New-York tribune., 1867-08-19
RECONSTRUCTION.
,,,,,,,,e ON ,,.Iop CEN. POPE.

ATLANTA, Ca, July ~ ioo''
c,vrp.r. have the honor TO send incloseu d
rewspaper containing speech made IN this cy " Do II
mn, % tb state late senator In the Rebel Congress
sa, ICON o,lv few weeks since was pardOned oy the
prosttcnt and I'm common with almost every aruOleu
Rebel this is the be makes OF the eicn'c'S VI '
GoyernInent You readily see Hom uie spee'N "eii
81 oo,or ~ the man. who Is the representative Of
large class and hopeessness OF any satisfactory re-
construction OF the Southern States While sueh meh retain
Influence. go 49,. A. :. o.,... a. ,,o,,,,,t
and encourage the widest latitude Of speech ana P M te
press I'm this district, consistent with the law ana tho
nitted 10 exercise this latitude Of speech the civil officers
of the provisional state Governments already prohibited
by my orders from using any influence whatever 70 deter
OF dssuade the people from taking an active part IN re
constructing their State Governments under the recon-
sructOn acts. No such advantage the use OF tC ma
cbnery Of the existing State Governments ought To De OF
Will be given TO the antirec0nstructon party CONSIDER
desirable that the Government and the people OF Tie
United States should thoroughly understand the
feelings and purposes OF the leading politicians
of the south, in order that the country may
know the result OF the coming elections, precisely the
amount Of influence possessed by these men, and the
kind and extent OF legislation required to cOunteTact MS
baef effects. In my opinion no reconstruction can be
satisfactory or at All reliable as 10 future results i un
these men are permitted to discuss openly ana aGeolns
90 their nature the issues presented IL thoy sun Jcl
influence enough with the masses OF le WHITES ~ ] t
South TO enable them by active efforts to deiea recon- recon-
sructon under the late acts Of Congress IT Is nt
the country should know 1t before than alter me Ieu
mission OF the Southern States tito the Union III NOu
not be difficult TO tnd IN the violent vi ti
hDunon S SISS % tf tS would he no index OF the
public sentiment. and might, and probably wOhn result
after year or two in relapse Of the people into ne
same eondoh oi Donso ~ "f the same condition
OF things which demanded the passage ol INC hoco"
II is better that the battle should he fought out now
and openly. II the people Of these states nave inS CO
OF the Secession party and OF the potcai Ale Leaders & d %np
present desperate condition. ana VINO seek 10 lnuISo i
Them s deeper into misfortune, and they prove ane
and willing 10 reconstruct their state governments upon
Ihe only true principles Of government in defiance oi
leaders and against active opposition ineTe VIII De oO
and permanent If they cannot do this IL may well Oe-
come question whether reconstruction on an! IvSo
able terms possible long these unrcpentant ana
reaetOnary political leaders are suffered 10 remain l
this country It Is better that the country should KNOW
the truth on this subject now than run the rsk OF lear
ing hereafter that an rreaiabc mistake has neen haHe
need scarcely repeat that reconstruction TO be IN Le
spirit of the acts of Congress and To be permanent nusi
De the act Of the people themselves Ier lIe iesS anu
feest discussion. Congress has done wisely IN eHaDng
them to make this night by aslIaGshg . hue tnG itSUs @
hold Office 1t would have been still better to enforce
sOna influence they might bring to bear II they were can
didaes themselves is thus greatly Weakened ana tle{
feeling in their favor The people are mus eii lreS
than they ever were before 70 ehooSo Ie own e', h
So far from beng Wiling TO see the dsrancised classes
relieved from political disability consider these dsra
csng the acts TO be among their wsest ana
Khan TO relieve the people from the incubus OF the old
political leaders, they have ACCOMPLISHED lncacHaoe @
service. IL is not doubted that many worthy ana now
loyal who could be safely trusted are dsiranchsed
n
was unavoidable and can In Their cases nc eashy ISne
died IL will doubt be wise at an early day 10 leeNe
srto proved OF shall prove by their conduct in the
of the next six months. that they are worthy Ol H. Mc
it was unavoidable that some good men would be aus
lanchsed by provisions Of law against classes OF persons
the remedy is easy. To undertake the converse OF th
that is TO give general amnesty and except individuals
by name-woud certainly result IN leaving large NUN
hers enfranchsed who ought not to be- such improper
persons might decide the coming elections before tler
ntness could be asceraned, and even then w9ud bo
method set forth in the Reeonstrucuon act by Iar he
man familiar with the facts can think otherwise.
