Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-08
Views of SOuihern GeueraIs on
Recommendations. fa...y
VIEWS OF GENERAL .BEAUREGARD.


New ORLEANS, La, March %, 1867.
Vim. H. c.. King, Editor Of The !Neto Orleans.
Times Ne,o Orleans, L.: Z" t'ftit}'l.
ieDEAR SIR-You have done me the honor,
to call for my opinion relative to the action
of the South under the Military bill. Hav-
ing seldom taken any part in politics, L do
not teel well qualified to advise on so mo-
nientous question. Nevertheless, asithe
same desire to obtain my views has been,
manifested from various quarters, shall
not shrink from the responsibility of eX-'
pressing them, in the hope that they may
tend to quiet the public mind, so justly
alarmed at this moment. In my humble
opinion, we have but one of two things to
dO-resist or submit. The first is inadmis-
sible III our painfully exhausted condition.
Four years of a desperate war have taught
as that the 'sargument of the sword can no
longer be resorted to by US to redress our
grievances. We must, therefore, submit; !;
| but with that calm dignity becoming our
manhood and our lost independence. Hav-
ing been overpowered in the late struggle
we, can submit to the harsh and ungenerouS
conditions of our conQuerors without dis
honor, and we must adopt the least of two
evils; d futile resistance would only cause
our rivets to be driven closer; we must
then acquiesce or leave the country. But
we love too dearly the land OF our birth to
abandon it in its hour of severest trial.
We should avoid, also, bringing it by ih-
ternal dissensions to the condition of poor
MeXice. and the unfortunate South Amer
| ican republics. With regard to the suffrage
iof@the freedmen, however objectionable
it. may be at present. it is an elementzof
strength for the future. If properly ham
died and directed, we shall defeat our ad-
.Hersaries with their own weapons. The
laTIegro is Southern born :; with little edu-
cation and some property qualifications, he
can be made to take sufficient interest in
the affairs and prosperity OF the South, to
| insure an intelligent vote on his part. In
our future political contests with the North,
on protective tariffs, internal improve
ments. Sc, the freedmen of the South will
side with the whites of the South and of the
West, and they will thus contribute togiye
us back the influence we formerly had in
the councils of the nation. Our people
should understand that the Radicals can re-
main in power only so long as the public
excitement is kept up; as with the turbid
waters of the Mississippi river, the sedi-
mentary particles are kept up at the sur
| face only so long as the waters are in mo-
tion; the instant the current is checked
those particles fall TO the bottom. Thus
will it be with the Radicals when peace and
quiet are restored to the country. The
| Conservatives will then take the reins in
their own hands, and the constitutional
laws of the land will once more prevail.
remain yours respectfully,
| .ses7o0 r-s1gi a-,rs G. T. BEAUREGARD.
VIEWS OF GENERAL LoNGsTREET.
| NEW ORLEANS, March 1S, 1867.
AS I have never applied myself to poll
| tics, l cannot claim to speak to the wise
statesmen of the country who are devotin g
their energies to the solution of the prob
lem which agitates the public mind. | can
lonly speak the plain, honest convictions of
soldier. 1t can hardly be necessary, at
this late day, to enter into a discussion of
l -
guing upon the proposed plan for recon-
structing the Government. Indeed think
that many of them are not pertinent to the
question. The striking feature, and the
one that our people should keep in view,
is that we are conquered people. Recog-
nizing this fact fairly and squarely, there
is but one course left for wise men to pur-
sue, and that is to accept the terms that are
now offered us by the conquerors. There
can be no di5credit to a conquered people
| for accepting the conditions offered by their
eonquerors, nor is there any occasion tor a
! feeling of humiliation. We made an hon
est, and l hope may say creditable fight;
tbut we lost. Let US come forward, then T,
and accept the ends involved in the strug-
gle. Our people earnestly desire that the
constitutional Government shall be re-
! established, and the only means to accom-
plish this is to comply with the require
ments OF the recent Congressional legisla-
ton. 1t is said by some that Congress will
not receive US even after we have complied
with their conditions, but 1 can find no
sufficient reason for entertaining this prop
osition for a moment. / cannot admit that
the representative men of a great nation
i could make such a pledge in bad faith,
Admitting, however, that there is such a
mental reservation, can that be any excuse
for us in falling to discharge our duty
Let us accept the terms, as we are in duty
bound to do, and if there is lack of good
faith let it be upon others.
Very respectfully, your ob't servant,
JAMES LONGSTREET.