The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-07-17
Gen. Sickle,s Letter.

Gen. Sickles has written letter to Mr..
Senator Trumbull, in which, among other
things, he says: a
Now it seems to me that 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 euallfca-
tion clause ceases Hence the true solution,
l believe, is to declare with universal suf-
frage general amnesty, naming the excep-
tions. A more liberal amnesty is, in my
Judgment, essential to the success OF the
congressional plan of reconstruction. 1t
will enlarge the range of popular choice for
the important judicial, legislative and exc
cutive departments of the State governments,
otherwise inconvcniently confined 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 in the re-
bellion the men at once qualified and sincere
in their adhesion to the new order of things.
Such men, being eligible to Office, will have
motives to identify themselves with recon-
struction, and to support the views of the
majority" f4f
1t would be well if the Congress, during
the progress of reconstruction, would relieve
few persons from the disability imposed
by the Howard amendment. This should be
done, however, with great care and caution.
Every rebel State has now, we believe, a Re
publican State Committee. The Congress
might safely relieve such persons as can Sc,
cure the unqualified endorsement of two
thirds of such Committee. but beyond this it
is not advisable to go at present.
We do not agree with Gen. Sickles, that
very few" of the enfranchised classes in this
State are fit to hold office" This State,
at least, can be reconstructed without
the aid Of any who are excluded by the Sher-
man act It may be different in South Car
6 olina, but it is our opinion that there are
many loyal men, especially in the Western
part of that State, not excluded, who are
fit to hold Office" 1t may be that Gen.
Sickles knows but little of the true Un-
ion men Of his district. We have not heard
that he has shown any disposition to knew
them, so far as North Carolina is concerned.
Universal suffrage and universal amnes-
ty" would result in the substantial re-estab-
lishment of the Southern Contederacy. This
would make the South Hayti. The domi-
nant rebel power would oppress and scourge
the white Unionists and the colored people,
until they would rise, as the worm will when
trodden on, and sting their oppressors. We
should thus have war and ruin, ruin, world
without end. The loyalists of the South
can not protect themselves or preserve liber-
ty, if the great mass of the late rebel leaders
/ are permitted at once to vote and hold office.
As might have been expected, the rebel
press is much pleased with Gen. slckles'
letter. ss.ss.s s. fr,.,s
can Army Officer has written a, brief
communication to our copy of the Sentinel,
correcting some of the misrepresentation of
that paper in relation to the celebration of
the fourth in this City. The writer states
what we know to be true, that "Gen. Miles
and the officers of his Staff would gladly
have been present, had it not been for prior
engagement to celebrate the day with Uaion
men in another part of the State" They
did not deem it Indispensable that they
should be in Raleigh on that day, where
it is evident, beyond doubt. that the Union
element is in the ascendant"
There are several other things in the latt
numbers Of oar copy Of the Sentinel that ".
may notice hereafter.