Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-06-20
Gen. Longstreet's Letter.


10Th ult. was duly resolved | wa
much pleased TO have the opportu
nifty to hear Senator Wilson, anC
was agrccably surprised to NEE
such fair ness and frankness in
politician whom / have been taugh
to believe uncompromisingly op
posed the white people Of the
south. | have maturely considered
your suggestion to "wisely unite il
efforts to restore Louisiana to hel
former position in the Union, thro
the party now in power" My let
ter of the 9th Of April, to which
you refer, clearly indicates Il desire
for practical reconstruction and rec
Onciliation. Practical men can
surely distinguish between practical
reconstruction and reconstruction
as an abstract question. l will en-
deavor, however, with renewed en-
ergy, to meet your wishes in the
mater. The serious difficulty that
| apprehend is the want Of that wis
dom which is necessary for the
great work l shall be happy to
work in any harness that promises
relief to our distressed people and
harmony to the nation. 1t matters
not whether bear the mantle of Mr..
Davis or the mantle Of Mr.. Sumner,
so that l may help to bring the glo-
ry Of peace and goodwill toward
men" shall set out by assuming
u proposition that | hold to be self
evident, viz. The highest Of hu.
man laws is the law that is estab-
lished by appeal to arms. The great
principles that divided political par
ties pricr to the war were thorough
ly discussed by our wsest states
men, When argument was ex-
hausted, resort was to compromise.
When compromise was unavailing,
was renewed and eXpe-
dients were sought, but none could
be found to suit the emergency
was finally made to the
sword, to determine which of the
claims was the true construction Of
constitutional law The sword has I
lecided in favor Of the North, and
what they claim as princiries cease
20 be principles, and are become law.
Ihc views that we holu cease to be
because they are opposed
to law, 1t is therefore our duty to
lbardon ideas that are obsolete and
conform to the requirements oflaw.
The Military bill, and amendments,
ire peace offerings. We rhould ac-
,ept them as such, and place our
selves upon them as the starting
)oint from which to meet future po-
itical issues as they arise. Like
other Southern men. | naturally
sought alliance with the Democrat
&c party, merely because it was OPP
posed TO the Republican party. But
rs far as I can Judge, there is moth
ng tangible about it, except the is
sues that were staked upon the war
md there lost. Finding nothing to
axe hold ofeXceptprejudice, which
'annot be worked into good for any
me, it is proper and right that |
hould seek some stand point from
which good may be done, If | ap-
'reciate the principles of the Demo
ratio party, its prominent features
ppose the enfranchisement of the
olored man, and deny the right to
,gislate upon the subject ofsufl'rage,
Xecpt by the States, individually. (
'hGse two features have q tendency
. exclude Southern men from that
arty; for the colored man is al :
,ady enfrmchised here, and we can
OF seek alliance with a party that {
ould restrict his rights. The ex- f
usivc right Of the States to legis- |
tie upon suffrage will make the en- l.
anchisement Of the blacks, wheth-
for better or for worse, q fixture u
nong us, 1t appears, therefore, t.
at those who cry loudest against n
is new order Of things as u pub o.
, calamity are those whose princi- Q
es would fix it upon us without a i
medy. Hence it becomes lis to p
sist that suffrage should be extend s
in all the States, and fully tested, W
he people Of the North should
opt what they have forced upon It,
and if it be proved to be mis- n
le, they should remove it by the
medy under republican principles
uniform laws upon suffrage, If
cry man in the country will meet
e crisis with aproper appreciation pc
our condition, and como fairly TO
to his responsibilities, on to- W
Drrow the sun will smile upon u NJ
ppy people, our fields will again til
gin to yield their increase, our M
Ilroads and rivers will teen with N
mdNnt commerce, our towns and hC
les will resound with the tumult tr
trade, and we shall be invigora- te
4 by the blessings of Almighty
cd. am, Sir, very respectfully,
,ur most obedient servant, at
JAMES LoNGsTREET. W
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