Ellsworth American., 1867-06-21
SSs- rhe following interesting correspon-
dcncc appears i'll the New orleans Repub-


command saccess.'
'rne spirit which inspired the above par
ayrlp.i. together with the fact that thou
sauds of brave soldiers are sill ready to fol
low their leader wherever fc ifray see lit
to call them. has cmboldcaed me TO extend
TO you an invitation to attend Il mass meet
ncctiag in Lafayette square tomorrow ev-
euia-, at which the Hon. Henry Wilson. a
distinguished READER in the Republican par
ty. will address the citizens of New Orleans.
LAS soliicrs. we were oppos sed to each
otllcr turiag the late war; but rs citizens.
may we not wisely unite in efforts to restore
Louisiana to her former position in the Tn
i'm through the party now Ia power, and
which in all probability will retain pow
cr for many years to co.ne. jfyon accept.
I shall be glad TO hear yonr views on the
condition OF public affairs
Respectfully VOWS Sc.
JOHN N. G.. PAHKER.'
Reilly,
New ORLEANS. La. June 3. 1867.
~. W. Il PUter. Es7.:
'My dear Sir: ! -FOUR esteemed favor of
the 18th ultmo was daily received. l was
much pleased t. have the opportunity to
near senator Wilsoa. and was agreeably
surprised to meet such fairness and frank
ness in a politician WHOM have been
taught to believe uncompromisingly oppos-
ed to the white people of the South.
II have naturally considered your sug-
.es.ion to wisely unite IN efforts to restore
Louisiana to her former position in the Tn
ion. through the party now in power.
Nv letter of The 9th of April to which you
refer. clearly indicates desire for pricti-
cal reconstruction aud reconciliation. Prac
teal men can surely distinguish between
practical reconstruction and recon strtic-
ton as an abstract question. Twill endeav
or. however. with renewed energy, to meet
your wishes i'll the matter. The serious
,liti .ulty that apprehenu is the want of
that wisdom which is necessary for the
great work. l shall be happy to work in
any harness that promises relief to our dis
tressed people ard harmony to the nation.
1t matters not whether Dear the mantle Of
Mr.. Davis or the mantle Of Mr.. Sumner,
So that l may help to bring the glory OF
peace and good will toward men."
II shall set out by assuming a PROPOSE
tion, that hold to be self evident. viz
The highest of human laws is the law that
Is established by appeal to arms.
The great principles that divided polit-
zeal parties prior to the war were thorough
L. discussed BY our wisest statesinen.-
When argument was exhausted resort was
had to compromise. When compromise
was unavailing, discussion was renewed
and cxpcdients sought, but none could be
found to suit the EN- Urgency. Appeal was
finally made to the sword, to determine
which of the claims was the true coustruc
ton of constitutional law. The sword has
decided in favor OF the North, aud what
they claimed as principles cease 10 be prn-
ciples, and are become law. The views
that we hold cease to be principles because
they are opposed to law. 1t is. therefore,
our duty to abandon ideas that are obsolete.
and conform to the requirements of law.
The military bill and amendments are
peace offerings. We should accept them
rs such, and place ourselves upon them as
the starting point from which to meet fu-
ture political issues as they arise.
Like other southern men. naturally
sou rht alliance with the democratic party.
merely because it was opposed to the Re-
publican party. But as far lis l can judge
there is nothing tangible abont it, except
the issues that were staked upon the war
and there lost. Finding nothing to take
hold of except prejudice. which cannot be
worked into good for any one, it is proper
and right that / should seek some stand
point from which good may be done.
"lfI appreciate the principles ofthc dem
ocratic party. its prominent features oppose
the enfranchisement of the colored man.
and deny the right to legislate upon the
,hieet qf s,a ag fave Stefat ten
dency to exclude southern men from that
party for the colored man is already ell
f'ranchised here, and we cannot seek an al
lance with u party that would restrict his
rights. The exclusive right ofthe states to
icgi>latc upon suffrage will make the en-
frauchisement of the blacks. whether for
better or for worse. n fixture amongst us.
1t appears, therefore. that those who cry
loudeSt against this new order of things as
Il public calamity are those whose prnci-
pies would fix it upon us without remedy.
Hence it becomes Us to insist that Suffrage
should be extended in all the states. and
fully tested. The people of the North
should adopt what they have forced upon
us; and if it be proved TO be Il mistake, they
should remove it by the remedy under re-
publican principles of uniform laws upon
suffrage.
If every man in the country will meet
tho crisis with proper appreciation of our
condition. and come fairly up to his rcspon-
Sibllities on tomorrow the sun will smile
upon a happy people, onr fields will again
bemin to yield their Increase. our railroads
and rivers will teen with abundant COM
,nerce. and towns and cities will reSound
with the tumuli Of trade. and we shall be
invigorated Ey the blessings of Almighty
God.
II am, sir, very respectfully, your most
obedient servant. JAMES LoNGSTREET.'