The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-10
The Presidents Recent Unlawful Assump-
ton OF Power in Louisiana.

IIOn OF ROVER Ill hOuIblanas
From the World.
The EDC0ing Post pursues its inculpations of
President johnson with so much heat that it
has lost its judgment and become incapable of
perceiving the plainest distinctions. When it
imputed to us the opnion--which we never held
that the Federal Government could not pro-
tect State against invasion except on its own
application, we denied the imputation and
exposed the absurdity of the opinion. The Post
still in such muddle that it cannot take in
the meaning OF plain ENGLISH sentence
reions in the following citation from the Con-
sttutiOn:--
!Ihe United States shall guarantee to every State
In this Unon q republican fulm OF government, and
shall protect each OF them fIom INVASION; and, ON
application OF the LegisBtuTe or the Executive
(When The Legislature cannot be convenedr against
domestic violence"
II is obvious enough that it is only the last of
the three grounds of interpocition here enume-
rated that requires an application from the
State, although the Post in the hurry and
tumult of spirits which it brings to this discus.
sion, understands the qualifying clause to relate
to the whole three. But journalism disdains to
turn pedagogue and instruct Its contemporaries
in English grammar.
the Post declines to discuss the conduct of
the President in any other than its legal and
constitutional aspect, thereby implying, as we
suppose, that it thinks it stands on impregnable
ground in accusing the President Of an illegal
assumption OF power It's chief head of accusa-
ton is, that he has VIRTUALLY deposed the Gov
eInor and Lie ltenant Governor OF the State
and set up an agent OF his own in place OF these
regularly elected authorizes The Post is
borne away by its vituperatye fervor into
making sta emenrs which are not only broader
than the tacs, but for which the facts afford no
color Of DIausibIhty. Previous to the meeting of
the Convention, Lieutenant-GOVernCr Voorhees,
and Atlome> General Heron addressed tele.
glams TO the President, making certain inquiries.
10 these inquiries the Pres dent replied; and OF
course, addressed HIS replies to the persons VINO
had solicited The information. How could he
have done otherwise? And yet the fact that
these kilograms were not sent to Governor
Wells, but TO the persOns who nad asked tor
them, is cons rued by the Post as dismissal of
Governor Wells from office! THIS is the head
and front of President Johnson's offending; this
the dangerous violation OF the ConNtitutlon for
VIII Ch he is aspPrSCd by the Post with an in.
cessant stream OF 1nyectve! In what part of
the Constitution d3es that Journal find the
strange doC trine laid down that IL is q heinous
assumption OF power for the President to direct
1epiT TO the same persons who ak HIM tor in
formation? To the Lieutenant Governor the
President replied as follows:-
WASHINGTON, july 2S'-Abcrt Voorhees,, Lieu
tel Governor OF LOUISIANA The military will be
exoecte7 TO sustain, and not obs'rust or interfere
with The proceedings OF the courts. A despatch on
the subject OF the Convention was sent to Governor
Wells this morning. ANDREW oHNsON.
This was two days before the riot, and it will
strike readers who have not quite lost their
wits as s. singular method OF "depOsng the
Governor and Lieutenant-GOvernor of the
State." II was addressed to the lieutenant
Governor because it was bs that had asked for
IL, but II geYe him notice OF another commit
nIcatIon on the same subject which had been
addressed to the Governor. Moreover, it
showed all proper Difference to the State autho-
rites in saying that the military would be
used to sustain, and not to, oOstruc9 the pro
ceedings of the courts. communication
moIe Observan5 OF all personal, official, and
legal prophecies, communication eJincing
alV1t iii tor of irlf
not easily be framed, even by the obi1rgatory
scrbes OF the Post. VIII they tell us i'll what
respect it could be mPnded?
Two days afterwards, and before the meet
ing OF the Convent on the President sent the
following telegram in reply to the Attorney
GCnGral:-
WASHINGTON, July 3O-AndreW 5. Heron, At
tOrney General OF Louisiana :-You will call on
General she Idan, or whoever mGy De III command
tor sunicient force to sustain the civil authorities IN
suppressing all Illegal or unlawful assemblies who
IL urp assume to exercise any power or authority
WITHOUT inst Oya,nins the consent of the people OF
the S ate.
OF delegates chOse1 from the peOpe of the whole
Stae.
organized Jaws OF the State.
U,uipaton will not be tolerated
The Jaw ana the Constitution IIust be sustained,
anu ISignedl ANDREW JOHNSON.
If, in sending this telegram, the President was
guilty OF dangerous violation OF the Ccnstltu-
tiOD, WOniu gIlulN Oc lulOIllsSu Ill WIuJ par
I ticuiar Was it III addressing il TO Mr.. Heron
! II SO. show us the clause of the Constitution
which forbids the President to address a com
municaton to any person he pleases. Was 1t
in making MIR. Heron the bearer of a message
to General Sheridan? 1t is a strange notion,
indeed, that the Commander.in n-Chiet cannot
communicate with his subordinates through
auy channel he pleases. In chasing down
the absurdity of the Posts charge we will
| stll further inquire, whether it is the sub
| stance OF the message, Instead, OF the selection
| OF the messengeY, which is SO pOrtentOus an
! intraction of the Constitution? General
! Sheridan was directed to do--what? 10, obey
! the caprices of Attorney General Heron? No;
| nothing of the kind; but Ito sustain tAe civil
authorities in suppressing all Illegal or unlawful
| assemblies II the President thought the
| TonIsiana Convention an Illegal and usurpine
| assembly, it would be difficult to show that hC
| violated the Constitution in holding that OPP
| mon. since he retains a citizens privilege o
| free Thought and free expression. But he dc
| MOI make his own opinion, on that point tht
n,easure OF General Sherdan's or Genera
Bands duty, but SIMPLY directed them 10 sus
tain the civil authorities OF the State.
IL win be seen, therefore, that the POSt'
aIraienment OF the President completely break
down. It is unsupported by evidence; is con
traGieted by evidence; and it flies in the teetl
of common sense.
Mr.. BlaiT's Letter.
From the Daily Neaos