The Van Buren press., 1867-08-30
FROM WAS4.MGTON.

u ..'i q. . W ASHiNGT0N, Aug / T.
LETTER FROM GEN. POPE on THE SITUATION.
Gen. Grant has received a letter from
Gen Pope dated July 24th, enclosing a
newspaper containing a speech by d. II.
Hill, and saying he has only few weeks
since been pardoned by the President
" You can" Gen. Pope says g read from
the speech itself the character of the man
who is the representative of class and
the hopeesSness of any satisfactory re-
construction of the Southern States while
such men retain influence.
In his opinionn no reconstruction can be
satisfactory or at all reliable in its future
results if these men are permitted to dis
cuss openly according to their nature the
issues presented. a-
1t is better that the country should
know the truth on this subject now, than
to lun the risk Of learning hereafter that
an irreparable mistake had been made in
the plan and execution Of the Recon
struction acts He need scarcely repeat
that reconstruction, to be in the spirit OF
the acts Of Congress, and to be perma-
nent, must be the act Of the people them
selves. After the fullest and frecst dis
cussion, Congress has done wisely in
enabling them to make this fight by dis
franchismg the leading rebels and at least
making it impossible for them to vote or
hold office. ,..'I..
p 1t would have been still better to en-
force their permanent absence from the
country. The personal influence they
might bring to bear if they were candi-
dates is thus greatly weakened, and they
are forced to discuss issues and not ap
peal to personal feeling in their favor.
3 The General gives his views ut length,
concluding as follows: =" am confident
that reconstruction win be satisfactorily
accomplished in this District in spite Of
the open and active oppo .ition of disloyal
reactionistsl i can safely say Alabama
will give not less than 10000 majority of
white votes for reconstruction. / think
! it may bcsaid with almost equal certain
ty that Georgia will give a white majority
in the same directions. Not less than
tuTcc c'lOullIlS vi c'CVtOIcV NOtS ii NaSh
of these States will be cast for recon
struction. The same remarks arc sub
stantally true of Florida. at rrUlo raf
III have SO earnestly invited your at
tention to the danger Of opposite results,
it has only been to furnish data TO meet
the cases to justify the course have
thought it judiciouS to pursue. All the
facts that can bear upon these questions
! shall continnc to report as they come
to my knowledge, 1t is, however, my
duty to state that in my judgment. tho
lcondition or affairs in the Southern
States, even should reconstruction be
satisfactorily accomplished, will ofneces.
sity be u reproduction, in more or less
modified degree, Of what now exists in
| Tennessee, unless some measures arc
adopted to free the country Of the tnrbu.
lent and disloyal leaders Of the reaction.
ary party While these persons remain
in the country to exercise the banctul in.
hucnce they undoubtedly possess there
can be no peace. believe that in Florida
and Alabamn the danger from this cause
is less than in Georgia But in ~ these
States there is so much danger Of the dis
order and violence which mark the daily
history Of Tennessee, that it would seem
wise te adopt what measures are practic
able 80 rc,uo,rfrvln Che states IL pro"r,s