Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-24
GENERAL pOpE'S LETTER.

GENERAL POPE'S LETTER.
The letter recently addressed by Genera
Pope to General Grant-publtshed in many
newspapers-rs serving to open the eyes Of
thousands of the supporters of the Union cause
during the war, who up to this time have
opposed the reconstruction policy Of Con-
gress That letter makes it plain that
there can be no reconstruction except on
the basis Of the entire return Of the af.
fairs of the south into the hands of the bitter
est traitors whe managed the rebellion, unless
the purpose Of Congress to make them give
place to those who regard and proclaim the re.
beilion to have been the great crime OF modern
tunes, shall triumph. As General Pope ex-
plains with great force, there remains no half
way ground for men to occupy. The struggle
Is between the purpose of deifying the rebel
lion and restoring its authors to entire and uu-
Questioned control Of public affairs: and that
OF insuring that L MON sentiments and Union.
lists at heart shall, hereafter, guide and direct
the Southern popular mind as in the North
ern, Western and Middle States. There can
now be no greater possibility of mistaking tn
issue than there was in mistaking that OF 1861,
'62, '63 and "a. The latter issue was-Shall
the Union be preserved at all hazards and
any cost; or, shall it be destroyed, leaving
the South under a despotism as atrocious and
as implacable towards civil liberty, as was that
ofTamarlane the Tartar, and leaving the rest
OF the Union utterly destroyed financially and
politically, and beyond all question, prey to
speedy anarchy. Without distinction of party
the Northern masses came manfully to the
work OF sustaining the Union cause in tina.
perilous crisis. At the North, chronic poll.
ucians almost alone opposed their country's
cause, In their indisposition to surrender place
and power, which the country judged them I'M
tit to hold at such time. They raised the hue
and CRY that the Government in Its efforts to
save the Nations life, overstepped the bounds
OF It's Constitutional powers. and on that
ground defended their own in famous treachery.
AT each subsequent election, the people of the
10y al States have indignantly repudiated all
their pleas and POSITIONS branding their course
according to its deserts, and deciding that the
Government did right in resorting to any
means at hand TO put down the rebellion Nor
are the circumstances of the rebellion at the
South to be forgotten. 1t was the result of
stupendous conspiracy Of serpents warmed in
to life and political power by the Nation itself
to destroy the Nations life. 1t sought to oblit.
crate civil liberty throughout the South-to re.
duce the Southern white laborer to the condition
OF the free negro, and the free negro to slave.
~; to reopen the African slave trade
and to establish over the South
the despotism Of an oligarchy founded alone
on slavery, and the interests and ambition Of
those interested in slave property. How cruel
ana remorseiess its career was-how little it
respected individual rights and the common
laws OF humanity when they stood in the way
OF its remorseless schemes-should be fresh IN
the memory Of all. Nevertheless, the generous
sentiments OF pity for the condition OF its
victims, the Southern masses, led thousands
OF the people of the North TO mistake the wise
action OF Congress in the latter's efforts to re-
organize the affairs of the Southern States on
tne OASIS OF nomogeneity With those of the
NORM, for unnecessary harshness. They
could not com prehend q few most important
truths.
1st That with the rebellion's leaders and
their most active supporters again in power,
even SO slightly as they were up to the passage
OF the nrst reconstruction law. neither the
negro nor the white Unionists of the South had
any figns OF LIE or property which any South.
ern State court could or would protect
%. That entire anarchy would soon have
prevailed throughout the South had that sta te
OF things been permitted to continue.
go Ihat IN this anarchy the South would
soon nave been utterly lost TO civilization It.
SELF the inter-rebellion despotlsm Of the oil
garcny being perpetuated under the auspices
and authority Of the United States Govern.
ment.
fth. That to rescue the South from this i'm
minent danger, it was necessary to place that
section under immediate and thorough mill.
tAry government
5tn That the powers granted to the several
military governors have In no instance been
abused to the injury of any portion of the
southern people. Though necessarily arei-
trary, those powers have been exertsd only
LOT the projection of the rights of individuals,
ana 70 the great advantage of the sevsra |
Southern communities. True the oligarchy
ana their sympathizers there and here, com.
plain against the check rein the military COM
manders hold over them. But in so doing
they simply inveigh against the intsrposition
OF ANY emcient power between the rene wed
Incense they crave, and those who were to have
been the victims Of their coveted Immunity.
Inese are oil facts that must and will nave
due weight In the minds of all true Union men
whether friends or opponents of the recon.
policy Of Congress. The Presidents
evident determination to make open and unre.
ienung war On that policy will recall these
truths to the minds OF all; compelling all to
elect between supporting the policy OF restoring
the rebellion to power over the South in the
persons OF Its active managers and in the su.
Pieinnty VI tneI views OF pubHc anaifs; or
tnat OF the restoration of the Southern States
TO the Union under the auspices of Union
men, necessarily supported by the SURFACES o.
All, without distinction OF race, who hold that
the preservation Of American liberties and
American privileges, as enjoyed by all in the
loyal States, was worth the Unions sacrifices
Of the war.
CANDIDATES FOR THE U. s. SESArE-The
Of Tennessee will meet in October,
and the first important duty will be to make
cnoice OF Senator to represent that State In
place Of Judge Patterson. Horace MAYNARD.
william b. Stokes, Andrew j. Fletcher, and
j oseph A. Cooper are named. Colonel Stokes
.s supposed to have the support OF Governor
Brownlow; but Mr.. Maynard 10 booked by tina
leading Union men OF the State Ex.Conxress.
man John BidwelI having declined the seon.
serNatiye" nomination for Governor in Cali
Aornia, it has beea predicted that he will Do
CHOSEN TO the Senate Of the United States in the
place Of Dir. Nc Dougal.
PRESERVATION. E. A. Rollins, Uomm,s.
sisner OF Internal Revenue, has returned from
snort visit TO his home in New Hampshire.
n uch improved in health. ....Ssnator Howe
OF Wisconsin, and Bishop Kerfoo,, of PITTS.
burg. are among the passengers by the steamer
Russia, which sailed from New Yorb On
wednesday. The latter goes to attend tha
Council at Lambeth ....R.ron
Gerolt, the Prussian Minister, Mr. Ford of thu
French Legation, Judge ABBOTT OF Boston. Wis
count de alcourt OF Paris, MAJ. Gen Hsint.