Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-06-19
THE RAFTsMAn's JOURNAL.
A Letter from General Longstreet.


The following is the text of Gen. Long
streets letter upon reconstruction, in reply
to communication addressed to him by
John NJ. G. Parker:
NEW ORLEANS, LA. June 3, IS67.-Your
esteemed favor OF the 10Th ult was duly
received. | was pleased to have the oppor-
tunity to hear Senator Wilson, and was a
greeably surprised to meet such fairness and
irankness, In politician whom | have been
taught to believe uncompromisiDgly opposed
to the white people of the South.
| L have maturely considered your sugges-
ton to wisely unite In efforts to restore
| Louisiana to her former position in the Uni
on, through the party now in power Nv
letter of the 9th of April, to which you re-
| fer, clearly indicates a desire for practical
reconstruction and reconciliation. Practical
men can surely distinguish between practical
| reconstruction and reconstruction as an alb
stract question. | will endeavor, however
with renewed energy, to meet your wishes
| in the matter The serious difficulty that
apprehend is the want of that wisdom which
| is necessary for the great work. | shall be
| happy to work in any harness that promises
| relief to our distressed people and harmony
| to the nation. 1t matters not whether L
bear the mantle of Mr.. Davis or the mantle
l.
the glory Of peace and good will toward
men.
| L shall set out by assuming a proposition
that | hold to be self-evident, viz The
! highest of human laws is the law that is es
| tablished by appeal to arms.
The great principles that divided political
| parties prior to the war were thoroughly
discussed by our wisest statesmen. When
| argument was exhausted resort was had to
compromise. When compromise was una
valllng, discussion was renewed, and expe
dients were sought, but none could be found
to suit the emergency. Appeal was finally
made to the sword, to determine which of
| the claims was the true construction Of con-
stitutional law 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. 1t is therefore our duty TO abandon
| ideas that are obsolete, and conform to the
requirements of law.
The military bill aud amendments are
peace offerings. We should accept them as
such, and place ourselves upon them as the
starting point from which to meet future po-
itIcal issues as they arise. Like other
Southern men, naturally sought alliance
with the Democratic party, merely because
/
| But, as far as | can Judge there is nothing
tangible about it, except the issues that
were staked upon the war and there lost.
| Finding nothing to take hold of except
prejudice. which cannot be worked into good
| for any one, 1T is proper and right that /
should seek some stand point from which
good may be dore
If | appreciate the principles of the
Democratic party, Its prominent features OPP
pose the entranchiSement of the colored
man, and deny the right to legislate upon
individually. These two features have
| tendency, to exclude Southern men from
that party; for the colored man is already
| enfranchised here, and we cannot seek ALI
ance with party that would restrict his
| rights. The exclusive right of the States
| to leglslate upon suffrage will make the en-
| franchisement of the blacks, whether for
better or for worse, fixture among us.
1t appears, therefore, that those who cry
| loudest against this new order of things as
public calamity, are those whose principles
would fix 1t upon us without a remedy.
| Hence it becomes US to insist that suffrage
| should be extended in all the States, and
fully tested. The people of the North
should adopt what they have forced upon
us, and if it be proved to be mistake. they
should remove it by the remedy under re-
publican principles of uniform laws upon
suffrage.
If every man in the country will meet the
crisis with proper appreciation of our con-
dition, and come fairly up to his response
| bilities, on to- morrow the sun will shine upon
happy people, our fields will again begin
to yield their increase, our railroads and
rivers will TEEN with abundant commerce,
our towns and cities will resound with the
tumult of trade, and we shall be invigora-
ted by the blessings of Almighty God
L am sir, very respectfully,
Your most obedient servant,