The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-07-24
General Sickles on Reconstruction
We find the following letter from Gene
raj Sickles in the National Intelligencer 0
tho 10Th:
CHARLEsToN. s. q. JuIY (. 1861.

i
the 10th:
CHARLESTON; S. C.,JULY 5, 1867.
My Dear SRI have decided hot to be-
gin registration in this District until Con-
gress determines who shall be registered.
I trust, therefore, that it will be the pleas
ure of Congress to extend the time for the
completion of my registration until say,
October or November. If proceed now,
and disregard the wishes of the President,
my action would be regarded as insubordi-
nation; if / follow his intimations, many
would probably be registered not eligible
according to the true Interpretation OF the
acts of Congress.
fit is meant that all who have held any
office-federal, State or municipial-hav-
ing taken an oath Of Office to support the
Constitution of the United States, and af-
forwards engaged in rebellion, or given
aid and comfort, ETC.; are disfranchised,
this should be- expressly declared; other.
wise, if left TO construction, it may be held
that no other officers are included than
| those classes enumerated in article vi. OF
the Constitution, and that even as to these
full pardon removes the disqualification.
| If it is meant to exclude lawyers, they
should be expressly mentioned, or else des-
cribed by some classification; as for exam
nile, after the word 'office," add ANY IL
censed calling or employment OF profess
sion" Otherwise. if the eligibility OF law
yers be left to construction, it may be held
that a lawyer is not public officer, al
though fnnctionary of a Court or other
judicial body. f.
The truth ID, we have now in operation
two distinct systems, originated by Con
gress, and engrafted upon the Presidents
plan of reconstruction. The first Congress,
sional plan is expressed In the Howaro
Constitutional Amendment, leaving sui
frage to be regulated By the several States
and imposing upon certain classes OF per
sons disqualification for Office, as punish
me,it for rebellion and safeguard tor the
future. That plan having been refused b5
tlle rebel States, Congress passed the 10
construction acts, which forms q secont
scheme of reconstruction, entirely distlnc
; in principle and plan from the former.
n the second plan Congress assumes
, control Of the question of suffrage, which
= is extended to all who can take pre-
scribed oath, and also enforces the dlsqual
! i6cation for office, which would have beef
). the penal and conservative feature OF tn
! FIRST plan. Now, it seems to me that tn
!. true conservative guarantee against reae
finn is the addition made to the loyal vot
:. by the enfranchisement OF the colorea PEI a
pie. That being dome, the occasion Tor 10 70
r. disqualification clause ceases Hence. IN
!. true solution, I believe, is to declare, Wit
universal suffrage, general amnesty
e naming the exceptions.
10 A more liberal amnesty is. IN my ]ud!
8 ment, essential to the success OF the Col
- presslohal plan of reconstrpctlon' 1t WI
- enlarge the range of popular choice for I'll
= +, important judicial, executive, and legsl
! five, DEPARTMENTS Of the State COVER
~ ments. otherwise inconveniently contine
lo 10 TO classes very few Of whom are fit to hol
+ office, The people can surely be entruste
~ TO indoe and select from those who toe
~ mart in the rebellion the men at once qua
ao fled and sincere in their adhesion to Il
y. 40 new order Of things Such men, being ell
~ lille to office, will have motives to identl
=; ~ themselves With reconstruction, and t. su
~ -, mort the views of the majority. No
I'M more than ever, men OF ability ana expe .
I ence in public business are needed 10f : =
an State governments IN the SCUM; ana IL
no. truly unfortunate that at such nome
rs nearly all who know anything ofpubhc
eS affairs and especially those who could IL
NJ iudicial stations, are DISTINGUISHED. III
w.t. exposes the experiment of general suttra
, M, to needless hazards If the experlme
'p pf fail. it is most likely to fail from the il
in bility of the people to put in office tn
- who could and would assure success.
, If would have been advantageous P
Ia hans to have removed many disaffect
s rne persons, especially judges, sheritfs, a
y II MAGISTRATES, in the execution OF the si2
S Uas section of the act of2d March, if compet'
NV NV successors could have been found ame
lies those who are eligible to Office; and wo
ito, regard the possession now OF q Wlder u
Mo Of choice for civil officers as one OF
III IL most effective instrumentalities IN the
~, n ecution of the military authority confer
nh. upon District Commanders.
'a ~ AS it is, I find myself prevented, as
IN the people by and by, from securing for
nubjic service men Of aptitude and chal
sno ter whose repentance is as certain as
nnS devotion Of the most consistent loyalis
's Ma In truth, the zeal of some Of the cow
~ outrun the discretion Of many Of the ia
II t. FIJI With reference to other pract
an suggestions, it might be useful if Congr
,1t;. by one of its committees; interrogat.ea
o ln commanding officers of the several dlstr
t J upon the operation of the reconstruct
'sis' acts and the the further legislation
l anyd quired. Very respectfully.
.nel, Hon. Lyman Trumbull, Chairman judi
" TT g Spn1fe