Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-09-13
POSITION OF THE REBEL STATES.


Secretary STANTON has furnished General
SLocUM with his views of the condition OF
the States lately in Rebellion, SO far as the
same relate to the restoration of civil rights.
1t seems to be taken for granted, in some
parts of the South, that the old state OF at
fairs is revived, and in some places there
have been attempts to act as if the State
authority were supreme. 1t has been Tor
cotton that there are yet no State Govern
ments in any State lately in Rebellion, OF
inclined to Rebellion, but Virginia, Tennes-
see and Missouri The Provisional Govern
ments are as the name shows, experimental,
and the business of the Provisional Govern
ors is to restore Civil Government, if 1t can
| fairly be done in obedience to the national
authority. The United States are now en-
deavoring to bring about full restoration OF
civil rights, if the people latterlyln rebellion
accept the situation and do their best to re-
store peace, industry, law and good order
Hence the idea that there can be conflict
of authority between, the military comman-
ders and the States lately in revolt, and the
| Provisional Governors or inhabitants OF
those States, is folly. The Military Gov
ernment is still supreme. The Provisional
Governors will be encouraged and protected
in the lawful discharge of their duties to the
Federal Government, but they are not to be
allowed to set themselves up in opposition
to the officers of the latter Secretary STAN
TON says very plainly:
''That the President has accorded Pro-
visional Government to the State of Missis-
sippi is a fact which should not be allowed
to abridge or injuriously affect the jurisdic-
ton heretofore properly assumed by military
courts in that region during the war; and
especially is the continued exercise of that
jurisdiction called for in cases-frst, oI
wrong or injury done by citizens to soldiers
whether white or black and second, OF as
sault or abuse of colered citizens generally
whether, indeed, the local tribunals are
either unwilling, by reason of inherent pre-
judice, or incapable, by reason of the defec
tive machinery, or because Of some State
law declaring colored persons incompeten
as witnesses, to do full justice, or properly
punish the Offenders. The State Of Missis
sippi, in common with other insurgent
States, is still in the occupation Of our forces
ana embraced as It Is IN military depart
ment, is still.to very considerable exten
under the control of the military authorities
Moreover, the Rebellion, although physi-
cally crushed, has not been officially an,
nounced, or treated, either directly or indi-
rectly, as thing Of the past; the suspen
| sion of the habeas corpus has not been ter
minated, nor has the military law ceased to
be enforced, in proper cases, through the
agency of military courts and military COM
manders, in all parts of the country"
Secretary SEWARD being appealed to on
behalf Of county judge who attempted to
issue writ Of habeas corpus for military
prisoner, made similar reply, declaring
that Mississippi was under martial law, and
that the military was supreme. This seems
just It is impossible to perceive how a
person could pretend to act as county
judge in State which he's not yet formally
renounced rebellion nor established, by the
will of the people, Government which
promises allegiance to the United States.