The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondents

from Our special correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1871.
1t was not many days ago that Il |
Washington correspondent of the New |,
York Tribune, writing as by authority, |
announced that the failure of the Presi- |
dent to recommend general amnesty in
his recent message, or even refer to the
subject at all, was the result Of an over
sight simply. Naturally people looked
to see this oversight remedied by IL
special message. There is reason to
believe, that the President contemplate
ed such a step; and he might have taken
it had he been left alone. But at this
juncture the politicians interviewed, and
the result has been {. new programme
for the Radical party in which amnesty
has no place. On the contrary, pro-
scription is to be enforced with renew
ed vigor throughout the whole South.
The first vague intimation through the
press that reconstruction was to be
again attempted, found little credcnce.
The correspondents who sent these ru-
mors abroad, could not believe that the
Administration contemplated such Il
step, and wrote with greater modera-
ton than the facts before them war
ranted. Even then the matter had
been definitely settled, and Senator
Morton was preparing for Congressional
action.
The New York Tribune, it will be re-
membcred, has been until recently II
staunch advocate of general amnesty.
Now it has grave doubts ON the sub
ject. The secret Of it's conversion to a
proscriptive policy is this: The Presi-
dent sent for Greeley to come to Wash
ington, and while here Il conference
was held at the White House, at which
the President, Greedy, and several other
gentlemen were present. The pros
poets of the Radical party We're dis
cussed, and it was conceded that with
| out intcrpositiOn on the part of the Adj
ministratiOn, the Democracy would Sc
| cure the electoral vote Of the Southern
States, thus ensuring the election of a
Democratic President in 1872. 1t was
therefore decided not only to refuse to
grant a general amnesty, but to reopen
reconstruction. A special message,
now ready, and which will probably be
sent to Congress within a day or two,
will indicate the plan. A committee
will be organized to collect evidence to
convict the Southern people of crimes
without limit, and of possessing a spirit
as rcbellious as that which existed at
| the close of the war. This; committee
will be organized to convict, and will
be assisted in the l:,bors by such men
as Bullock, of Georgia, Parsons, Of
Alabama, and the whole gang of car
pet-baggcrs defeated in the recent cleo
lions. Upon the report Of this COM
nittee the military will be ordered to
States, and the work of reconstruction
will again commence. Such is the
present programme Of the Radical
party. Its authenticity may be relied
upon to the letter. There may, of
course, be notifications of the plan
tanned will be. the same. The effect of
this policy on the country remains to
be seen. 1t ought to be very damag-
ing to the Republican party; and it
ought to arouse the people to the dam
gers that menace them. 1t is i'm one sense
q confession of weakness on the part of
the Radical managers; and i'll another
sense, Il declaration that they intend to
retain power, irrespective of the NH
joritics opposed to them. They admit,
that with a fair election, defeat is cor
tain; therefore they do not intend that
one third of the country shall vote at
all, except at their dictation.
When the Louisiana carpct-baggers
turn up, shall have something to say
of them and their schemes. They arc
now, however, in New Orleans, one
and all, looking after the sSenatorship.
Louisiana has not been represented in
either House since the recess.
EIORSOM.