The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-07-20


probation of the provision in question.
The article is mainly employed in de-
scrbing the classes of persons who shall
not hold office. / have, therefore, construed
the words excepting therefrom county
Offices so as to accord with the general
intent of the provision, not as meaning that
persons holding office under the Confeder-
ate government, &C., could he elected to
county Offices, bat as meaning that all per-
sons who have been mere county officers
may hold any constitutional office.
One of two interpretations must be given
to the section in question. 1t was the in
tontion of the trainers of the Constitution
either first to limit the eligibility of all the
classes mentioned to mere county officers,
or, secondly, to exclude all classes men
toned, save county officers, from eligible
ity to any Office, and to confer on mere
county officers the right to be elected to
any position, whether a county office or
otherwise. am clearly of the opinion that
the latter is the true intention.
The contrary construction of the section
would be attended with many animosities,
and first it would permit any officer of the
so-calIed Confederate government to hold
county office, when by the terms Of the
article as originally adopted and as it stood
until recently amended, he could not vote
for another reason for the same office. Sec
ond, county officers of merely loca and
limited jurisdiction would be placed I'M
der the same ban with the highest officers
ls,ft ~, InI faIn roll oil
State governments.
Again, as have already said, the Sec
ton in question is mainly employed in de-
scribing the classes of persons not eligible
| to office. This construction accords with
| the general intent. 1t CONSTITUTES the word.
excepting therefrom county officers" al
dessripta personoruna and not as indica.
| ting the offices to which the prescribed
classes are. notwithstanding theirproscrip
ton, eligible.
The opinion am giving serves merely
for constitutional Offices. As 10 such Off
ces as are not created by the Constitution
the prohibitions before mentioned do mo-
apply.
| Very respectfully,
| Signed, THos. r. BowDBN,
Attorney General.
| New York, July IL.
The Times Washington special says thu
pardon bureau is still overrun with appli
cations. Among them are those OF Gus
tavus A. Henry, Senator from Tennessee
II. w. Willard, formerly member OF L. S
Congress from Alabama; J ID Salisburton
L. S. District Judge for Virginia; G. n
Hollins, L. S. navy, of notoriety; A. J
Harbleine, L. S. N; Jas. III. Lane, Briga
der General in the rebel army; the rebe
Governor Il. Magrath, Of South Carolina
and Moore, Of Alabama.
| The present series Of the seven-thirty
loan will probably all be absorbed within
a week or ten days. This is the last OF the
six hundred million loan authorized by
the last session of Congress. When the
soldiers are paid off, with the decrease o.
Government expenses, the Secretary will
be able to get along until Congress meets
with the use Of certificates Of Indebtedness
and temporary loans.
1t is understood that General Almonte il
| in New York, on his way to Austria and
Belgium for more assistance for Maximil.
! inn. and desir~. tn have an interview with
President Johnson.
New York, July ls.
The Herald's Charleston correspondent
says the majority of the South Carolins
| planters, though so recently the most I'M
compromising advocates of slavery, have
already begun to look On emancipation as
really a benefit to them, and are inclined
to the opinion that compensated labor will
in the end be far more profitable and sat
isfactory to the land owners of that State
generally.
All the principal South Carolina crops
excepting rice, are represented this year
Rice cultivation has been much neglected
owing to the disorganization and confusion
incident to the change from slave to free
labor system.
! There is considerable ill-feeling between
the soldiers and citizens in Charleston, anC
there has recently been some brooches o
the peace in which the colored people o.
the city, al well as the colored troops have
been mixed up. General Bennett, pos,
commandant, has consequently found il
necessary to issue special orders Of a pref.
|
zens to deliver up the fire arms in Their
possession; to refrain from assemblages
and noisy demonstrations in the streets
and to remain in their homes after eigh
O'Clock in the evening. The soldiers are
also reminded of their duties, and warned
against the preparation Of any outrages
or exhibitions Of discourtssy to the people
| pba NJ
dent SAYS the health of JEFF. Davis is said
to have been failing rapidly of late, though
he is supplied with plenty Of fresh air and
good food, an such opportunities for OK
ercise as the contracted limits of Fortress
Monroe casemate will permit. Within g
few days he has, without any apparent
cause, become unusually detected, and il
is surmised that this depression of spirits
has been caused by some one having com.
municated to him intelligence of the exc.
| cution OF the conspirators. 1t is said one
Of his eyes is almost blind, and that the
other gives indications of soon being so.-
The only reading matter allowed him il
| the Bible, to tho perusal of which he de.
votes considerable time and he is not per.
mitted to write or receive any letters.
The Times Washington special says
among the applicationsfor pardon received
since the 18th, are those Of Gov. Letcher
OF Virginia, ID Debow. the Spottswood
brothers, Of Richmond, and Harry Gil.
more, the rebel raider and robber now
under indictment at Baltimore for treason.
Among the persons pardoned to-day are
III. M. Tarrard, member of the rebel Con-
gress from Virginia, John p. Ballard, own