The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-12
GIN. sICKLEY.LETTER.


ing to discuss the probable action Of
Congress. With the issue which has
brought the National Legislature together
at SO ::inopportune time, under such in,
auspicious circumstances, the people of the
South have had nothing to do. Fairly
and faithfully have we done, or rather were
we doing the duty imposed upon us and
if like the victim of old we were to roll the
stone up the hill only to see it tauntingly
thrown back, all that was left us was to
bear patiently the exercise of this tormen'
ting tyranny. But not only has the ac'
ton of Congress 80 far indicated on the
part of the North, a just recognition Of oul
position, but there are evidences that there
are those in power who comprehend the
opportunity for craftsmanship which the
present crisis affords.
Our readers can scarcely fail to uuder'
stand that we refer specially to the letter
from Gen. S1cKLEs to Senator TRUMBULL
which we published yesterday. What we
could not say, he has said, and his words
are weighty with the experience of one
who has perhaps more successfully than
any of his colleagues carried out the pro-
visions of the Reconstruction Act His
fidelity to the Republican party not the
most extreme radical can doubt, and the
condition of the Military District which he
commands is the best proof Of the practical
wisdom of the administration.
His letter may be considered in two
points of view first, as the testimony OF
the most competent of witnesses Of the
condition Of the State under his command,
and, second, as the suggestion of the high
est practical authority as to the best mode
of reconstruction.
Considered as testimony, we can refer to
it as conclusive proof that our people have
done their duty; that they have met fairly
the responsibilities which the Act imposes,
and that the work of reconstruction would
be more thorough and more prompt, the
more we were trusted with our own govern
ment.
As suggestion, it can scarcely be over
valued. For two years General SIcKLEs
has been in command in the Carolinas; he
has had ample opportunity to observe; has
been brought into immediate contact with
all classes and all interests, and has proved,
by results, that the spirit Of the people
and the requirements of the law, are not
incompatible.
With this knowledge-with deeper in
terest than any other living man in the sue
cessful administration of the Act-he ad-
vises that the universal suffrage which has
been enforced, should be accompanied by
an universal amnesty; that if reconstruc-
ton is to be effected, that the best elements
of society are the material with which it
should be effected, and that no such sham
should be effected as would
result from the exclusion of the wealth, the
character, and the intelligence of the State.
It is clear that that is not reconstruc-
ton which places class in antagonism to
class-which excludes from the public SER
vice those who are fitted by education and
to direct public affairs wisely, and
that to disfranchise all who naturally
control is simply to put an inexperi-
enced, uneducated majority at the mercy
of that reaction which the minority, pos
sessed of all the real strength of society,
will, sooner or later effect.
General S1cKLEs recognizes further that
among the wisest and best men of the
South are those whom the late experiment
of secession has completely satis6ed-who
consider that a great revolution has opened
the field of new ideas and new habits, but
who will not interfere actively in public
so long as that action is supposed to be die
tated simply by the selfish desire to restore
their own fortunes.
Such men he sees are the most efficient
instruments in the reconstruction which the
country desires, and are the surest media
tors between the old and the new. He
sees what is the fact, that in the late war
the great mass of the people were one, and
that any disfranchisement which is consis-
tent must include nearly the whole of the
intelligence and character Of the South,
md that no reconstruction could be sound
based upon such an exclusion. He says
distinctly what is equally true, that such a
lisfranchisement would place the South un-
ler the control of those who are not fitted
70 direct it truly, and that the true interest
IF the whole country requires that when
;hese States are restored, they should be
restored in the fulness of such wealth, in
;elligence and character as they possess
hat if they are to be the equals of the
North in the Senate, the better fitted they
ire for that equality, the better for the
country.
Whether opinions so sound, and coming
even from so high an authority, will be re-
'pected, we cannot say, but whether treat
ed with the consideration they deserve or
not, we acknowledge our obligation to Gen.
S1cKLEs for placing upon record in this let