Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-07-20
Gen. Siokles Letter.


says the Charleston Daily News" With the
issue which has brought tho National Lcgis-
turc together at so inopportune a time, under
such lnauspicous circumstances, the people
of the South have had nothing to do Fairly
and faithfully have we done, or rather were
We doing the duty imposed upon us and if
like tho victim of old we were to roll the
stone up the hill only to see it tauntingly
thrown back, all that was left us was to bear
patiently the exercise of this tormenting ty-
ranny. But not only has the action of Cou-
grcss so far indicated OIL the part of the North,
a just recognition of our position, but there
are evidences that there are those in power
who comprehend the opportunity for state
nanshp which the present crisis affords.
Our readers can scarcely fail to understand
that we refer specially to tho letter from Gen.
Sicklcs to Senator Irumbull, which we pub
liShcd yesterday What We could not say,
he has said, and his words are wcighty with
the experience of one who has perhaps more
successfully than any Of his colleagues car
rcd out the provisions of the Reconstruction
Act. His fidelity to the Republican party not
the most extreme radical doubt, and the cor
dition of the Military District which he com-
m"nds is the best proof Of the practical Wis
dom Of the administration.
His letter may be considered in two points
of view; (irst as tho testimony of the most
competent of witnesses of the condition of
the State under his command, and, second as
the suggestion of the highest practical author
ity as to the best mode of reconstruction.
Considered as testimony, we can refer to
1t as conclusive proof that our people have
done their duty; that they have met fairly
the responsibilities which tho Act imposes.
and that the work of reconstruction would be
moro prompt, the more we were trusted with
our own government
AS suggestion, ii can scarcely be ovcrvnl
| ued. For two years General Sicklcs has been
| in command inthc Carolinas he has had am.
pic opportunity to observe; has been brought
into immediate contract with all classes and all
interest, and has proved. by results, that the
spirit of the people and the requirements of
| the law, arc not incompatible
| With this dgc-with dccpcr inter
est than any other living man in the success
full administration of the Act--he advises that
| the universal suffrage which has been enforced,
should be accompanied by an universal am
ncsty +; that If reconstruction is to be effected
| that the best elements Of society are the ma
tcrlal with which it should be effected and
that no,such sham reconstruction should be
effected as would result from the exclusion of
the wealth, the character, aud tho intelligence
Of tie State. n.
1t Is clear that is not reconstruction which
lplaccs class III antagonsm to clnss-which cx.
i Glnaes fro" ihn nnhli" en-.;oo sloso who are
Fitted by cducation and cxpcricnc. 20 .l;rcrt
public affairs wisely, and that to disfranclise
all who naturally control is simply to put an
| inexperienced, uncducatcd majority nt the
mercy of that reaction which the minority.
| possessed OF all the real strength of society.
will, sooner or later effect.
| Genera! Sicklcs recognizes further that
among the wisrst und best men of the south
are those whom the late experiment of srccs.
sion has completely satisfied who consider
that great revolution has opened the field Of
ocw ideas and new habits but who will not
Interfere actively in public so long as that nc.
ton is supposed to be dictated simply by the
selfish dcsirc to restore their own fortunes
Such men he sees arc tho most efficient in.
| strumcntS in the reconstruction which tho
country desires, and are the surcst mcdintors
between the old and the new. lie secs what
is the fact, that in the late war the great mass
OF the people were one, aud that any Gisfran.
| chlsemcnt which is consistent must include
nearly the whole of the Intelligence and char.
acter OF the South, and that no reconstruction
could be sound based upon such an exclusion.
lie says distinctly what is equally true, that
such distranchiscmcntw would place the South
under the control of those who are not fitted
to direct it truly, and that the truc intcrcs' of
the whole country requires that when these
States arc restored, they should be restored in
the fulncss of such wealth, intelligence and
! character as they possess that if they arc to
Voc the equals Of the North in the Senate, the
bettor fitted they arc for that equality, the
better for the country
! Whether opinions SO sound, and coming
even from so high an authority, will be re-.
spcctcd, we cannot say, but whether treated
with the consideration they deserve or not,
we acknowledge our obligation to Gen. Sick.
les Tor placing upon record in this letter a
Eindcation of the character and position of
the States he commands, which history will
not rcgect
LONDON, July On the House of Lords
this evening Earl Dcrly strongly denounced