy of it, While
II unavoidable that some good would be dis.
fanchsed By provisions Of law again classes Of
persons the remedy easy TO undertake the converse
Of thisthat to give general amnesty aud xcpt IN.
dividuals by name-would certainly result leaving
large numbers enfra who ought to be- Such
Improper persons might decide the coming elections be-
f1e their unttness could Re ascerained and then
II would he more than difficult 10 remedy the evil
der he method set forth IN the Reconstruction act
Nv far the wiser course OF the two, and hardly
understand how any man familiar with the facts can
iLink osherwlse
These dlsIanchised persons include, generally the
whole army OF those who now hold or have hitherto
held Office With few exceptions, all these persons
were active rebels, and are bitterly opposed TO
erTeton under The acts OF Congress-opposed IN fact
e. aHy reconstruction whatever except such would
leave them in precisely the same political condition
n there had been rebellion aud no Even such
reconstruction this they would only accept rs ne.
cessiiy % tho situation, with the purpose renew in
Congress. and peTpetrate among themselves a. nearly
~ possible the same conditions which existed be.
lore tne With these reaconists dominant In the
south, freedom OF speech and OF the press Will
nlnI Nan avis IlaI frtan
these who were secessonsts cat have advocated
sirucoa Under the late acts Of Congress would lnd
peace and protection IN these Tho last con-
don o. The freeAmen would be worse than the first
need only point to this speech OF Mr. Hill, his
meroas c,ters the letters OF Governor Perry OF South
carolina OF Eerscnel v johnson, OF Georgia and many
other sach men. FOR sufficient evidence that have not
oyeslaed the case These mca are the representatives,
OF large and powerful element bent reaction, and
they have been in the habit Of controlling the Southern
whites BY taxing opposite sides Of political question
ihoy have in times pas, divided the Southern
whites ON purely personal grounds and have thus
created the impression elsewhere that among the
there was political question decided instead OF purely
personal one. United rs they agains, recon.
ssrrcion, wise 10 ascertain how FAR their influence
can prevail with the people The DISTINGUISHING clauses
Of the acts OF Congress put out Of the power Of these
men 10 be candidates for Office One great element Of
shcr strength s thus destroyed and the people, left
choose other leaders and for other candidates have
really freedom % action which they had before
and ind Themselves under q necessity for thinking
which they have not heretofore felt Congress has
them this privilege and imposed upon them This salu
tary necessity u remains u be seen how they will
them II they win the battle acanst their former
leaders aer open nght, all may be well in the future
ii not, then Lot
do not al all agree In the opinion that there
enough competent IN this district to hold the civil
ofhees who are not DISTINGUISHED have, think rea.
son TO know otherwise. But admitting that Is Is
60 rs better 10 have an but Low nj man in
once than 10 have rebel Of whatever ability; in TACT
abe greater The ability the greater the danger OF NAL
administration The questions at issue under these acts
Of Consrcss are the most momentous ever presented
10 people, The result for good or evil will
AFFECT all parts OF the country with more or
less force. and will leave impress upon
Institutions which Will long remain II easy under
existing circumstances 10 win the FIRST victory and
construct these states under the OF Congress But
this victory only the beginning OF the contest and
unless u be victory, openly ana fairly and very
decisive N ts results, u prove not only ruess.
hut absolutely destructive. The problem perpeu.
ATE rocoustrgcion in the spirit aid the principles
which can aonc assure free government should
we eject reconstructlon even after silencipg
abe open opposition OF the old political
leaders stand committed 70 admit the reconstructed
States into the Union Once admitted into the Union,
the power ~ Congress them reduced practically
10 the general power which that body has over all
Ma. In ha rufo nv adm fhe.a haas.