Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-06-21
MIR. srAxB ERKs OPINION.

There have been uneasy TumOrs from
Washington, and, fearing the worst, we
have earnestly implOred the President
to be wise and take no perilous step.
StanberY's first opinion came. We
submitted to it. 1t made little differ
ence practically in the operations of
the bill. There were some things about
it that were unfair, but we did not
wish to borrow trouble, or to unneces-
SarilY mbarraSs the Administrations
The second opinion, however, strikes at
the very heart of the bill It reduces
the military power to a mere police
force, to keep order and prevent as
sault and battery. All the orders of
the military commanders are criticized
as transcending their powers, General
RobinsOn's order preventing whipping,
the wise code of Sickles, POpe's inter
fering with a Rebel Mayor, Sheridan's
removals Of Wells, Monroe, and Abell
are denounced as violations of this
law. "Their education and training"
says Mr.. Stanbery, "have not been of
'sthe kind 'tO fit them for the delicate
'fand difficult task of giving cOnstruc-
HtiOn to such a statute now as that un-
"der consideration" We fear this re-
fleets on General Grant also, for we
find him as far back as March % order
ing all State and local elections to be
disallowed in Alabama-until the ar
rival of the commander and "his order
in the premises" We also fear that
Mr.. Stanbery means to sneer at the ''ed-
''ucatiOu and training" of our Presi-
dent; for in the veto message that Off
Ger denounced the bill because it did
what the Acknowledgement claims it
was never intended to do In other
words, Congress-the generals COM
manding-General Grant, and even the
President-are wrong and Stanbery is
right The civil governments must
stand. They are Independent and in
r.G~ l.
pected. They are chosen by 'the peO-
pie" Congress expressly calls these
common wealths FRebel States" Stan
berry says they must not be mOlested
Congress ordains that these cOmmuni-
ties must not be allowed to interfere
with the military authority. Stanbery
contends that the generals cannot in
terfere with the communities unless
they get up a riot, in which case the ri
OF may be quelled Well, General
Grant issued an order July 8, 1866, di-
recting commanders in the South to ar
rest all Rebels Charged with Offenses
against inhabitants of the United
States, irrespective of color, and hold
them until "prOper tribunal" could
try them. Stanbery virtually says that
the Military bill repeals this order,
which was a dead letter so far as Nav
or Monroe and many other criminals
were concerned. Beyond keeping the
peace these commanders have no pow
er ! ''The regular state officials" ," saws
Mr.. Stanbery, ''dulv elected and quail
"fied, are entitled to hold their Offices
Thea, too. "have the rights which the
military commander is bound to protect
"not authorized to destroy" Mayor
Monroe may organize his Police thugs,
General Sheridan is bound to protect
them I Judge Abel may throw his err
mine over assassins and call upon the
Grand Jury to indict innocent and per-
to protect him. All the resources of
the States are committed to Rebels, all
the patronage of these communities is
given to men who long to oppress the
black, and restore their own power. The
money, the influence, the taxes Of the