The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-17
Letter from Gen. Sickles.

Letter from Gen. sickles.
The annexed letter upon the subject of
reconstruction; and urging a general am
nesty, is addressed to Senator TRUMBUIL,
chairman of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee We copy from the Charleston
Neaos
My DEAR SIR: have decided not to
begin registration in this District, until
Congress determines who shall be regis
tered. I trust, therefore, that it will be
the pleasure of Congress to extend the
time for. the completion of my registra-
tration, until-say, October or November.
III proceed now, and disregard the wish
es of the President; my action would be
rega ded as insubordination if follow
his intimations, many would probably be
registered not eligible according to the
true Interpretation Of the Acts OF Con-
gress:
IF it is meant that ali who have held
any ofice-Federal, State, or municipal
having taken an oath of office to support
the Constitution of the United States,
and afterwards engaged in rebellion, or
given aid and comfort, etc., are dlsfran-
chised, this should be expressly declared,
otherwise. if left to construction, 1T may
be held that nc other officers are included
than those classes enumerated in Article
VI. of the Constitution, and that even as
to these, full pardon removes the dis
qualification.
II it is meant to exclude lawyers, they
should be expressly mentioned: or else de-
scrbed by some classification; as tor ex-
ample, after the word "oAice, add iii
censed calling or employment or profess
SION" Otherwise, if the eligibility Of
lawyers be left to construction, 1t may be
held that lawyer is not public officer,
although functionary of court or 9TH
er judicial body.
The truth is, we have t1ow in operation
two distinct systems of reconstruction,
originated by Congress, and eugraftcd
upon tbs Presidents plan OF reconstruc-
ton. The first Congressional plan is ex.
pressed in the Howard Constitutional
Amendment; leaving suffrage to be regu-
lated by the several States, and imposing
upon certain classes Of persons disqnaliti-
cation for office, as punishment for re-
.bclion and as a safeguard for the future.
That plan having been refused by the
rebel States, Congress passed the Recon,
struction Acts, which form second
scheme of reconstruction, entirely distinct
in principle and plan from the efermer. In
the second plan, Congress assumes con-
troll of the question of suffrage, which is
extended to all who can take prescribed
oath. and also cntorces the disqualification
for Office, which would have been the pc
nail and conservative feature of the first
plan. Now, it seems to ME that the true
conservative guarantee against reaction
is in the addition made to the loyal vote
by The enfranchisement of the colored
people. That being done; the occasion
for the disqualification clause ceases.
Hence. the true solution, | believe, is to
declare, with universal suffrage, general
amnesty naming the exceptions. a
more liberal amnesty is, in my judgment,
essential to the success of the Congress
siona plan of reconstruction. 1t will en-
large the range Of popular choice for the
impottaiit judicial, executive, and leglsla-
tive departments of the State govern
ments, otherwise incontehiently confined
to classes very few of whom are fit to hold
office. The people can surely be entltled
to Judge and select from those who took
part in the rebellion, the men at once
qualified and sincere in their adhesion 10
the new order of things. Such men, be-
inp elipible to office, will have motives to
identify themselves with reconstruction,
and to support the views of the majority.
Now, more than eTer; fneti OF ability ana
experience in public business arc needed
for the State governments IN the oeath ];
and it is truly unfortunate that at such a
moment, nearly all who know anything
Of pubic affairs; and especially those who
could fill judicial stations, are dlsiran.
ebised This exposes the experiment OF
general suffrage to needless hazards Ii
fbe experiment fail, it is most likely to
fail from the inability of the people to put
in in office those who could and would as
sure success. 1t would have been advan-
tagcous perhaps, to have removed many
disaffccted persons, especially Judges,
Sheriffs and Magistrates, in the execution
of the Sixth Section of the Act of End
March if competent successors could nave
been found among those who are eligible
to office. Apd would regard the posssTv sar
sion now Of wider field of choiee 70, iut ;.o
civil civil officers, as one of the most effeotlye !;
,,9S,lu'toS larv authority conferred upon the Dis
."' ";,.t Commanders AS it is, [ find my;
self prevented, us will the people by ana ana
bv from securing for the public service
men of aptitude and character, whose re- e.
pentance is as certain as the devotloh o.
IL ronct nnncietant lnYaliSt In truth,