The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-11
oFNERAL LONGSTREETS LETTER
ON RECONSTRUCTTON.

The following is the text Of General Long
streets letter upon reconstruction, IN reply 70
q communication addressed to him by John M
g. Parker
NEW ORLEANS, La, June 3-Your esteemed
Ro1or of the 18TH illt. was duly received was
n,eoseJ 70 have the opportunity TO heal Senator
Wiison and was agreeablt surprised 70 ii meeo
snon hlr, "a 7 nave been taught TO believe uncom-
promisingly opposed 10 the WhlVe PeOPle vi 'ne
South. ...,u,aorod vour sngoestion
60 ,,tvisev unile in efforts 10 restore Louisiana
TO her former position n Me- Ne eter tbe sEb
of April, TO which you refer, clearly indicates
desire for practical ro nnu
between practical ieconstruction and recon-
at uction as an abstract question. l VIII en-
dpavor however, with renewed energy 10
meet your wishes in the matter. Inc serious
difficulty that apprehend Is the want OF tnaJ
wisdom which is necessary for Tue great work.
7 shall he bappy TO work in any harness that
promises relief TO our distressed people anu
harmony TO the nation. IL matters lot whether
Ibear the mantle OF Mr.. Davis or the mantle
ot Mr., sumner, so that may help 70 bring the
glory Of "peace and goodwill towards men
shall SET out by assuming a.proposition, tnat
hold 10 be self-evide mt, Viz..-The highest OF
human laws is the law that is established by
"F me great principles that divided political
rariies prior to the war were thoroughly dis
enssed by our wisest statesmen. When argu-
menI was exhausted resort was had to COM
promise When compromise was unaVallug,
discussion was renewed, ana exPeolents were ,
sought but none could be found To suit the
Emergency. Appeal was finally made TO the
sword, to determine which OF the claims was
the true construction of const lutional law.
TIE sword has decided in favor OF the NorIn,
and what they claimed rs principles cease 10 oe
principles, and are 6ecome law. Ihe views Jews
are opposed to law. 1t is therefore our duty TO
abandon ideas that are Obsolete, and conform
TO the requirements of law.
THE HIGHER LAW
The Military bill, and amendments. are peace
offerings. We should accept them as such, and
place ourselves upon them as the starting point
theV arise, Like other Southern men, natu-
rally sought alliance with the DEMOCRATIC party,
merely because it was opposed 10 the Repub-
lican party. But as far as l can judge there is
nothing tangible about IL, except The issues
that were staked upon the war, and there lost
Finding nothing to take hold of except preju-
dice, which cannot be wol ked into good for
any one, it is proper and right that should
seek some standpoint from which good may
be done.
IMPRACTICABLE ISSUES OF THE DEMOCRACY
If appreciate the principles of the Demo-
cratic party, its prominent features oppose tue
enfranchisement of the colored man, and deny
the right TO legisate upon the subject of suf-
frage except by the sta es individually. These
two features have q tendency TO exclude
Southern men from that party; for the colored
man is already enfranchised here, and we
cannot seek alliance with party that would
restrict his rights: The exclusive right OF
the States to legislate upon suffrage will
make the entranchisement of the blacks,
whether for better or for worse, fixture
among us
II appears, therefore. that those who cry
loudest against this new order of things
public calamity are trose whose principles
would fix it upon us without remedy. Hence
it becomes us to insist that suffrage should be
extended in all of the States, aud fally tested
The people of the North should adopt what
they have forced upon us; and If IL be proved
to be mistake, they hou,d remove it by the
SrnvICy y under republican principles OF Uniform
laws upon suffrage,
II every man In the country will meet the
crisis with proper appreciation of our condi-
tion, and come fairly up to his responsibilities,
on tomorrow the sun will smile upon happy
people, our fields will again begin TO yield their
Increase our railroats and rivers will TEEN
with abundant commerce, our towns and cities
will resound with the Jumut of trade, and we
shall be invigorated by the blessing of Almighty
God.
1 am, sir, very respectfully, your most obe-
dent servant, JAMES LoNGSTREEr.