The New York herald., 1865-07-18

AS~f~-~~--~e
RICHMOND, Va, July Is, 1885,
ASorHER IMPORTANT DECISION FROM ATTORNEY GENkRA-
BOwDKS.
Tho following papers explain themselves, and sivs
them with the renaSk that they rst find their way inh
print through tho COLUMNS Of the HERALD:-
RIcHMoND, July IS, 1866
THOMAS R. Bowprs EY, Attorney General Of VIZ
sRThe question is frequsnty asked whether persons
who held office under tho socaed Confederate or any
rebellious State government ase eligible TO offce
Please give me your opinion on the subject
+. II. PIERPOINT, Governor of Virginia
RIcHxorD, Va, July H. 1885,
Hon r. H. PrERPorr, Governor of Virginia.
SrR-Your note Of the 18th instant inquirng whether
persons who held Office under the socaed Confederate
any rebeous State government are eligible 70 county
offices has been received.
am Of opinion that such persons not eligible -
The first section Of Article Ill or the constitutes
proydes that No person shall vote or hold Office under
this constitution who has held Office under the socaee
Confederate government under any rcbellious Stam
government who has been member OF the socailed
Confederate Congress, member OF any Spate
Legislature in rebellion against the authority OF the
United States excepting thorefrom county officers"
There are county offices which are ohces under thf
constitution Under the provision cited all persons en-
braced therein prohibited from holding constitutions
In this prohibition are not included such persons
have heretofore held county offices under any re-
beous State government regard TINS as ne r,M ,se m
mainly employed In describing the classes OF persons
who shall not hold Office. have therefore construed
the words excepting therefrom county of1cers 80 as
to accord with the general intent OF the provision not q
meaning that persons holding office Under the
government &C. could be elected to county Offices but
s meaning that all persons who have been mere county
officers may hold constitutional once One VI IVY
interpretations must be given 70 ne sec'In ION ~
either first limit the eligibility OF all the classes
mentioned to mere county offices; or, secondly 70 OK
cude all the classes mentioned, save county omcels,
from eligibility to any Office, and to confer on mere
county officers the right to be elected to any position,
whether county Office or otherwise. am clearly W
the opinion that the latter the true intention.
Tho contrary construction OF the section would 90 a.
tended with many anomoes Firstnt pn, womu pD,'n ~
bold a county office, when by the terms OF the article
originally adopted, and as IT stood until recenuy
amended he could not vote for another person ior inc
office ,
second-County officers Of merely local and limited
jurisdiction would be placed under the same ban with
tn highest officers Of the socaed Confederate or rebel
lious State government. III.
Again. as have already said, tho section in question
mainly employed in describing the classes of persons
eligible to Office. This construction accords with tno
general intent e. 1t construes the words excepting
therefrOm county officers decipG pe,s0nd' ssD ane
indicating the Offices to which the proscrlbeo
classes are, notwithstanding Their prescription, eligible
The opinion l am giving refers merely TO constsu-
tional Offices As TO such Offices not created ~
the constitution the prohibitions before mentioned DC
"Tf''' THOs R. BOwDEN,
Attorney General OF virginia.
TIE PRESS UPON TaE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Attorney General Bowden, owing to the unsettled con-
diton of public affairs in vrginia-more especially legal
aars-is heavily taxed in his energies by the con-
siderable influx Of visitors from all sections OF the state
seeking his opinion in reference all of ques
tons having legal bearing The Virgnians seem to
think that constitutional part of the business OF the
Attorney General to give them advice upon all matters
suggested by Ddivdral differences and do not seem "
know or that the duties of the office only require the
incumbent to weigh and decide upon Issues Of State
0ravaDen at the personal instance OF the Governor
Attorney General Bowdcn able and discr minatng
egst Of marked industry and versatility but ne ougns
not to be held in the light o. lawyer tor tne Ds
| exalted Oifco.
THE DISTRICT or SOUTHWESTERN vRGINA-rHE NEW CON-
MAND MAJOR GENERAL CURTIS.
district within this department, to be called the Dis.
tric of Southwestern Virginia. has been constituted ~
consists Of the counties Of Nelson, Amherst, Bedford,
Campbell, Appomatox, Pttsyvania, Henry, Patrick,
Franklin Augusta Bath, Rockbridge Bottetourt Mont
| ington Highland, Aeihany, Roanoke, Craig, Giles,
Pulaski, Carroll, Floyd smythe, Wise, Buchanan.
The district OF Lynchbnrg Is therefore discontinued.
Brevet Major General N M Curtis having been assigned
duty by the President according TO his breyet rank s
assigned to the command Of the district thus created,
with his headquarters at Lynchburg.
ADDITION MAJOR GENERAL TURNER'S COMMAND
| The city of Manchester opposite Richmond, hac
George L. Hartsu whose headquarters at Petersburg
Manchester has been attached TO the command OF
Major General John W. Tarner commanding the district
OF Hcnrico, headquarters at Richmond
| MAGNIFICENT SWORD .
voted to General Turner the ladies Of the Great North
Sanitary Fair at Chicago to be presented ny
the committee to the General this Saturday evening" at
his residence opposite Of the JEFF Davis Mansion in TINS
city The presentation is to be grand scale, and Will
be most impressive ceremonial
| GENERAL r.. MuLF0RD
returned from weeks absence at Washington last even
ing General Aulford still continues at the head Of the
Bureau for the Exchange of Prisoners mostly occupied
/ IN closing up its affairs.
| In the Richmond market the supply OF vegetables,
&C. brought to the Richmond markets Is undimnished
| Tho following the ruling prices yesterday:-
| Fresh Mrats-Beef the h0of 3hc q &c. per pound,
according to quality; veal IS $40 apiece; lamb %
50; mutton, So IS; shoat, 10c. por pound AT the
stalls beef 12Kc 16c. for ordinary for prime
| veal the same lamb, 16c 20c. mutton, l2H. lSc
| and 2Oe as to quality shoat, Csc. little In markep
Fish and Fowi-Ducks, 81 pair; chickens, 2Sc &C. .
roc apiece croakers, SOC per bunch; spot 26c 30c
per bunch drought from Norfolk Herrings salt Soc
per dozen mackerel, 81 per dozen.
Vegetables Fruits, &c.-Potatoes &c. lOc per quart
CSC half peck; cabbage, 2oc 2Sc per head tomatoes
Csc 40c per Dozen TO size; corn, 26c. per dozen
ochra I0c per dozcn beets &C. 10c per bunch snaps
coc per half peck parsnip 1oc per bunch onions o.
per peck wstcrmelons Coo 75c. and 81, according
size; cantelopes, 25c. apples, 1oc quart pcschss
15c 20c: pears 10c whortleberries, DC loc oiack
berries Sc 10c dried apples, loc per quart; dried
ears zoe Butter SOC. Soc per pound TOR fresh zec
| for inferior. Eggs, Csc a SOC. per dozen.