The Van Buren press., 1867-06-21
From Washington.
,y,sutNCToN. June 10.

WASHINGTON, June 10.
The trial of Surratt commenced to-day
The Criminal Court room vas crowded. Judge
Fisher took his seat at $50 u. m. when The
Court WAS formally opened. The jurors wers
called. all but four answering 10 their names
The prisoner was brought In az 1910. Ills
handouts were taken OIL, and he was assigned
a seat beside III, counsel. Surratt's face was
very palc. and he wears Il carewOrn aud trouG-
led look, but he iaintly SMILED occasionally rs
hc received nod of an acquaintance. After
sitting in the Courtroom Tor some time, he
engaged ina lively conversation with one OF
hi, counsel. Mr. Merrick. and was evidently
much amused, rs he laughed heartily.
Amer all the prcliminarics, Judge Fisher
asked If the counsel were ready TO proceed
Mr.. Bradley replied that the prisoner is ready
and had been ~ for weeks. District Attorney
Darlington said the prosecution were ready
to proceed. Before proceeding to empanel
the jury, however, the prosecuting counsel de-
sired 10 present motion 10 quash the whole
panel Of jurymcn rs not drawn according to
law.
Capt Geo. Ryan formerly ofthe rebel ar
my, and who was arrested as Surratt and close
ly confined in the Old Capitol for several
months, was also present and bore close re-
semblanec to the man he was arrested for.
..oi WASHINGTON, June III.
The Cabnetko-day held its first meeting
since the PresWents return, and the impor-
tunt question 80 fully canyassed of late, rela-
tive To the power of Military Commanders un-
der the reconstruction law. to remove State
and Municipal officials of state Governments
denominated by act Of Congress as provision
al. was among the matters which were dis
cusscd.
1t is understood that the Attorney General
holds that such removals can only be made
when the Stateor local officials are impeding
the enforcement of the reconstruction law,
and only then in the way provided by the said
act. They must first be arrested on that
charge, and tried in the manner provided i'll
the law. lfconyictcd and sentenced the Of
flee would, of course. become vacant. In other
words it is explained that the Military Com
manderS have no more power over these Of
ticials than they have over any other person
in the Military District which they command;
and that they must all be proceeded against
in some way whenever they are charged with
hindcrng the enforcement of the law. As
the logical consequence it is further main
tanned that these commanders have n0 legal
power under the reconstruction act to ill any
vacancy IN the State or Municipal office ere
ated in that way, any more than they haye
to ill the vacancy on the bench, occasioned
by the death of Judge holding his office un
der any of these State Governments. These
were the points made by the Attorney Cen
eral and other members of the Cabinet but as
the full opinion had not been written out no
final conclusion was arrived at. If this view
be adopted by the President. there is no doubt
but he will restore Gov. Wells to his place and
reinstate the displaced Mobile officials, tho gh
the Southern men here asking for such action
fear that it will not take place until after the
time for the summer session of Congress is
passed.
MEMPHIS, June II.
The Enterprise passed up this morning with
the remains of Governor Claib. Jackson, of
Missouri, on board, to be taken to Saline coun
ty, Missouri, for interment.
WASHINGTON, June 13.
The President tonight stated in conversa-
ton that the complications and differences
arising under the Reconstruction act were
such that he was of the opinion that if Com
gre.s did not meet in July he should call an
extra session on the lst of August. This is
authentic, being derived from an authoritative
source.
KANSAS CITY, June l3
Two negroes named Yellow Tom and Web
ster charged with the murder OF VnU McMara,
some days since, were killed last night in Wy
anGOlte Dy moo OF cltlZenS. elbow ION
was first taken out of the Jail by the mob and
| hung in front of the Court House, but the rope
| breaking he chdeavored to escape when he
was shot down. Webster was then taken out
of jail and shot. Both their bodies were rid
| died with bullets.
.. WYANDOTTE June 13.
| Wade's Senatorial party passed through
| here this evening en- route to st. Louis. 4
| crowd surrounded the hotel and called upon
/ him for a speech. Senator Wade refused and
said he wouldn't speak in city where lynch
/ law reigned and men were butchered without
/ trial. He alluded to the case of two colored
men who were arrested last night, and charged
with having murdered farmer. They were
put in Jail, but taken out this morning by a
large mob and hung up, and the rope break
| ing. they were shot to pieces in the court
yard, where they lay nearly all day. A cor
oner's jury refused to take testimony and give
averdict that they were hung by a mob. Evil
dcnce developed to-day indicates clearly that
the men were innocent, and that the real
murdererS were the ring-leaders in the mob
~ On, a.