The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-15
fhe Middle In Mississippi Between the
Military and civil AutbOFyfies

The recent action Of the President in a =
| difficulty that occurred in AIississinpi be
tween the civil and military authorities IS al
the highest importance. IL declares in the
| most emphatic msnner his well mature,f and
liked policy - rsstore the late rebsilious
States TO their iarrner condition in the
| Union. Nothing has transpirsd during his
! administration that shows 80 forcibly the
! wisdom, spirit and purpose Of bis plan IF
reconstruction And every patrick must
hail with satisfaction this evidence of an
answering determination to restore peaee
| and harmony TO the country within the
shortest time possible, not withstandius the
/ schemes and opposition Of the War Depart
ment and the Jscohins.
I = We viii briefly state the eircumstances.
| Governor Shsrkey proposed TO organ 'ze the
/ militia q Mississ ppi 70 preserve order in the
state, and to enable him % carry out the
/ residents policy % restoration, amid the
chaos that existed there consequent upon
the war and the changed relations OF the
colored and white people. General Sloc4m.
commanding the military there, acting bv
authority OF the War Department, inter-
| 2 sed anu prevented tha execution Of he
q vernor's order. Here was q direct con
| nlet OF authority. The Governor, who is al
able man, and who believed he understood
the wishes Of President Johnson-haviog
recently bad g long conference and full IN
derstsnding VITA IA m--hsd no doubt that
be was doing what was right and prudent.
The General, as q suberdlnste OF the War
Department, and acting in the true military
spirit OF obedience, thought hswas carving
out the views OF .he government while exc
cutting those Of the Secretary of War. In
this dilemma an appeal was made 10 Wash
ington. The President replied without hes /
itatOn that his object was 70 restore civil |
power TO the States, aad not to prolong mil !
Itary rule longer than Necessary He aus I
tanned the Governor. and disapproyed Of /
the military interpretation. Such, IN q lev i
words, was the issue raised and the disposal !
Gift r'- |
Whether we look OF the principle involved /
or the consequences Of this act Of the pres |
dent, we must acknowledge that it Is one 81 I
The iaost extraordinary o. his government. /
II will inspire hope and couhdenee b. the I
hearts ofthe people SOUTH aud Norih Ia the. 4
South, because they will see in il a speedy 4
return 10 liberty, prosperity and happiness
in the bosom Of the Union, and 70 the North
because 1t will bring back Ieace, amIty,
safety for the future, and the former bless
ings OF commercial intercourse The re-
united people everywhere viii cordially an |
prove Of this hsrmonizing policy. The
Jacobin faction ana cthceholdcfs ouly viii
object 70 IL.
But here question naturally srises S. o.
the cause Of this conflict between different
departments OF the Government, OF, rather.
as to the conflict between the President and
these departments? Does the Iaeobiu fac
ton sin attefnpt to rule az Washington.
through the Secretary Of War aud other
members Of the Cabinet t. evident there
is a want Of harmony. One could have sup
posed that the Secretaries of State and War
would have understood tie Presidents
views and each other in q matter OF such |
vast Importance, and haze acted in concert !
This question Copld not have been sprung
upon them uneXprrtedlg. They both hlust
have known the programme laid down Tor
the Provisional Governor Of Mississippi;
they could not have beeo ignorant Of Presi- ;
dent Johuson's Instructions and wishes.
We esnuot resist to- conviction that ono of
these Cabinet officials. at least. and perhaps |
both, are playing false 10 the President in | {
hia work of reconstruction. AT all events |
they are not acting in a-cord with HIM
There is unity OF purpose and aclioh.
Should these gentlemen not behave better |
they will probably receive notice 20 leave
even before the President is tully prepared
10 thoroughly reconstruct his Cabinet. II
We understand the firal, Jscksonian charae-
Ter Of Mr.. johnson, he will not be tritied
" AbEf " WV eAe' eA+f 'At1AfAtN's-' ~
his measures.
The President had Go feel his way step by
step through the cbaOs of difficulties that
were in his path When he took the reiUs Of
but as he advances light |
breaks upon him, and he begins to,s see his way
clear. Ne knows already that he stanus
upon the Arm ground Of popular opibion
aud faveT. dc will not permit, therefore,
any party or persons, whether official ornot,
to Obstruct his statssmaDhke course. They
must 20 with him, or he will brush them
aside ~ a cohweb with his hand. Follow
Jog close upon the clear and terss enuncia-
ti0n o his p0icY in ihe Mississippi muddie
between the civil aud the military author
ties, in which he shows his purpose TO. re-
store the luthem States to full communion
in the Union az toe earliest practicable PEE
Rod, we learn from our Washington dis
patches that there is probability he viii
soon take another important step in the good
work. The opinion is confidently enter
tanned that something approaching gem
eral amnesty vi J be proclaimed before long, I
applying it 10 the several States late IN re-
belliOn at such times as they may be pre-
pared to receive IT,
Who can doubt that such wise, coucilia-
ting and progressive steps, cautiously taken,
too, will have the happiest eHects The
people are thoroughly CURED Of
rebelliOus intentiols they have scen the
utter folly Of them, and they desire b. be-
come 6gain loyal citizens OF this glorious /
country. liz this We feel assured thc Press
dent and the mass of the people OF the /
North will help them. The factions Jaco.
bins and agitators must stand aside and /
let the good work 20 on, OF they viii be
overwhelmed by an avalanche Of public 1
opiniOn.-Nelg York Herald.