The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-17
CEN s1cKLEs, LETTER.

The letter forwarded by General Sickles to the
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the United
States Senate, says the Charleston Mercury, con-
tains some five statements and about as many sug-
gsstions. In the former class are included the de-
termination 10 defer registration, the illusions to
the consequences of immediate action the refer
ence to the two systems of reconstruction and the
analysis of the advantages expected to be obtained
by the granting of an amnesty. In the lattercass
nre included the extension of the time allowed for
registration, the enunciation of the manner in
which the presumed meaning Of Congress may be
carried out, and the Recommendation of a general
amnesty naming the exceptions, as well as the re-
concentrations of consequent wider field Of
choice for civil officers and of the interrogation OF
the District Commanders by Congressional Coul-
mittee.
That Congress would declare in unmistakable
terms what we're its purposes, and what was the
Congressional meening.of its various Reconstruc-
ton acts, is what the South has always asked
Doubt and uncertainty cannot avail our cause The
truth will not daunt us. On the contrary, We de-
sire the TRUTH so that no step may be taken by
e false light, and so that every man may know
whittier his actions and words aIe leading him.
The Major General Commanding this District
shares apparently in the general perple1ity' and
intending to perform his duty faithfully, he is
naturally anxious to have his powers defined, so as
to be secure on the one side from the imputation
of "insubordnation," and on the other, from doing
that which Congress did not intend.
This covers the interrogatory portion OF the let
ter; and then follow the recommendations for
amnesty Gen. Sickes makes the recommendation
in q business way-the only way that will have
the least effect on the party he addresses. It is to
their interests, in the successful execution OF their
policy, that he appeals. There is no doubt that
an amnesty would do more to re-establish good
feeling in the South, than decade Of injury and
wrong There is no doubt that the South would
show in the acts of her people that she valued the
consideration and friendship Of those who dared
to be Just But, at this time, nothing is further
from the minds of the Radicals than general am
nesty and general good will They are intent on
converting the Southern States into Radical in
struments to support their power in the next Pres
identia election; and oil their explanatory legis-
lation will look TO this end Their fEgfenfan, Ste
vens, demands con6scaton of Southern property,
and demands that the United States debit the
losses of private individuals, and homestead for
the negro shall oil be paid by torn from the al
ready ruined South. This is The programme OF
his party, and if he fail 60 carry it oat, it will be
Tor went of the power and not for want of the
will. Upon On ordinary measure he can command
the vo.es of the entire Radical party; but upon
such measure as con6scation, mild or severe, he
can but command majority-he cannot command
the two-thirds vote. Stevens himself acknowl-
edges that there is likelihood that the Fall elec-
tions in New York and Pennsylvania will be car
ried by the Conservatives, but this prospect but
makes him now the more savage and severe.
That reaction, n revulsion Of feeling, in the
North will come, we do not and cannot doubt; but
when or how we cannot tell. The suggestions of
Gen. siekles, concerning the defining of the dis
frauchised classes will probably receive some at
tention; but not one moment of serious conside-
ration will be given to the general amnesty which
he has proposed sit is right and honorable in
him, however, to have proposed it.
The Washington correspondent OF the New York
Herald says :-"Geu. sickles letter to Senator