disfranchsed persons include generally t1e Whoe
Whfew exceptions, all these persons were active Rebels
and are bitterly opr9sed @ 20 90 @ nfh S m =
except such as would leave them III precisely the
and no Eyena such reconstruction as this they
would only accept as GeGess.ty OF t5e Staon WIN e
6e@seyes as nearly nearly & gs possible & 9 es same
dOminant IN the SOUTH freedom OF speech ana Oh the
press win not even exist IN name The Union men, and
Reconstruction under the late acts OF Congress would hnd
S PeaSs S M d no Womb "a be Ssp e @ @ 'O
need only point to tins speech OF MT MI ms numer
Dns letters The letters of GOV Perry OF south Carolina OF
Herschel v johnson Of Georgia, aud many other such
men, for sufficient evidence that have not Overstated
pnd powerful element bent reaction. and they have
been N the habit o. coRtrClng the southern wHIes, By
times past divided the southern whites purely personal
that among the there political question de-
eided instead of purely personal United they
how lar feir influence can prevail with tho people The
nsranchisng clauses OF the acts Of Congress put it out OF
hhe power Of these TO be candidates for Office one
great element of their strength IS thus destOyCd and the
people left to choose other leaders and vote for other
candidates have really freedom Of action which they
Dever had before, and fd themselves under necessity
Tor thinking which they have not heretofore felt Con
Press has given them this privilege, ara imposed upon
Them This saiutay necessity III remains 10 be seen how
they will use them. they can win the battle against
their former leaders after open fight all may be well
Ia the future II not, then not
do not at all agree in the opinion that there are
not enough competent men in tins district 10 mold the
civil offices who not dsfranchised. lhave think,
reason to know otherwise But even admitting tlat II Is
IL Is better to have incompetent but loyal man IL
office than to have Rebel Of whatever ability in fact
administration. The questions al issue under these acts
of Congress are The most mometous ever presented 10
people The result for good on eyl VIII aect gu parts OF
the country with or less force, and viii leave an
impress institutions which VIII long remain II
- easy under existing circumstances 10 WIN the nrst
victory aud reconstruct these States under the acts OF
Congress But this victory is only the beginning Of the
contest, aud unless II be victory, openly ana fairy won
and very decisive in ITS results II may prove not only
fIutleSs but absolutely destructive. The problem is 10
perpetuae reconstruction IN the spirit and on the prn
cipes which can alone secure tIec Government
ing tho open opposition OF the old political lead
ers stand committed 10 admit the reconstructed
power Of Congress them reduced practically ~ the
general power which that body has ali States in the
ing the old political leaders and neutrazng for the
ment old political Influences, Congress and the people
is accomplished the military power Is suspended, and
without all restrictions are removed at these old
political leaders and the old political and personal iu
viii resume then activity aud may find too late
Hhat such Teeonsructlon as we have made is not only
IN reproduction of the condition Of Affairs Which
made reconstrcton measures necessary AZ all Freedom
Of speech and OF the press education equality before the
law and In political rights nnd privileges are the essen
tials OF any satisfactOry re obstruction IN the South
Without securing these have secured nothing How
can We know that reconstruction viii accomplish these
power Of those who oppose Reaction certain
hess the reconstruction party win the battle by dec
five mortes over all the clements which oppose it, left
&c deVeoPe themselves and apply their full force 10 the