The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-29
NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JUNE ~. 1868.

TUESDAY, JUNE ~, 1865.
oumulsted since the commencement Of the war.
These facts are 30 overwhelming that they have
led many Of our public men TO the conclusion
that in less than century the colored race viii
be no more numerous in this country than the
Indians are ct present From all accounts the
negro bids fair to disappear with greater ra-
pidity than the Indian ever did. Facts are
stubborn things, and we commend this view Of
the negro to the abolitionisb Of the North.
THE MILITARY Court AT WAsHMaroN-JuDas
BINGHAM Va. REvERDY JoHNsoN-Before the
military court appointed by President johnson
for the trial Of the conspirators concerned In
the plot involving the assassination Of Presi-
dent Lincoln, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, coun-
sci Of Mrs. Surratt, one of these alleged con-
spirators, put in as her defence the other day
lengthy document to show that this military
court has no lawful jurisdiction over the case.
He commended that Congress had not granted,
and could not grant, any authority for this
court; that 1t has no legal existence; that the
act of the President in appointing it is mere
nullity, and the usurpation Of q power not
vested in the Executive, and comforting no au-
thority upon the court thus created.
These absurd propositons-of the same cloth
as the secession plea--that the general govern
ment has no power to resist the rebellion of
sovereign State" against the laws Of the
Union; this preposterous argument of the
long winded Mr.. johnson has been
very effectually torn to pieces by AS
sociate Judge Advocate Bingham, in tho open
ing argument for the prosecution, from the con-
stitution, from the laws of war and the laws of
Congress, from the precedents furnished by
George Washington and other respectable exc
cutive officers, from the expositions Of tie law
in such cases as this a. laid down by Chief JUS
tice Marshall and other respectable authorities,
from the war powers exercised by President
Lincoln, approved by Congress and ratified by
the people of the United States In President
Lincoln's reelection, Judge Bingham has COM
pletely demolished the false assumptions and
the quibbling and pettifogging copperhead
chop logic of Mr.. Reverdy Johnson OF course
Mr.. johnson, in his own judgment, has done the
best that be could do for his client in attempt
ing to prove the court before which she is
under trial as nullity and usurpation; but
to make this plea hold water Mr.. johnson was
compelled to ignore the rebellion, and to re-
quire the members of the court to recognize 1t
as legal fact that during the last four years
the country has been in state Of profound
peace, and that all this time no such thing as
military law has superseded the civil courts
this side of Mexico. This he has failed to do,
as Judge Bingham has shown; but as Mr.
johnson had no other defence to offer in be-
half of his client, he had no other alternative
than to deny the jurisdiction Of the court.
CONDITION OF THE SOUrH-CHANCE FOR INVEST
NENT.-In order to show the impoverished con-
ditien Of portions Of the South, especially Yir-
ginia,. we publish the following note and
accompanying advertisement from the former
Sheriff of Appomattox county, Va.:-
ArroxArrox Counr HOUSE,, Va, June "a, 1885.
J. GoRDos BESsxrr, Esq. Editor New YoRx HEaMD-
which would So nisd for You to insert in Your
You frame the notice 10 suit yourself, and will
make this arrangement with you-1 will give you for
make this arrangement yourself you can turn i over "a
agent for the sale Of real estate. We have los!
everything nearly that have, and am Obliged 70 sell
In order to support my family.
Please send me some copies Of your paper with the
advertisement In IT, Yours truly, mn, u,x
Late Sheriff Of Appoma.,Ox county, Va
Here il the advertisement
NOTICE.
wish to sell hundred and sixty acres Of land In
same distance from Dumplins depot, on the Southside
Railroad. II Is convenient 70 churches cav and grs
mills; two thirds OF the land ia In timber; the improve
mcnts have been torn down. there are few fruit uee
| upon tho place. Price 500
! ! will take In payment goods waros or merchandise
For further particulars apply at the ONCE Of the HERAD
WIN ID. Xix, Appomsttox county Va
Our only terms for advertising are cash. VIZ
are no real estate agents, and therefore cannot
oblige ex-Sheriff Hix by undertaking the sale O
his little estate But as he is DESTROYS to sell
and to reconstruct his family affairs upon new
basis, we publish his advertisement as II is gra
tuitously, in the hope that he may soon find {
purchaser. The place is valued at 5000 IL
gross, but, throwing ont the $50 commission
which he would give us, It brings down TIKI
price to only $3.50 for one hundred and sixty
acres Of land that must always remain histori
cal, for 1t lies within eight miles Of the spo
where Lee surrendered. "The Improvement
have all been torn down." This is but anothe
among the many indications we daily re
ceive of the way Virginia Is punished for enter
ing into the rebellion. But now the war Is over
and the work Of devastation is ended, Their
is nothing to prevent the recuperation Of Viz
ginia, If her own citizens, aided by Northern
and foreign emigrants, 60 to work and hell
build her up. Good lands can be procured
here at from one to five and ten dollars pei
acre; and, with the infusion Of new life and en-
erpies, the fertile soil Of the good Old Dominion
may DO made again TO blossom as the rose.
BURIAL or UNKNOWN BoDIEs.-We published
q letter from Coroner Collin In our issue o