The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-01-08

4
ernmental telegraph. The Wes- lr
tern eUnion Company may yet =
find that they have killed the =
goose which laid the golden eggs.
Sens;ble Reconstruction Views.
Ex-Gov. Wells, Of Virginia, has
been peculiarly favored in receiv-
ing a food of light upon the ques-
ton of Southern reconstruction j
peculiarly favored, because he Is
the first prominent man in the
Radical party who has been able /
to see that persecution and pro-
scription are not the proper agen-
cies with which to bring about a
,prosperous reunion of the States.
Mr.. Greeley, the other day,
urged upon Gen. Butler, in q
lengthy letter, the sound policy (
|of granting amnesty to the citi-
|zens of those States by whose
laid. the ratification of the XVIII i
Amendment should be secured. 4
(Thia nroposition, if intended to
The lit,eral, was q signal failure.
IGov. Wells proposes no such bar
gain and sale, nor does he come
Iforward with any halfway mea-
.lsnre which shall leave Che recipi-
ttent Of amnesty sore and discom-
lifted because Of concessions
.lreluetantly made to obtain the
Iprivileges Of an elector. He would
1leave no unpleasant recollections
lin the breast Of any man to goad
4 him on to revenge hereafter, or
remind him that his Government
had sought and obtained his hui
Sanitation. BY charging the ben
,lefts OF the Government, he wisely
: conceiyes that he only augments
llthe,gratitude, worthiness and pa
ltriotism of the citizen. None but
lnarrow minds can fail to see that
,Ethis wise plan is founded upon
Ian that is good and reliable in
Iman's nature. sezs
q The letter of Gov. Wells was
laid before thef Reconstruction
..ICon11nittee Of Congress. It reads
i las follows: ...az - - -@s
s,RIcH,foND, VA. Dec. 10, 1869.
Ito Col. H. H.aHughes:
e. NM 1ear Str had hoped there
: world be at the opening of Con.
I. rress no; division of sentiments
5 in washington on the subject OF
fIinmediate restoration OF Virginia
= and am surprised at what occur
!. red before the Reconstruction
= committee yesterday. We have
: arrived, it seems to me, at a stage
s lin the work of reconstruction
"A where it is utterly idle to attemp1
). the correction of any evil which
may exist here, by a longer deni
= al of Federal representation tx
Fl the State. No Conservative no
Y IDemocrat will be made a Repub
/. llicafl, no bitterness assuaged, no
: lany spirit of amnesty encouraged
nor oblivion of the past be secur
ed by either an exclusion OF thu
8 State or individuals. from an,
IS of the rights which belong to TIN
Utmost favored of States orgcitiZens
/ Whether such desirable result
we're ever likely to be secured b.
= test oath and acknowledgements
= or not, it is certain they can hav'
e, Inc operation from this time for
r lwarel. IF we are ever to ssecur'
is prosperity in our national inter
/, tests, harmony in our social rela
: ltions, or justice aud equality il
y political rights and privileges, j
= must be done by such a universe
4 lact of notable amnesty as de
/. Epriyes every man of the vestig
= Iof excuse for inflic ting injustice
: upon, others in, retaliation TO
g wrongs or political disabilitie
u suffered by himself. &.s.
u One may doubt the issue, Q
r. leven believe such a measure o
liability will fail of any result
}, Jstill it is the only refuge now LET
II u.s.. and wise men ought not t!
r hesitate about making the trial