The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-01-24
Civil Law.

The late Proclamation of Governor ORR,
CpnhI',hed elsewhere in this paprr) throws
light upon question which has been regarded
in much doubt III this community to Wit
whether the civil law IL in force at all and l
so, to what extent. This Proclamation is made
in pursuance of the communication from Sccrc.
tary Seward to Governor Orr, spprising him
that the PrcsdcHt lad relieved Governor Per.
~ how the farther discharge of his duties US
l'roviSWlai Governor of the St&tc and that the
| all" IFS al the State were committed to the con.
stitationai authorities chosen hy ;l,c people.
Governor oRn defines particularly the res
ent status Of the State to the General Govern.
mcnt and to the military authorities acting uu.
der the President of the United States aud in
terms plain enough to be understood by every
body, tells uS wherein the civil law is applicable
and wherein Jurisdiction Is clairncd and rescrv.
ed to the military. Of course when the Gov.
crnor makes public statement on this impor'
tant !j"ct, he does 30 with full understand
ing Of the subject matter aud with the concur.
renee of the heads Of the Cover men, of the
! United States. When NJ Seward saws that
'tEe care and condition of .he proper affairs of
, the State has been committed by the President
to the constitutional authorities chosen by the
people thereof" he means that the Governor
and cach and all Of the civil of li,c,s Of the
State are permitted to exercise the functions
ot their respective Offices No other construc.
tion can be PLACED upon his LrSgusSe
I President ,lohusou ry,.n h.E,,a ,I,a n,
ional Governors were relieved, repeatedly rec.
| oSuized the existence of civil law in I'll, States
lately at war with the Unrtcd States when
! he conferred upon governor Perry ana s.her
PROVISIONAL Governors tie power ts appoint
ciSh officers, he unqucstionahly meant that the
persons appointed by the Governors In pur.
snance Of his authority aud Instructions, should
discharge the deties of their Giices. Preside Mt
johnson is commandment chief Of the N iitary,
and his orders and inst ructions are paramount
and comprise the law for the guidance OF every
subordinate officer in tho service OF the United
States. Instances h,yc occurred where officers.
! cnher viliiully or because OF n want of infor
nation, have acted in contrav ention TO the
plainly declared hw upon the subject bat all
such inisctions, when rcportel, will he eaIrsct
ell aud the wrong docr properly punished.
Our condition is bad enough now, but il,
would be infinitely worse if there was M pro.
mise OF a redress Of grievances by the civil
tribunals Of the land. II il were now au,hori.
tatively announced that the machinery of IN =
civil Go-ernWent was wholly suspended and
that there was no remedy through the civil
courts Tor violations Of law and for breach Of
contracts, it would adj ten.iold T. that spirit OF
decentralization and utter disregard Of all moral
aud legal obligations which is alrea DIV 40 alsrr,.
insly prevalent in the counry. Such an On.
nouncen.cnt would be a. welcome to the ears
o! the la"lcSs. the vicIou, aud the d-,oern,e
as it would be discouragi"s 10 every honora.
bic and law abiding citizen.
We hope that the civil officers everywhere
will he VigiIsnt in the discharge Of those duties
which have been entrusted ~ them. and II. 1
the expressed wish of our Governor for IN ear.
~ restoration Of all our civil rights will soon
BE- gratHel.
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