The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1867-07-26
Washington, 9th. Dispatch 10 the New
York Herald.
Letter From General Siokles.


bull. or reconstruction matters, about which
there has been so much speculation, leaked
out to-day from the Senate Judiciary Com.
miltee. Il Is regarded as a heavy blow a,
Radicaism, and many efforts were made 10
suppress i. but 10 vain. Senator TrumbulI
y said to have strlven hard 10 keep it from
the public, through the fear that it should
damage The Republican party; while on the
other hand the President, il is believed, will
De gra.itied at its publications The follow.
ing is the letter.
CHARLESTON, s. c.. July 1867.
MY DEAR Sir: have decided not to be.
GIN registration in this district until Con.
gress determines who shall be registered. -
trust. therefore tina. II will be the pleas.
lurc of Congress to extend the time for the
completion Of my registration. say October
or November. II proceed now and disre.
gard The wishes Of the President nv action
would DO regarded os insubordinstion. II fol-
low his limitations they woulc probably be
registered not eligib BILE, according 10 the true
Interpretation ot the acts Of Congress. Il
Y 's meant that all who have held any office,
Federal Sts,e,or municipal. having taken an
oath Of Office 10 support the Constitution Of
tne United States and afterwards engaged in
rebellion, or given cid or comfort, etc., are
DISTINGUISHED, this should be expressly de.
clsred; otherwise, II left 10 construction.
Il may be held that no other officers are ex
cluded than those classes enumerated in ar.
ticle sixth Of the reconstruction act, and
that even ss TO these full pardon removes
lhe disqualification. Ii is mesht to exclude
lawyers. they should be expressly mention.
ed. or else described by some classification
as Tor semple. after the word "ofFice" add
amy licensed calling or employment or pro.
iessinn;' otherwise, il the eligibility Of law.
yers be left to construction. il may be held
Ihata lawyer IL not public officer, although
'unc,ioEasy Of court or other judicial
body. Ia truth, we have nov in operation
TWO distinct systems Of reconstruction orig
mated by Congress and ongraited upon The
Presidents plan Of reconstruction.
The first Congressional plan u expressed
IN ihe llowasd Constitutions amendment.
ieHving suffrage q be regulated BY the sew
oFal States. and inDoaIng upon certain clas-
ees " persons disqualiiicasions TOR Offices. az
= punishment for rebellion and safeguard for
the tuure. That plan having been refused
by me rebel States, Congress passed theI
reconstrucIion act, which forms q second
scheme Of reconstruction. enurely dstinctI
u princple and plan from The former. LII
Tie second plan Congress assumes control
" ,he qaeslion Of suffrage, which Is ex-
tended 70 ~ VITO can take a presented oath,
aud also entofces the disquaiica,ions Of Or.
hce which would have been tho head ondl
conservative feature Of The first plan. Now
4 seems to W that the true conservative
against reaction is in the addition
made 70 the loyal vote by The enfranchise-
nent Of the coIorcd people. That being
lone, the occasion for the disqualification
sws Ceases. Hence The true solution, Ibe-
ieve, is 70 declare with universal Suffrage
general amnesty, naming the exceptions.
more liberal amnesty 10. in my Judgment,
essential 10 the success OF the Congression
y plan a reconstruction. II will en.arre
he range Of popular choice for Tho import. +,
n, judicial. executive and legislative de-
'ar'mcD's Of the State governments, other
sse inccnvenently confined 10 clnsses.
cry few q whom nre fit to hold Office
The people can surely be entrusted to Judge
nd select from lbose who took par, Ia the |,
eoeiiion, me men at once qualified sndlt
incere IN their adhesion TO the new order oil
hinge. Such men being eligible 70 Office e
'll have motives to identify themselves
'i'h recons'ruciion and 70 support the views !
I tho majority.
Now, more than ever, men OF ability andL;,
experience In public business are needed .
y The State governments in The South, and
is truly unfortunate that a. such mo.
'ent nearly all who know anything Of pub. v
affairs ore disfranchised. and especially b
lose WHO could ill Judicial sta,ions. This
sposcs the expesimen. 81 general suffrage