The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-07-24
Letter Of Gen sickles on Registration
The following is Gen. Sickles' Ie,te, 20
Senator Trumbnll, Chairman Of the Judi.
ciary Commi,.ee:

CiaIy SOtb"l'tees
CHARLESTON, s. c.. july 8, 1867.
My Dear Sr:-I have decided not 70
begin registration in this Distric, until
Congress determines who sh all be r.si,-
tered. ! trust, therefore. that it will be
the pleasure Of Congress to extend the
time for the completion OF my registration
until-say, October or November. ulI
proceed now, and disregard the wishes Of
the President my action would he regard
ed Rs insubord'nstion; i'll follow his in
ti'oations. manv would probably be reg
istered not eligible according to the true
Interpretation Of the sc,s of Congress.
II it's meant tha, all who have held
anv office-Federni, State, or municipsI
having taken au oath Of office 10 ,up
port the Constitution Of he United States,
and aherwards engaged in rebellion. a,
given aid and comfort, etc. are dsfran.
chi'pd, this should be expressly declared
otherwise. II left TO construction, il NAV
he held that no other officers are included
'hau nose Classes enumerated in Article
VI. ofthe CONSTITUTION, and that even as
I" these fuIl'pardon removes the dis.
qualification.
IL 1t is meant 10 exclude LAWYERS they
should he expressly mentioned, or else
described by some classification; as for
example. after the word office" add "anv
licensed calling or employment or pro.
f-ssion" O'her~ise, II the eligibility OF
LAWYERS he lrft to construction. il NAV be
held that = LAWYER is not a public officer.
although functionsry Of court or other
Judicial body.
The ruth ia, We have now in operation
two distinct svstems OF recons,ruc,ion.
originated by Congress, and enprsf,ed
upon the Presiden,'s plan Of reoonstrac
ton. The first Congressional plan is -x
pressed in the Howard constitutional a
mendment. leaving suffrage to he raeulat
ed hv the seversl States, and i'm posing
upon certain classes Of persons druuali.
Rcs'ion for Office. as punishment for re-.
helIion and as a safe guard Enr the future,
That plan having heen refused nv the
rshel States, Congress passed the recon
s,ruc,ien ac's. which form a second schema
Reconstruction. entirely distinct in prin
cip'e and pan from the former. In the
second plan Congress assumes control of
the question Of suffrage. which is extend
ed to all who can take = prescribed oath.
and .lso enfmces the Disqualification for
ofire, which would have been the penal
and conservative feature Of the fra, plan.
Nov, it seems to me IN At The true con.er,
vstivs guarantee against reaction is in the
addition made 10 the IovaI vote by the
enfrancbissment Of the co!ored peop!e.-
That being done. the occasion for the dis,
qualification clause ceases Hence, the
true solution. I hslievs, ia to declare, With
universal suffrage. a general amnesty-
naming the exceptions. A ,pore liberal
amnesty is, in my Judgment. essential to
the success Of the Congressional al plan Of
reconstruction. 1t will enlarge the range
Of popular choice for the important Judi
cisl. executive, and legislative department.
of the State governments, otherwise in
conveniently confined TO classes verv few
OF whom ara fit to hold office. The peo.
pie can surely be entrusted to Judge ard
select from those who took par, in the re.
be'l'on the men At once qualified and
sincere in their adhesion 10 tho new order
Of things. Such men, being eligible TO
office, will have motives to identify them
selves with rscons,ruction, and to support
the views Of the majority. Now, moro
than ever, men Of ability and experience
in public business are needed foy The State
governments in the South; and Ills truly
unfortunate that at such = moment nearly
al who know anything Of public affaiss,
and s'pec'a!iy those who could Gil jndicis;
stations. are disfranchissd. This exposes
the experiment Of general suffrage to
oeedle's hazards. II, the experiment fail
It 10 most likely to fail from the inability
OF the people 10 put in Office those who
could and would assure success. 1t would
have been ad'sn,sesou. perhsp. to have
removed many dsrfec,ed persons. esps
oia'ly judges, shsria'. and magistrates. in
the execution Of the si1,b section Of the
act OF I'd March. IL competent SUCCESSORS
could have been found among those who
are eligible to Office; spd'I woold regard
the possession nov. Of wider field Of
choice for civil officers as one Of the most
effective s'ns,rumeotslitie. In The execution