New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-30
Gen. I.OMgsircet's Letter.
NENv ORJEANS March % I

NEW ORLEANS, March %, 1872.
Senator ". p. Kellogg, Washington, d. c.:
DEAR SIR: Your esteemed favor upon the
relative merits of questions that should influ-
ence the voice of the people in the approach
ing canvass, and the leaders who should be
chosen as their representatives, finds me in
poor condition for very satisfactory reply.
l have been content to occupy an humble po-
sitiOn in the party, and have been so closely
confined to Louisiana, that fear to attempt
to look beyond its borders in forming opin-
ions or making suggestions.
The great question in this quarter is the
problem of reconstruction, and am inclined
to think that it is the most important ma
tional question. 1t is hardly worth our time,
at this late day, to ask whether the Recon-
struction laws are the wisest that could have
been devised They are laws, and have been
sufficiently tested to convince us that their
faithful administration will lead to the results
anticipated by those who were instrumental
in their enactment. think it better, there
fore, to adhere to the original plan than to
start off upon some other theory that NAV
lead us into new difficulties, and possibly to
disastrous confusion.
Our financial affairs are in such favorable
condition, and are so dependent upon COM
Portable reconstruction, that we may assume
the solution of the first problem as deciding
this also.
Our reconstruction is one of the weichtiest
jobs that was ever saddled upon a Govern
ment; even more difficult than the effort of
Prussia to reconstruct Elsass and Lorraine.
For with the latter it is the affair of a life
time +; with us, but four years are allotted to
the task-unless the people have that patience
and forbearance that are necessary to give
to time its healing and salutary influence.
Had President Lincoln lived, it is probable
that he would have encountered as great diff
ficulties as President johnson, and with as
little success. Yet I would not like to say
that they were not as able political statesmen
as any of their day. Upon the advent of the
present Administration, the responsibility of
previous failure was added to the already
momentous undertaking. 1t is evident that
the duty of the times has been met with a
spirit of good faith, and has been as success
fully met and discharged as we should expect
in so limited time.
There was a time when had serious doubts
of the possibility of success, but the law was
before us, and we had no course to pursue
except under its mandates. l think that il
| has been faithfully executed, so much so, that
| in some instances it is said to have been done
| with severe justice. i have said before that
we have reason to hope that we shall have
successful reconstruction. believe that this
| is due to the firm hand of the present Adj
ministratiOn. Will it not be better, then, to
forego the exercise of our good privileges OF
a quadrennial change of Administration
| when we see and feel and almost realize that
our future will not be left in doubt?
| Then, again, the personal claims of the
President are very great. All things con.
| sidered, l am constrained to say that think
the people owe it to themselves and to the
President to return him to the office that he
has filled so well, and with such entire good
| faith.
remain, very respectfully and truly yours
JAMES LONGSTREET