Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-19
Letter of General s1clsles ON Registration

letter of General sIcI<les on Registration
CHARLESTON, S. c., July 5, 1867.
MY DEAR SIR II have decided not to
begin registration In this district until
Congress determines who shall be regis
tered. 7 trust, therefore. that it will be
the pleasure of Congress to extend the
time for the completion of my registration
until-say, October or November Ii L
proceed now, and disregard the wishes of
the President, my action would be regard
ed as characterization if [ follow his init
nations many would probably be register
ed not eligible according to the true inter
probation of the acts of Congress.
If it is meant that all who have held any
Office-Eederal, State, or munlclpal--haV-
| ing taken an oath of office to support the
Constitution of the United States, and af-
forwards engaged in rebellion, or given aid
and comfort etc, are disfranchised. this
should he expressly declared; otherwise, If
left to construction. it may be held that no
other Offices are included ulan those classes
enumerated in article ", QfHe Constitution,
and that even as to these q full pardon re-
naores the Disqualification.
II it is meant to exclude lawyers they
should be expressly mentioned, or else de-
scribed by some classification as for ex-
ample, after the word - Office" add &C any
licensed calling or employment or profes-
sion" Otherwise, if the eligibility of law
yers be left to construction, it may be held
that lawyer is not public officer, al
though functionary OF court or other
judicial body.
The truth is, we have now in operation
two distinct systems of reconstruction,
originated 10y Congress, and engrafted upon
the Presidents plan Of reconstruction
The first Congressional plan is expressed in
the Howard constitutional amendment,
leaving suffrage to be regulated 10y the
several States, and imposing upon certain
classes Of persons disqualification for office,
as II punishment for rebellion and as a safe
guard for the future. That plan having
been refused by the rebel States Congress
passed the reconstruction acts, which form
Il SeCOH6 scheme of reconstruction, entirely
distinct in principle and plan from the
former. In the second plan Congress
assumes control Of the question of suf-
rage, which is extended to all who can
take prescribed cath, and also enfOrces
the disqualification for Office, which would
have been the penal and conservative
feature Of the first plan. Now, it
seems to me that the true cOnserva-
tive guarantee against reaction is in
the addition made to tho loyal vote by
the eDfranchisement Of the colored people.
That being done, the occasion for the dis
qualification clause ceases. Hence, the true
solution, [ believe, is to declare, with uni
vcrsal suffrage, a general amnesty.-2ldn1ing
tile exceptions. A more liberal amnesty is,
in my Judgment, essential to the success
of the Congressional plan of reconstruction.
1t viii enlarge the range Of popular choice
for the important Judicial, executive, and
! Legislative departments Of the State govern
| D+I Hno
to classes very few of whom are fit to hold
Office The people can surely be entrusted
to Judge and select from those who took
part III the rebellion the men at once quail
fed and sincere in their adhesion to the
new order Of things. Such men, being eli
gibIe to Office, Will have motives to identify
! themselves with reconstruction, ana to sup
port the views of the majority. Now, more
| than ever, men of ability and experience in
public business are needed for the State
! governments in the South and it is truly
unfortunate that at such amoment nearly all
who know anything of public affairs, and
especially those who could fill judicial sta
tiOns, are disfranchised. This exposes the
experiment of general suffrage to needless
| hazards. II the experiment fail it is
most likely to fail from the ina
bility Of the people to put in Office
those who could and would assure success.
1t would have been advantageous perhaps
to have removed many disaitccted persons,
especially Judges, sheritfs, and magistrates,
| in the execution of the sixth section of the
act Of 81 March, if competent successors
could have been found among those who
are eligible to Office and [ would regard
the possession now of q wider field of
choice for OWL officers as one of the most
effective Observation-Disclosures in the execution
of the military authority conferred upon
district commanders. AS it is, find my
self prevented, as will the people by and by,
from securing for the public service men
of aptitude and character, whose repen-
tango is as certain as the devotion of the
most consistent loyalist. In truth, the
zeal Of some of the converts Outruns the
discretion Of many of the faithful With
reference to other practical suggestions, it
might be useful if Congress, 10y one of it's
committees, Intercepted the command
ing officers of the several districts upon
the operation of the reconstruction acts,
and the further legislation required.
Very respectfully,
ID. Z. SICKLEs.
Hon. LYMAN IRUMBULL, Chairman Judi
ciary Committee Z. S. Senate.
Particulars OF INIaximiIian's Cnse--PrO-
ceedings of the Court-1IartiaI-The Trial
observation-disclosures of the Empe.
and his F'oIIowers-Madame Juarez's