The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-24
GENERAL POPE AND HON. b. F. HILL.

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the test oath to be submitted to every juror
GENERAL POPE AND HON. b. F. HILL.
| The press of the whole country at present Is
occunied with the consideration of the letter
recently addressed by General Pope to Cen
eral GRANT. The views and comm the
several organs of public opinion are of course
as is always the case in political questions, IN
accordance with the tenets of the respective
parties they represent. Thus, if we take up
Radical sheet, we know beforehand that we
shall there find the course recommended by
Gen. Pore toward the Southern States, ap-
proved and commended; while, Of course, the
Democratic press is violently opposed to it, and
denounces. in no measured terms, the spirit
that could have conceived such project There
are few Conservative Republican papers also
that have expressed a decided disepprobation
of the tyrannical and summary manner, in which
the commander of the Third Military District
proposes to deal with truculent ex-Confedc-
rates. Of these we may mention such pa
pers as the St. Louis Republican, the Spring
field Republican, the New York Sun, and
some other independent papers of more or less
influence.
But on the other hand, the New York
Times-a paper which heretofore has always
leaned to mercy's side, and been consid-
cred very unsound and heterodox by the
high priests of the Republican party-has of
late thrown oil its influence into the scale OF
Congressional reconstruction, and is giving an
unqualified support to the administration of the
Military Commanders in tho South. Much has
been said of a revulsion of feeling, now going on
in the North, and the sensation leaders Of the
Herald are pointed to as irrefutable evidences
of this revolution of public sentiment AS an
Offset it may be stated that in April last, when
General Order No. 10 was issued in this Mill
tary District, the New York Times commented
severely upon it, charaoterizing it, in terms
very uncomplimentary, as very tyrannioal
measure. Now, this same paper is staunch
supporter Of General SIcKLEs, and of General
Pops, fully endorsing their orders. The Times,
too. ne have reason to know, is paper that is
mldely read among the best classes Of the citl-
zens of New York. True, we cannot say what
its motives may be for this course But surely
no sane man, who knows anything of the past
history of New York newspapers, will question
the honesty of the Times, while he stakes his faith
on the Herald The Evcning Post, another infiu-
entail New York paper, which has always been
among the Conservative Republican organs,
now also takes ground against the President
and in favor of the policy of Congress.
Gen. GRANT, who has heretofore been looked
upon as one ofthe mainstays Of fConservatism, and
is even now looked upon Us the probable Demo-
cratic candidate for the next Presidency, upoa
the receipt of this letter Of General Pope,
took the unusal course of at once laying it
before the public, which, there is every reason
to believe, he would not have done had he
not approved the sentiments set forth in the let
ter. We regret to say, moreover, that the
Northern press is not indignant and shocked
u
we may Judge by the general tone of the pa
pers, we should say that this letter in meas
ure adumbrates the next act of Congress on
the subject of reconstruction.
We print this letter in another part of this
mornings Nlws, as we believe its careful pc
rusal will be instructive to our readers 1t Will
appear that the course of the Hon. BENJAMIN
II. HILL, of Georgia, was the immediate pro-
voking cause that led Gen. PORE to write this
letter While we have no sympathy with the
views expressed by Gen. PORE, or the course
he recommends, we are not prepared to say
that Mr. HILL did not provoke them. We have
on several occasions examined Mr. HILLS
speeches and Notes and have expressed our
dissent We will, therefore, content ourselves
at this time by simply quoting the following,
which we have not seen noticed in any of our ex-
changes that have discussed Gen. Pores letter
Saws Mr. HILL-'f earnestly hope the people
of each of the ten States will 60 boldly for
ward and preserpe and continue their existing STATE
Governments, and hold all elections in the man
ner and at the time prescribed by existing
State Constitutions, will choose officers qualified
according to existing State Constitutions and lsrs.
If any citizen or officer shall be interfered with
in exercising his rights under these laws, or in
di.charging the duties of any office to which he
may be chosen, let him make the issue fear
lessly."
Now what does all this mean! Simply re-
sistance to the law of Congress General PORE
then, after all, cannot be the tyrant he is re-
presented to be, when he permits q free press
and free speech, as is proved by the publca-
tion of these sentiments, and by the fact of his
not having arrested Mr.. HILL. Indeed we see
it stated in some of the papers that the object
of the letter of General PORE is q defence of
his course in not arresting Mr.. HILL MS he
had been directed by General GRANT. OF this
we cannot speak positively
In conclusion, ne will give Ex-Governor
j. E. BRowN's remarks on the passage above
quoted from Mr.. HILL, which will show the
full absurdity Of the counsel of the distinguish
ed Georgian:
The law Of Congress declares the existing State
governments illegal, and gives the Military Com
ruander power to set them aside at pleasure.
1t also confers suffrage on tho freedmen, and
allows no election to be held till they, with the
white men not disfianchised, are registered. The