Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-17
Important Letter from Gen. sickles.
CHARLESTON, S. c., July S, 1861.

II lmpOTtduL LeItcE lEOM Neus Sachfoss
CHARLESTON, S. c., July s, 1861.
Hon. LYMAN TRuMBULL, Chairman Judiciary
Committee, u. s. Senate.
NM Dear Sir IL have decided not to begin
registration in this District until Congress de-
| terrhines who shall be registered. I trust,
therefore, that it will be the pleasure Of Con,
gress to extend the time for the completion of
my registration, until-say, October or No
vember. Iffproceed now and disregard the
wishes of the President, my action would be
| regarded as INSTRUMENTATION if ffollow his
intimations, many would probably be regis
tered not eligible according to the true inter-
probation Of rhe Acts of Congress
If it is meant that al! who have held any
office, Feder.l, State or manipulating
taken an oath of Office to support the Consti.
tuition of the United States, aud afterwards
engaged in rebellion, or given aitand comfort,
etc., are disranchised; this SHOULD be express.
ly declared, otherwise,'if lett to construction,
| it may be held that no other officers are in
cluded than those classes enumerated ir Ar
| ticc VI, of the Constitution, ard that even
as to these, a full pardon removes the dis
qualification.
should bo expressly mentioned, or else de-
scribed by some classification; as for exani-
pie, after tho word +" Office" add "any licensed
calling or employment or profession" Other
wise, if the eligibility Of lawyers be left to
construction, it may be held that lawyeris
not public officer, although functionary Of
"a Court or other judicial body.
The truth is, we have now in operation two
| distinct systems of reconstruction, originated
by Congress, and engrafted upon the Presi-
dents plain Of Reconstruction. The first Con-
gressional plan rs expressed in the Howard
constitutional amendment; leaving suffrageto
be regulated BY the several States, and impo-
sing upon certain classes Of persons disqnali-
fcation for office, as punishment for rebel
lion and as a safeguard for the futpre That
plan having been refused by the rebel States,.
Congress rasscd the Reconstruction Acts,
which fora second scheme of reconstrue-
tion, entirely distinct in principle and plan
from the former. In the second plan, Con.
gress assumes control of the question Of suf-
frage, which is extended to all who can take a
prescribed oath, and also enforces the dis1ualt
! 6cation for Office, which would have been the
/ penal and conservative feature of the first
plan..- Now, it seems to me that the true con-,
servatire guarantee against reaction is in the
addition made TO the loyal vote by the en-
franchisenlent Of the colored people. That
being done, the occasion for the disqualified
ton clause ceases. Hence, the true solution,
beliere, IS to declare, with universal suffrage,
a general amnesty-naming the exceptions.
A more liberal amnesty is, in my Judgment,
essential to the success of the Congressional
plan of reconstruction. It will enlarge the
range Of popular choice fer the important ju-
dicial, executive md Legislative departments
Of the State Governments, otherwise inconve-
niently confined to classes very few Of whom
arc fit to hold office. The people eau surely
be entrusted to judge and select from those
who took part in the rebellion, the men at
once qualified and sincere In their adhesion
| to the new order OF things. Such men, being
eligible 70 Office, will have motives to identity
themselves with reconstruction, and to sup
port the views OF the majority. Now, more
than ever, meh. Of ability and expeiience i:
public business are needed for the State Gov
ernments in the South; and it is truly unfoir-
tunate that at such moment nearly all .wko
know anything of public affairs, and especial.
ly those who could fill judicial statioes, are
dishanch;scd. Phis exposes tie experiment
of general suffrage to needless hazards If
the experiment fail, it is most likely to liil
from the inability Of the people to put in CO
flee those who could and wouldassure success.
1t would have been advantageous perhaps to.
have removed many diagactetl persons, cspe-
ciapy Judges, SheritIs aud Magistrates in The
ex, ,cution Of the sixth sectioa Of the Act Of
"a March, il competent succ ,ssors could have
been found amang those who arc eligible 70
office. And would regard the possession
now OF q witler~iieId Of choice for civil Off
fcers, IS one Of the most effective instrumen-
talties in the execution of the military au-
.hority conferred upon District Commanders.
As it is, find myself prevented, as win the
people BY and by, from securing for the pub
lie service men nf aptitude and character
whose repentance is as certain as the devotion
of the most consistent loyalist. Intruth the
zeal of some Of lie converts outruns the dis
cretion Of many of the faithful. With refer
ence to other practical suggestions it might
be useful if Congress, by one Of its commit
tees, inierregated the commanding. g.oficers Of
the several Districts upon the operation oftie
Reconstruction Acts, and the further leghla:
ton required. Very respectfully,
D. E, S1CKLES.
IMpEEAL SolDlERsAr AloBlLE.-The steam.
er GabCsco, from Vera Cruz, arrived at Mo-
bile on the 5lh having on board four hun