The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-07-25

that he is egotistical, we have yet to see
in any instance where his. numerous
maligners have successfully brought to
bear an argument that would contradict
his policy for the government of the
Southern States la all his veto mes
sagcs he has tskcn the Constitution for
his guide, relying on it for his reserve.
In his late M 35sa5s, (anl 1t is of that
which we intend TO speak, his argu
ments aud deductions are at on,e Con-
stitutional, logical and conclusive. lie
makes his appeal to the people, leaving
no loop hole by which he may be attack
cd, he docs not appeal to passion or pre-
judicc, but points the way in which
right and duty lead and asks the pcc..
pie to follow in their wake and watch
their endangered interests.
In speaking of the second section of
the amended bill as passed at tie late
session, he thus makes pointed attack
upon it:
"Not content with the general grant
of power, Congress, in the second sec
tion Of this bill, specifically gives to
each military commander the power to
suspend or remove from Office, e. frCm
the performance of official duties and the
exercise of official power, auy officer or
person holding or exercising, o, profess
ing to hold or exercise, any civil or mil
itary Office or duty in such district un-
der any power, election, appointment, or
authority derived from or granted by or
claimed under any so-called State or
the government thereof. or any munich
pal or other division thereof" power
that hitherto all the departments Of the
Federal Government, acting in concert
or separately, have not dared to exer>
else, is here attempted to be conferred
on a subordinate military officer. To
him, as III litary officer of the Federal
Government, is given the power, sup
ported by " sufficient military force, y
to remove every civil officer of tho
State. What next? The district com
mander, who has thus displaced thC
civil officer, is authorized to fill the va.
cancv by the detail of an officer or sol
dier of the army, Or by the appointmen
of some other person. This military
appointee, whether an officer soldier
or some other person, is to perform th'
duties of such officer so suspended o
removed In other words, an officer OF
soldier of the army is thus transformed
into a civil officer.
" lie may be made a governor, "A leg
isla'or, or a judge. However unfit h
may deem himself for such civil dutie
he must obey the order. The officer O
thn army must, if detailed, so upon thu
Supreme bench of the State with thu
same prompt obedience as if he wcr
detailed to 90 on court martial. Tn
soldier, if detailed to act as justice c
the peace, must obey as quickly as if h
were detailed for picket duty. Wha
is th2 character of such military civ
officer? This bill declares til at he shal
perform thc-duties OF the civil Office
which he is detailed 1t is clear, how
ever, that he does not lose his positio
in tie military service. lie is still a
officer or soldier Of the army. lie
sti snhject to the rules and regulation
which govern it, and must yield du
difference, respect and obedience t
wards his superiors. The clear intel
ton IF this section is that, the officer
soldier detailed 10 fill a civil Office mu
execute its duties according to the Law
Of the State. If he is appointed go
crnur of a State he is to execute the d
tics as provided by the laws of the Stat
aud Tor the time being his militar
character is to be suspended in his ne
civil capacity.
"A singular contradiction is appare
hec. Congress declares these loc
State governments to be illegal COVER
mcnts, and then provides that the illeg
"ernments arc to be carried on
l'e lcral officers, who are to perform t!
very duties imposed on its own office
ly this illegal State authority.
would be novel spectacle if Congre
should attempt to carry on a legal Sta
government W tiiS uoNhNJ Va 10 O''''N
1t is yet more strange that CongrC
attcmpts to sustain and carry on an i'll
gal State government by the same Fe
,ral agency.
Throughout the entire message
deals such conclusive blows at every 81
ton of the bill, presenting it in its tr
and proper light. We wish every he
est Republican in the land could read
for it shows so plainly that the aims a
ends Of the Radicals in passing the
is not to do ny good for the count
but merely to make it political eng
with which to retain themselves in pc
er, so rhat they may 20 on wlth the s.