Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-06-21
Noble Letter From General Long.
street,

In reply to an invitation to attend
public meeting in New Orleans, to be
addressed by Hon. Henry Wilson, Gen
eraI Longstreet has written the appended
letter, giving his views on the political
situation. OF all the Confederate COM
manders General Longstreet delivered
the most and the hardest sledge-ham-
mer blows in behalf of the rebellion.
The contest determined, he now accepts
its results in the good faith of a brave
soldier, and earnestly Iabors for the re-
construction of the country upon the
substantial basis of justice. Such men
IS Longstreet and Brown deserve the
favorable consideration of Congress for
an early removal of their political disa-
biIities, and their restoration to such
immunities as their good conduct mer-
its.
It will be remembered that General
Longstreet was one of the Vice presi-
dents of the meeting referred to in the
following letter.
NEW ORLEANS, June 8, 1867.
j. NJ. G. Parker, Esq:
MY DEAR SIR-Your esteemed favor
of the 18th ultimO was duly received. I
was much pleased to have the OppOrtun-
ity to hear Senator Wilson, and was a
greeably surprised to meet such fairness
and franEzness in politician whom I
have been taught to believe unCom-
prOmisingly opposed to the white peO-
pie of the South.
Ihave maturely considered your sug-
gestiOn to 'wisely unite efforts to restore
Louisiana to her former position in the
Union, through the party now in power
My letter of the 9th of April, to which
you refer, clearly indicates q desire for
practical reconstruction and TecOucilia-
ton. Practical men can surely distin-
guish between practical reconstruction,
and reconstruction as an abstract ques-
tiOn. j VIII endeaYOr, however, with
renewed energy, to meet your wishes in
the matter. The serious difficulty that
apprehend is the want of that wisdom
which IS necessary for the great work.
1 shall be happy to work in any harness
that promises relief to our distressed
people and harmony to the nation. It
matters not whether bear the mantle
Of Mr.. Davis or the mantle of Mr.. Sum-
ner, so that L may help to bring the glo-
ry of peace and good viii toward
men. "
I shall set out by assuming a PROPOSE
ton, that I hold to be self-eVident. viz:
The highest of human laws is the law
that is established by an appeal to arms:
lhe great principles that divided DO
Htical parties prior to the war were
thoroughly discussed by our yvisest
statesmen. When argument was una
VaIGug, discussion was renewed, and
eXpedients were sought, but none could
be found to suit the emergency. Appeal
was finally made to the sword, to deter
mine which OF the claims was the true
construction Of constitutional law The
sword has decided in favor of the North
and what they claimed as principles
ceased to be principles, and are become
law. The views that we held cease to be
principles because they are opposed to
law. 1t is therefore our dutYtO abandon
ideas that are obsolete, and conform to
the requirements of law.
The Military Act, and amendments.
are peace offerings. We should accent
them as such, and place ourselves upon
them as the starting point from which
to meet future political issues as they
rise.
Like other Southern men, I naturally
sought alliance with the Democratic par
ty, merely because it was opposed to the
Republican party. But as far as 1 can
Judge, there is nothing tangible about
it, except the issues that We're staked
upon the war and there lost. Finding
nothing to take hold of except prejudice.
which cannot be worked into good for
any one, it is proper and right that I
should seek some standpoint from
which good may be done.
IF / appreciate the principles of the
Democratic party, its prominent features
oppose the enfranehisement Of the col