Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-21
Letter from General Pope.

General Grant ~receiVed q letter from
General Pope, dated July "a, enclosing
: newspapef containing q speech made
b. B. HaHill. and saying he yves only
slew weeks aimee 1pafdonsd by the
President. You can, General Pope
says, read from the speech itself, the
character Of the man who is 3 repre-
sentative Of class and. the hopeless
ness Of any satisfactory reconstruction
of the Southern States, while such men
retain influences In his opinion more
construction can be satisfactory or at
all reliable in its future results, if these.
men are permitted TO discuss openly
and according to their hature the Is.
sues presented. It Is better that the
country should know truth on the SUBJ
ject now than torun the risk of learning
hereafter that an irrepaTsble mistake
has been made in the plan and execu.
ton of the reconstruction acts. He
need scarcely repeat, recommendation
to be in the spirit of the acts of lCou-
gress' and TO be permanent, must be the
act of the people themselves, after the
fullest and freest discussion. Congress
has done wisely in ensbling them to
make this light by DISTINGUISHING the
leading FebelsSand atdeasti making it.
impossiblei for themB0Ivote or hold an
Office. 1tEwouId haVscbeen still better
to enforce their permanent absence
from the country. The personalinhu-
ence they might bring to- bear if they
are candidates isthus weakened and they
are forced TO discuss issues, and notap-
peal to personal feeling in their favor.
The General gives his views at length,
concluding as follows: pa s4t
al am confident that reconstruction
will be satisfactorily accomplished in
this district in spite of the open and
active opposition of disloysl reaction.
lists. | can safely say that Alabama
viii give not less than 10000 msjority
of white votes for reconstruction. /
think it may be said with almost equal
eert0inty that Georgia will give white
majority in the same direction. Not
less than three-fourths of the colored
votes IN these States will be cast for
reconstruction. Some of these remarksl
are substantially true of Florida If Il
have so earnestly invited your attention
to the danger Of opposite results, il has
only been to furnish data TO meet cases
to Justify the counsel have thought it
judieions toapursue. ALI the facts that
bear upon these questions | shzll con-
tinue to report ~ they come to my
1t isg however, my duty
state ghAtginsm mn Judgement the
condition of affairs i'm the Southern.
even should reconstruotion be
satisfactorily accomplished, will of asst
be aFeproduction ina mors orr
less modified degree of what nov exist
in Tennessee, unless some measures are
tofree the country of turbuz
lent and disloyal leaders Of the reses
party Whilst these persons re-
main il the country to exercise the
baneful Influence they undoubtedly
possess, thefsican be no peace. e44m ~,
l believe, that in Florida and Ala
bAma the dangeE1from this csuseais less
than in Georges, butinEsll these States
here iSaso maohSdEnges ofdiiordexAnd
violence which mark daily the histoiy
FennesSee thatit would ssemaFEise
10 adopt Whist measures are practisshle
10 remove from the States now indpro-
of reconstruction, causesl which
now endanger the loyilqgoyemmsnto in
Il do NOT venture toasuR.
yest a remedy for the evils8thst may be
developed. Such are matters of merit
md no doubt win command the patient
and careful action, and
laid before you some factsI and
ny general views on them, I consider
my duty performed adj sT5'-5 y1
9a Your obedient serVsnt9aLm !,
Snf l1-9riaH JOHN PoPR.e I1