The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-03
flliitary oaalnan dgls.

illitary Commander
We pulls ssaamn tie Attorney Gene
tals spiai5n u seTs q tis military
Commanders aadas f Tho following
extract, clipped FRAN fast iegeneer, is
pertinent u tbe sahJeet
Ne iag before o4g readers III $3.50 one
q taf most important documents ss3ss elna-
acted ifai NE exesgtiTe otiee-t l4 aiiislg5 sof
sle Attorney Geiiara 0! the United States sS A
10 the powers 81 tfe military goa9aAaiants M4sSG
South unaer t4e bfeeaaSaHcti8u statutes. This
oiical ard AUTHORITATIVE Interpretation OF the aw was
rendered necessary bY Be diverse anG ID many cases
atitndinalian construction given to these laws 5y che
military officers selected by the President 20 execute
their provisions
This opinion is supplementary to the one already
promulgated which had reference chiefly to the pow
ers conferred upon the commandments Of military dis
trtts In reference to the registration OF voters, and to
the qualifications Of electors in the Southern States
required by the acts of Congress.
The opinion published day refers generally to the
authority conferred upon these generals commanding
districts in the South and particularly to their unc-
tons in regard to the removal and appointment OF
civil officers in any of the States included in their sew
eral military jurisdictions.
| The opinion of the Attorney General, under the
circumstances is entitled to the consideration as
the law itself It is the authorised explanation and
Interpretation of the law from the highest recognised
law officer of the Government and as such should be
made the rule of conduct of those officers who have
been appointed by the President to execute the law
The Attorney General decides that the legislation re-
ferred TO clearly eontempatcs two distinct govern
ments in each of the Southern States named in the
acts of Congress-the military the other civil;
that while both treated as provisional until new
civil governments shall be constituted in each of these
States the province Of the military government thus
created is only to protect a persons in their rights
ofY, tn n
order, and violence and to punish, or cause to be
punished all dsturbers of the public peace and erlml-
nails" in other words that these military commanders
are nothing more nor less than the conseryatotS OF
the public peace and the officers authorised to see That
every citizen entitled to vote Tor the new constitution
Of these DISTINGUISHED States is allowed to exercise his
privilege
Thus far and no farther the law extends. Beyond
this the acts of the generals in command are SIMPLY,
and without qualification, unauthorized and un"ar-
rantabe usurpatons. Under the law they can hellhet
unmake or make neither remove nor appoint single
civil officer of any grade whatever. They are sent
into the several districts merely to preserve TO eaeh
citizen the rights of person and property he possesses
under the laws under which he lives, and have no
power to create new right to exercise either legsa-
tive or judicial functions, except in cases Oh crime,
when they may organise under and according 60 tne
laws "nliltarv commissions for the trial and punish
ment OF Offenders.
/ This opinion will be read with interest by the peo-
Pile North and South, who anxious for restora-
ton of real peace and union the basis OF absolute
political equality. There are some OF the kadlcai
leaders who will assail it with partisan virulence but
its calm, plain, straightforward commensurate 'ISu-
meats will produce conviction among the masses tha'
the recopS& ction measures passed by Congress do
not warrant the outrages now being perpetrated by
the military commandments in the South, nor the con
sruction put upon them in the popular harangues OF
! Radical partisans everywhere.