The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-12
THE SITUATION.
LETTER OF GENERAL LoNasTREET.

THE SITUATION.
LETTER OF GENERAL LoNGsTREET.
The New Orleans Times of Sunday last, April q
contains an interesting letter from General JAMES
LoNGsTREET enclosing letter he had received from
Hon. JOIN A. CAMPBELL, late one of the Judges Of
the Supreme Court of the United States, and one
of the first judicial minds of the country. Both
letters will be read with great interest, just now,
when the question Of the constitutionality of the
Reconstruction Act is being questioned:
NEW ORLEANS, April 9Th, 1867.
To dte Editor Of The Neto Orleans Times:
Since your publication Of my letter many ques-
tions have reached me as to the prospects OF our
political future and our duties at this Crisis. MY
former letter was intended to meet all questions,
and was as much in detail as mere soldier should
venture, in O field entirely new to him, have no
inclination, however, to avoid duties or RESPONSE
biities, whatever may be the form in which they
are presented.
But to attempt, at this time, general discus,
sion Of the merits and demerits CT all matter that
is thought to be material to the subject which ab.
serbs our interest, would rec u;re more time and
labor than are at my disposal. BESIDES, such dis
cussion would leave us just ~hcro our armies sur
rendered. 1 must ask, therefore, that those who
are inclioed to consider my views will excuse the
''bluntness of u soldier.
The surrender Of ths Confederate armies j.. 1865
involved:
1. The surrender Of the claim to the right of
secession.
2. The surrender of the former political rela-
tions OF the negro.
8. The surrender of the Southern Confederacy.
These issues expired upon the fields last oecu-
pied by the Confederate armies. There they
should have been buried. The soldier prefers to
have the sod that receives him when he falls cover
II Hhn itino1
should have been buried upon the fields that
marked their end. Our most cherished objects OF
this earth, blood Of our blood life Of our life not
duly deposited as ordained by an Allwise Prov
dead matter. II the last funeral rites OF the
Southern Confederacy have not been performed let
US, with due; solempity, proceed to the discharge
of TINT painful duty and let us deposit in the same
grave the agony OF our grief, that we may the bet
ter prepare ourselves for return to the duties OF
It may be we'll to remark that our efforts at re-
construction will be vain unless we embark, IN the
enterprise with the sincerity Of purpose which Will
command success. Great deeds are not accom-
they must be built Of tssterner stuff p, We must
apply ourselves with diligence, and with united
resolution, if we hope to Lift the darkness that
threatens Our future, and secure comfortable
issue from the difficulties that surround u.s.;
The Fabian policy seems to be the one most in
favor amongst!us; familiarly termed the system OF
s'masterly Inactivity" THIS policy has achieved
great notoriety from the fact that o distinguished
Roman general (Fabius Maximus,) ct the head OF
well organized and well disciplined army, by his
superior strategy and tactics, Delayed the pro-
gress of the march of the Cal thagenians, and
saved Rome. That we can assume to be in a
condition to employ mastery inactivity" without
the organization Of political party, or even the
organization of political club, is beyond my un-
derstanding. We might better be likened unto
the bird that conceas its head in the sand, and ut
once begins to greye at the danger Of its pursuers,
who are now left alone in the vast desert.
Before we undertake to change the course OF
impending DANGERS we should endeavor to remove
all obstacles that may be likely to impede our pro-
gress in the work Of reconstruction. The chief OF
these is the opinion that prevails, to some extent
among our people, that We cannot do wrong, and
that Northerners cannot do right. I have no
ioubt but the same feelings, with regard to them
selves, may be found among the Northern poo
tensions which they should strive to correct. Both
are subject to- the ifrail6es Of human nature, and
EACH should extend charity If they expect 1t in re-
turn. Let us, then begin to disPel the delusion,
It is now too late to go back to look after our
rights under the law and the Constitution: tits
of no practical importance for Us to know whether
we have been deprived OF these rights by lawful or
unlawful process. We know that they are gone,
and that the only silable law is martial law, and
the only right, po or. The mccs we seek for law,
when there is no law; the greater will be our con-
fusion. Law at best is slow process by which to
recover lost possessions; to attempt to recover
them under doubtful laws and against power, is
futile.
Some think that the question of resistance is
admissible in deciding our course Of action. But
this is grave error even il We had the power to
resist and reasonable hope OF successful resist
ance. For when people resort to the violence OF
war they should be prepared to show to the world
iust cause of war. What cause can We claim un-
less we say TINT we did not know what We we're
fighting for in the war just ended.
Our duty resolves itself into two very simple
propositions, viz relieve ourselves from our pre-
sent embarrassments by returning to our alegi-
ance in good faith to the General Government
under the process laid down by Congress, or seek
protection under some foreign government. Those
who determine to remain, should speed the work
Of reconstruction, and put our people in condition
tn make their own laws and choose their own Off
GERS for their execution.
I am one OF the particularly dishanchised, for
I have been informed from the highest authority
that am one of those who will be the last to re-
ceive amnesty. regard this as one Of the results
have no better cause Of complaint than those who
have lost their slaves.
It is frequently said, nowadays, that conBtitu-
tional government is failure but the cause and
effect are not appreclated there is failure, the
fault is with the people, not with the government.
A lunatic may destroy the most magnificent edi.
fee, but it can only be rebuilt by the most skllfu]
artist.
from Hon. John A. Campbell. He kindly permits
me to use his letter at my pleasure.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
.. JAMES LoNasTREEr.