The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-02

every word with an intellect which, TO gain us
end, is not ashamed to affect the most abject
and grovelling imbecility. We regret that
General Grant did not maintain the rights
given to him by Congress, but he may yet
more clearly understand the law of which he
is the executive. He has only to assert the
constitutional powers given him by Congress,
by the law maker, to conquer for the people.
The President cannot remove or suspend him.
Congress, in imposing upon him the response
bility of executing its laws, placed its irwin
chile spear in his hand, and its impenetrable
buckler on his arm.
Powers OF the General of the Army
Under the Reconstruction Law.
From the ". Y World
1t has been currently, and we suppose truly,
reported for the last two days that difference
has arisen between President Johnson and
General Grant, and that the General had de-
clined to issue particular order of the Presi-
dent. General Grant seems to have become
convinced that he was wrong, and that his
authority had no such scope as he had hastily
been led to suppose. We have printed the
order issued by him Thursday, under the Presi-
dents direction, which virtually rescinds GER
tain sections of the curious and presumptuous
order by which he promulgated the removal
of Sheridan. General Grant forbade Sheridan's
successor to alter or revoke any of his orders:
the President causes General Hancock to be
informed by General Grant himself that he is
at full liberty to exercise all the powers con-
ferred by law on any of the District Com
manders. General Grant ordered Sheridan to
report to him in person at Washington before
going West; he now orders Sheridan, by the
command Of the President, to proceed forth
with to Fort Leavenworth, without making
any such detour.
As General Grant undoubtedly acted from
sense of duty in hesitating to obey the COM
mand of the President, and from more de-
liberate and better informed sense of duty in
finally complying, it is of some interest to
trace the grounds both of the hesitation and
the compliance. We insert the second sup
Elementary Reconstruction bill entire, the diff
ference of opinion being simply a question as
to its proper interpretation
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House OF Re-
presenIatlves OF the United States OF America,
| IN Congress assembled, That it is hereby de-
clared TO have been The true intent and meaning
OF the act of the I'd day OF March, 1867 entitled,
IAN act to provide for the more efficient govern
ment OF the Rebel States" ano of the act supple
mentary thereto, passed on the I'D day OF March,
| Rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South
! Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi Alabama, Loui-
siana FLORIDA, Texas, and Arkanas were not
| legal State governments, and that thereafter
| said governments, If continued, were continued
| subject in III respects to the military comman-
1
authority of Congress.
| Section 2. And be it further enacted, That the
commander of any district named in said act
| shall have power, subject to the disapprSval of
the General Of The Army of the United States,
| and TO have effect until d1sHpprOved, whenever
! in the opinion of such commander the proper
administration Of said act shall require it, to
! suspend or remove from office, or from the per-
! formance of oficial duties, and the exercise of
official powers, any othcer or person holding or
exercising, protesting to hold or exercise, any
civil or military office or duty in such district
| under any power, election, appointment, or
authority derived from, or granted by, OF
| claimed under, any so-called state, or the GOV
| ernment thereof, or any municipal or other
I division thereof; and upon such SUSPENSION or
| removal, such COMMANDER snbJecG TO the DIS
| approval of the General aforesaid, shall have
| power TO provide from time to time for the per-
| formance of the said duties of such officer or
| person so SUSPENDED or removed, by the detail
| of some competent officer or soldier OF the
| army, or by the appointment of some other
| person to perform the same, and to fill vacan-
cies occasioned by death. resignation, or other
| Section g. And be It further enacted, That
| the General of the Armies OF the United States
| shall be invested with all the powers OF suspen,
| sion, removal appointment, and detail granted
| in the preceding section 10 District Command
| eTs. a,
| acts of the officers OF the army already done In
| removing in said districts persons exercising
the functions OF civil officers, and appointing
others in their stead. are hereoy confirmed.
| Provided, That any person heretofore OF mere
after appointed by any District Commander TO
exercise the functions of any civil ONCE, may
be removed either by the military othcers In
command OF the district or by the General OF
the Army.
Section 5. And be 1t further enacted, That the
Boards of Registration provided for In the act
| entitled IAN act supplementary TO an act enti-
| tied IAN act TO provide for the more ethcient
| government OF the Rebel States, passed March
| 2, 1867, and 10 facilitate restoration" passed
| March 28 1867, shall have power and it shall be
| their duty, before allowing the registration OF
| any person, TO ascertain upon such facts or in
| formation as they can obtain, whether such
| person is entitled to be registered under said
Act and the oath required by said act shall not
| be conclusive on such question, and no person
shall be registered unless such Board shall de.
| cide that he is entitled thereto; and such Board
!, | shall also have power TO examine under oath
TO be administered by any member OF such
Board) any one touchlng Ihe quailncsatlon ol
case of refusal by the Board to register an appli-
, cant, and in every case OF striking his name
nom the list as hereinafter provided, the Board
shall make note or memorandum, which shall
, be returned with the registration TO the Com