New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-06
GENERAL LONGSTREET.

His Views on the Political situation-Con
eideration of the Reconstruction Vues
New ORLEANS. March IS, lo-'
Senator W. P. elogg, washil ston, D. c.
DEAR SIR-Your esteemed favor upon lht
relative merits of questions that should Ill
tnence ,be voice OF the I,esple III the ap
1rOaching canvass. and the leaders VIM
should be chosen as their representatives.
finds me in door condition for very SAILS
factory reply. | have been content 10 oc,
cupy an humble position i'll the party ana
have been SO closely confined 10 LOUISIANA
that | fear to attempt TO look beyond lts
horders in forming opinions or making sug-
gestiOns.
The great question in this quarter is the
nrohlem of reconstruction, and l am III
rlined 10 think that ii is the most important
national question. 1t is hardly worth our
fine. at this late day, to ask whether the
reconstruction laws are the wisest that
could have been devised. They are laws,
and have been sufficiently tested to con-
vince US that their faithful administration
will lead TO the results anticipated by those
who were instrumental in their enactment.
1 think it better, therefore, to adhere to the
original plan than to start of upon some
other theory that may lead us into new diff
fculties. and possibly to disastrous confu-
sion.
Our financial affairs are in such fav ora BILE
condition. and are SO dependent upon COM
Portable reconstruction, that We may as
sumo the solution Of tue first problem as
deciding this also.
Our reconstruction is one of the weight
est Jobs that was ever saddled upon a gov
eminent: even more difficult than the
effort of Prussia to reconstruct Alsace and
Lorraine. For with the latter it is an
affair of a lifetime; 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 difficulties as
President johnson, and with as little sue
cess. Yet would not like to say that they
were not as able political statesmen as any
of their day Upon the advent of the pres
ent 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 sue
cessfulIy met and discharged as we should
expect in so limited time.
There was a time when l 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 it has been faithfully executed;
so much so, that in some instances it is said
to have been done with severe justice.
have said before that We have reason to
hope that we shall have successful recon
struction. l believe that this is due to the
firm hand of the present administration.
VIII it not be better, then, TO forego the
exercise of our good privilege of a quad
rennial 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 l
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.
1 remain, very respectfully and truly |
yours, JAMES LONGSTREET.