The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-24
LETTER OF GENERAL POPE.

The following is General Pope 8 letter to General
GRANT which has been awaiting publication for
several days, but been crowded out till now by
press Of other matter:
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD MILITARY DISTRICT,
GEORGIA, ALABAMA AND FLORIDA.
ATLANTA, GA, July a, 1S67.-Generai Il have
the honor to send enclosed newspaper contain.
this State, late Senator in the rebel Congress:
This person, only few weeks since, was pardoned
by the President, and in common with almost
every pardoned rebel, this is the use he makes OF
the clemency of the Government. You can readily
see from the speech itself, the character OF the
man, who is the representative Of large class,
and the hopelesspess Of any satisfactory recon-
struction Of the Southern States, while such men
retain influence.
It has been and will continue to be my course to
permit and encourage the widest latitude OF speech
and of the press in this District consistent with
the law and the public peace. l do not include
among those who are permitted to exercise this
latitude Of speech the civil officers OF the Proyl-
sional State Governments already prohlbited by
my orders from ''psing any influence whatever to
deter or dissuade Che people from taking an active
part in reconstructing their State Governments
under the Reconstruction Acts" No such adyan:-
taee as the use Of the machinery Of the existing
State Governments ought to be or will be given to
the Anti-Yssopstruction party.
consider it desirable that the Government and
the people Of the United States should thoroughly
understand the feelings and purposes OF the lead
ing politicians Of the South, in order tst the coun-
try NAV knoy the result Of the coming elections,
precisely the amount OF influence possessed by
these men, and the kind and extent OF legislation
required to counteract its bales9l effects.
In nv opinion, no reconstruction can be sats-
factory or at all reliable as to future results, gn-
less these men arc permitted to discuss openly
and according to their nature, the issues present
ed ed. IF thew Still retain influence enough with the
masses of the whites OF the South TO eHable them
by active efforts to dsfeat Tnder tho
late Acts of Congress- it is better that the country
should know it before than after the readmlsslon
of the Southern States into the Union, II would
not be difficult to find in the violent speeches OF
such men abundant cause for silencng them, but
reconstruction accomplished IN this manner would
be no index Of the public sentiment, and might
and probably would result, after year or two, IN
20 these ps pss n 4 % %Toaa ad
sarily to reproduction Of the same condition OF
things which demanded the passage Of the Recon-
construction Acts.
It is better that the battle should be fought out
now and openly. II the people OF these states
stand the influence OF the secession party and OF
the political leaders who have long controlled
them, who have Led them into their present des-
perate condition, and who seek to plunge tnem
still deeper into nisiortuns and il they prove abe
upon the op!y true principles of Government, IN
defiance Of their leaders and against their active
opposition, there will be good ground for hope
that reconstruction viii be satisfactory and per-
manent. II they cannot do this, 1t may well pc
reasonable terms is possible so long as these un-
repentant and reactionsry political Leaders gre
suffered to remain in this country.
1t is better that the country should EloY the
truth on this subject now than run the risk CT
learning hereafter that an lrreparable mistake
has been made in the plan and execution OF the
Reconstruction Acts. l need scarcely repent that
reconstruction to be in the spirit OF the acts OF
Congress and to be permanent, must be the act OF
the people themselves after the fullest and freest
discussion. Congress- has done wisely IN enabling
them to make this fight, by. DISTINGUISHING the
LEADING rebels and at least making it impossible for
them to vote or hold Office. 1t would have been
still better to enforce their permanent absence
from the country. The personal influence they
might bring to bear If they we're eandldates them.
forced to discuss issues and not appeal to personal
feeling in their own favor. The people are tnus
left freer than they ever we're before to choose
their own candidates, and are forced to think for
themselves as they have not hitherto done;
So far from being willing to see the disrap,
chised classes relieved from political disabilities
consider these disfranchspg clauses OF the acts 70
| be among their Hisest and best considered pro
visions. II they do no other good than to renev9
the people from the incubus OF the Ola Po4llcai
leaders, they naV6 accomplished iiSoi. uAoAS ~
vice. 1t is not doubted that many worthy and new
loyal men who could be safely trusted are dsfran an,
chised by these clauses OF the military bllls, Dl'
| such result was unavoidable ana can ~ lnen
cases be easilv remedied. 1t will no doubt be wiso
at an early day, to relieve by name such OF the diS
franchised persons as havo hitherto proved or shaL
prove by their conduct in the course OF the nexi
six months that they are worthy Of it. Mnss III II
was unavoidable that some good men would De
disfranchised by provisions of law against classes
of persons, Ine remedy is easy. TO undertake tne
converse OF this, that is to give general amnesty
and except individuals by name. would certain!
result in leaving large numbers enfranchised wht
ought not to be. Such improper persons mlgh,
decide the coming elections before their unftness
could be aseertained, and even then it would be
more than difficult to remedy the evil. I consider
the method set forth in the reconstruction acts BY
far the wiser course Of the two, and I can hardly
understand how any man familiar with the facts
can think otherwise.
These disfranchised persons include generally
? the whole army Of those who now hold or have
hitherto held Office. With few exceptions, al
these persons were active rebels, and are bitterly
opposed to reconstruction under the acts of Con