The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-03-06

"ofiice."
The folio wing persons are disqualified
from serving as members Of the proposed
State Convention, or voting in the elec
ton Of the same, viz. all Confederates
who had ever taken the oath to support
the Constitution of the United States AS
n member of Congress, or as an officer
of the United States, or as member OF
any State Legislature, or as an executive
cludes, besides members Of Congress and
Of State Legislatures, pos,masters, col
lecLors Of customs, officers Of the United
States army and navy, judges and. mag
istrates, and ex governors. 1t does not
include lawyers, clerks, sheriffs, consta-
bles, commissioners in charcery, commits
siouers Of revenue, tax assessors, suivev
ors, militia officers, sergeants. members
Of councils, and perhaps others who have
taken the oath for these are either not
officers at all, or are merely ministerial
officers, not embraced in the term "exec
utive or judicial" They are therefore
neither DISTINGUISHED nor rendered insli.
gible to Office"
HOPE IN THE SUPREME COURT,
says the Richmond Enquirer
"'i'he fundamental proposition of the
whole, Is that which denies the existence
and integrity OF our State organizations.
Our defence hes in uaversing this posi-
ton. Our only mode Of making this de
fence is by an appeal to the courts. This
il is our duty to make. A case must be
made UP; and we suppose it may be
speedily done, on the question Of eligi
bilitv to office. 1t viii be cOn,ended by
the hunCerars and tmrsrers that the pro
scription will displace those liable to it,,
who are nov in office. An order for
ejertment, or An application tkprohibit
It, will get the question before the courts.
lf it be held that our State governments
are valid, and according to the Constitu
ton. then All the attempts to alter our
suffrage, AMI to dictate qualifications for
State office, viii be pronounced void. We
must bring to judicial test also the right
of Congress to pass martial law, and to
subordinate the civil To the military in
these States, in time Of profound peace,
publicly proclaimed.
The National Mtcliigencer says:
~ the destruction bill OF Congress
were brought up for decision before the
Supreme Court. who does not suppose
that full bench would declare It's uncon
stitu.ionaltv in tOtol What true states
man or eminent jurist, anywhere in the
bro ad land, would not so declare T.
The Richmond Dispatch says:
"I. were an easy matter, perhaps, to
bring this question before. the Supreme
Court; but it would be difficult to ob
tain decision. Ifthat Court, in defer
ence to demoralized public opinion,
withheld its decision upon the test oath
for twelve months after it's opinion had
been formed, how long would it withhold
its decision on such a question as this
anu " tbeIo was ~ W OUli one
in favor Of the Constitution in the for.
mt er case, what assurance have We that
there will he majority at all in ,hi.
easel Judge Grier's health is said TO be
fsebe. In his absence, the Court would
likely stand equally divided (; for IL four
Judges could be found to hold that mill
tary courts for the trial OF civilians are
tribunals. thsre is no rea
son why four should not he expected TO
hold that Congress is not bound by the
at all"
THE DUTIES OF THE HOUR.
On this subject, the Dispatch says:
LIE, the awful brigadier find us planting
and building; whites and blacks living
tremendously our Legislature consider
ing. measures for preserving the credit of
the State and developing its .weaI,hs
Judges on the bench administering the
laws Of the land with universal accepta,ion
to all alike and then let him. before the
face Of esrth and heaven by one. order