The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-11
Letter from General Longstree.,

Letter from General Longstreet,
The New Orleans Republican publishes the 10
lowing letter from General LoNasTREET. The RI
pIbl,cln claims that the General has taken hi
stand upon the platform Of their party, and con
siders that the Democracy have lost all Of thei
vitality, and that with the surrender Of Genera
LEE nothing remained to the South but to accep
the situation
NEW ORLEANS, May 16, 1867.
| General James LOngstreet:
GENERN-In your admirable letter Of the 6tl
ultimo you remark that 'our efforts at reoopstTue
| tion will be vain and useless unless we embark
the enterprise with the sincerity Of purpose which
| will command sucl ess."
| The spirit which inspired the above paragraph
together with the fact that thousands Of brave sol
he may see fit to call them, has emboldened me *
extend to you an invitation to attend mass meet
| ing in Lafayette square tomorrow evening, a
which the .1on. Henry Wilson, distinguished
leader in the Republican party, will address the
| catiz,n Of New Orleans.
| As soldiers. we were opposed to eaoiI r dur
ing the late war but as citizens may we not wise
| ly unite in efforts to restore Louisiana to bel
| former position in tho Union through the party
now in power, and which in all probability viii re-
| tain power for many years to Gomez If you &C
ceot shall be glad to hear your views on the con-
| dition Of public AFFAIRS
Respectfully yours, ETC.,
New ORLEANS La, June 8, 1857.
M Dear Sir-Yonr esteemed favor Of the 18th
ult., was duly received. was much pleased to
have the opportunity to hear Senator Wilson, and
was sgreesbly surprised to meet such fairness and
fankness in politician whom have been taught
to believe uncompromisingly opposed to the white
people OF the South.
I have msturely considered your suggestion to
wsely unite in 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 indicatesa desire for prac-
ticsl reconstruction and reconciliation. Practical
men can surely distinguish between practical re-
construction and reconstruction as an abstract
question. I will endeayor, however, with renewed
energy, to meet your wishes in the matter. The
serious difficulty that apprehend is the want Of
that wisdom ich is necessary for the great work.
shall be happy to work in any harness that prom.
ises relief to our distressed people, and harmony
to the nation. It matters not whether bear the
mantle Of Mr., Davis or the mantle Of MIR. Sumner,
so that 7 may help to bring the glory Of "peaoe
and goodwill toward men"
shall set out by assuming proposition that
hold to be selt-evident, wig; The highest Of human
Laws is the law that is established by appeal TO
arms.
The great principles that divided political parties
prior to the war we're thoroughly discussed BY our
Wl66SG 6L8I6blu6u. WQ6u uucuU woo cAuhunteu
resort was had to compromise. When compromise
was unayailing, discussion was renewed, and expe-
dents were sought, but none ooulu be found to suit
the emergency. Appeal was finally made to the
sword, to deteFmine which ct the claims was II the
sword has decided in favor OF the North, and what
they claimed as principles cease to be principles,
and are become law. The views that we hold
cease to be principles because they are opposed TO
law. It is therefore our duty to abandon ideas
H. a ~ fho
OF law. 49,. ,...,..
The military bill, and amendments, are peace
offerings. We should accept them as such, and
place ourselves upon them as the starting point
from which tomeet future political issues Rs they
arise.
Like other Southern men, naturally sought al
lance with the Democratic party, merely recause
it was opposed to the Republican party. But as
far as 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 work. q into
good for any ,one, it ia proper and, right that
should seek some standpoint hom which good nay
be done. '[ ~.
party, its prominent features oppose the enfran-
chisement OF the colored man. and deny the right to
legislate upon, the subject Of Suffrage except by
the States individually. These two features have
tendency to exclude Southern men nom that
party for the colored man is already enfranehised
that would restrict his rights, The exclusive right
Of the States to legislate upon suffrage will make
the entranc .isemenL Of the blacks, whether Tor
better or for, worse, q. fixture among us. 1t ap-
pearl therefore, that those who cry loudest against
this new order OF things as public calamity, are
thssa.Rhose principles. would fix IT upon Va withs
out remedy, Hence 1t heeemes us TO insist that
suffrage be extended In all Sf tho States and fully
tested. The people OF the North should adopt
what they have forced upon nsi and II IL be prov
al In he a miafaka thay shOuld remove ii by the
pemedy under Republican principles Of uniform
laws upon suffrage.
II every man in the country will meet the crisis
with proper appreciation of our condition, and
come fairly up to his responsibilities on to-mor.
row the Sun will smile upon 2 happy peopleI our
fields will again begin TO yield their increase; our
railroads and rivers will teem with abundant COM
mercs; our towns and cities will resound with the
tamnlt Of trade, and We shall be invigorated by
the blessings Of Almighty God.
lam, sir, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,
JAMES LONGSTREET,