Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-19

the ingenulties of despotism and the
refinements of cruelty, i is nos for iF
now or perhaps at als TO say. Perhaps
that IS q duty that devolves upon the
Congress Of the Confederate States.
But If is not to be doubted that where
a free white male citizen, who has ar
rived st years Of discretion, voluntarily
takes the cath in question: aad cannot
Justify or excuse himself by any plea Of
duress, It Is an overt act Of treason.
Whether his country viii do what few
States, ancient or modern have done,
recognize the danger Of loss OF property
and estate as such necessity rs frees the
act from any taint Of guilt, i a question
10 be settled elsewhere. Whether the
citizen can even claim th9 imminent
danger OF an immediate death IS an ex-
euse for his desertion Of his country,
when it could not 10 the least excuse the
common soldier who stands between this
citizen and death, for deserting his colors
or even fleeing from the field Of battle,
NAV be doubted. No enc can doubt the
utter want of nobleness and generosity
and common humanity, on the part OF
those who thus force hated oath on
reluctant men and women and compel
even the dying to elect between treason
and perjury.
One who seeks office under this usurp-
ing and spurious government Of tne
State, or consents to accept such ofilce,
and peruits himself to be voted for, also
commits an overt act since he thereby
voluntarily recognizes the legitimacy
and authority of that pretended govern
ment, and of the authority under when
it was created, and submits himseif 70
the behests Of both; and also acknowl-
edges and affirms the allegiance he had
before sworn 10 the United States, and
his citizenship of the United States and
his status as an enemy of the COnfeder-
ate States; and offers himself to be an
instrument and agent to enforce IN
Arkansas the laws of the United States
and the proclamation of the President
and the enactments Of the assemblage OF
traitors pretending to be Legislature OF
the State Of Arkansas, aHd perhaps the
orders of the traitor who claims to bs
the Governor Of the State.
That by these overt acts one gives aid
and comfort to the public enemy, is not
toebe decided. He aids them by giving
open countenance to their cause by
profFering to serve in the enemy's army,
If required by the enemy's laws by car
Fying to them and giving them the
benefit and advantage Of whatever of
ability, reputation and learning he pos
sesses and by aiding with the influence
of his example to induce others to sub
nit to their government and bear arms
under their flag. He gives them eoIA-
fort, by encouraging them to perseyere
ia the attempt to suDjugate the South
and restore the Unicn, in the belief that
there are many like him every where IN
the State, at heart in favor OF the Union
belief that contributed no little to In
duee the enemy to undertake this war,
and has in no small degree encouraged
him to persist in it.
The mere taking the oStA Of aile-
glance TO the United States, without
more, was an abandonment of any Of
fee under the Confederate States, or un-
der the lawful government Of the State.
II was tie Gese-tiOn of DOst of duty,
Infinitely worse than the desegtiOn 0y a
soldier, of his eolOrs and going over to
the enemy to turn his bullets against
The bOsoms of his former comrades.
Such is and always has Geen the law OF
all nations, and so it ought to be.
The causes Of forfeiture and custer set
forth in the information are ample If
they should be confessed, or sustained by
proof upon triai.
FEOM WAsBINGTON.
Special dispatch to the st. Louis Republican,
WASHINGTON, March l4.-There was
a brief session Of the house and pro-
tracted session of the senate to-day.
The members of the house are pa
tientiy awaiting the action Of the senate
on the reconstruction bill in order that
they may take recess until fail.
Quite a number of public men from the
south arrived to-day, among them GOV,
Jenkins OF Georgia, to see what is TO be
done relative to inaugurating the new
reconstruction movement in the south.
They generally agree that good progress
viii be made.
The crowds of office seekers at the
senate and White house were greater
than ever to-day. Even tonight large
number were seeking an interview with
the president.
4 special senate committee are about
to proceed to complete the investigation
Of the currency and printing bureaus OF
the treasury department.
An attempt was made in the house to-
day for a similar investigation, and these
facts have caused rnmOrs of a heavy de-
falcation, but it is believed that they are
untrue and that the object is to secure
greater efficiency iu those Dlaeea.
The trial Of Surratt was expected to
take place Monday, but as the govern
ulEnl uEEuS ALAOAG lAAAG II WIZ EASte-A-J
be postponed until the June term Of the
district criminal court.
The president sent to the senate to-day
the name of Capt. Geo. A. Magwire, of
st. Louis, r be district attorney for the
eastern Gs trict of Missouri.
EhlerA IA. Jones was confirmed by the
senate. .oas postmaster at Chattanooga,
Tenn.
The following nominations were re-
iected Postmaster George Isenstein,
ClarksvilIe, Tenn; United States at
torney-Geo. w. Magwire, eastern dis
trict, Mo. Collectors internal revenue:
VIM. P. Moore, third district, Mo;
VIM. c. Webb, sixth district, Tenn;
Edward T. Ward, fifth district, Mo-; Jas.
w. Black, sixth district, Mo.
Special dispatch to the Republican,
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The debate
on the supplemental reconstruction bill
was continued by the senate to-day at
great length, but without coming to any
final result. 1t was agreed at one time
to hold night sessions in order 10 finish
the discussions, but on hearing that the
house had adjourned till Monday, that
was abandoned and the consideration of
the subject will, therefore, be resumed
tomorrow.
An amendment, offered by Mr.. Fes-
senden, to allow the people of the south
ern states to vote, first on the question as
to whether they would call convention
or not under the reconstruction law,
passed on March ID, opened the issue in
all its bearings, but was finally voted
down. The bill was reported by the
judiciary committee, and viii probably
pass tomorrow, and be premptly acted
on by the house on Monday.
for- 70. Ia
which show very clearly large major
I ity in favor of adjOurniug over until
( October. Business introduced to-day
was even postponed by large vote until
I December. The house also refused to
[ appoint the military committee, and
( gave other evidence that as soon as it
passed the supplemental reconstruction
! bill it was ready to take long recess.
! A well known New York editor
! reached here tonight from long trip
I through the southern states. He reports
the people profoundly agitated BY the
reconstructien law, and hesitate about
doing anything just as long as any sup
/ elemental legislation is impending.
One Of the reasons Of objection TO the
movement he represents Is based on the
fact that the debt incurred by the pres
/ ent state governments would be invaii-
! ualeu Dy tIt dtqlticeCSHtC u tuC pcypAc
( in the reconstruction bill, which declares
in its preamble that said state govern
ments are not legal. The state Of Geor-
gia, as it now stands, has issued 8 large
amount of bonds.
I The cabinet meeting was full to-day,
but mostly occupied with discussion OF
numerous important pending appoint-
ments.
The condition Of business in the eOun-
try is exhihited by interRal revenue re-
ceipts, which have fallen considerably
below half million of dollars per day
4 They reached but trifie over three hun
dred thousand dollars to-day.
The house committee on foreign affairs
are generally considering the propriety
of reporting q series Of resolutions look.
ing virtually to sympathy with the pres.
ent struggle in ireland.
Ex-Gov. Hamilton, of Texas, made s
speech here last night, in which he de.
! clared, as reported in the Chronicle, that
the present reconstruction law was 8
! failure, because thegOvernment had noi
troops enough TO enforce it.
Gen. J. b. Fullerton arrived here to
day, In obedience to a summons to testify
before the judiciary committee, in the
!, -. 4 Al