Ellsworth American., 1867-06-21
suINGTON. Jui

the subject. 1t Is understood. OF the remov-
al Of civil officers by the commanders of
Southern military districts. As the result
of the consultation IN exclusive order is in
course of preparation and may be issued
early this week, restraining. it is said. such
commanders in accordance with the recent
ly published opinion of Attorney General
Stanbury. and. rs consequence. restor-
ing the civil officers heretofore remover by
them.-lTash. Dispateh.
1t now seems rs if we might have anotli-
er clash between congress and the Execu-
tive. and that the former body may meet
again in July, contrary to al past expecta-
tions.
Mr.. S.anhury the Attorney General
seems to be one of those able lawyers whose
opinions are adapted TO the circumstances
cf the case, or the present exigencies Of the
party desiring an opinion. The Recon-
struction Law of Congress was vigorously
opposed oy the Presidentand vetoed by him
at once because it conferred so much pow
el on the Military commanders. Neverthe-
less it became law and the President as
signed to the Department able and honest
Generals to carry into effect its provisions.
Everything was working admirably. and
the prospect of a peaceful settlement Of ex.
isting difficulties aud an early return of the
states to their normal relation in the Union
seemed bright and prosperous. But we
were getting out of past difficulties too ca
silly for the future political prospects OF
those who are waiting for something TO
turn up for their personal advantage
General Sheridan had removed to the inf
mite satisfaction of the country the red hand
ed Mayor Mon roe, and the equally dirtlict
Attorney General, as we'll as the arch rebel
Gov. Wells. These displacements do not
suit certain men in Washington and Mr..
Stanbnry is called upon for an opinion as
to General Sheridan's power for turning
out civil officers. The President in giving
his reasons why the reconstruction bill
should not become a law said:
The bill places all the people Of the ten
c.~.ee fhorois --z."scu uH,ser me absolute DOM
ination Of military rulers and the preamble
undertakes to give the reason upoE Which
it is justified. u declares that there er,sts in
those States no legal governments and no I'd
eQadte protection for l,fe or property. and as
serts the necessity Of enforcing peace and good
order ,rithia heir iimitS.
Now it will be seen the President oppos-
ed the bill because it confcrs all po,cer on
the military rulers. Mr.. Stanbury interprets
the law, and the dispatch says this inter-
probation is approved by the President, to
mean just the opposite of that the mill
tary are mere police officers. But the most
strange phase of this new tangled web of
difficulties. is that it was alleged atthe time
that the same person wrote the veto mes
sage thatnow writes the legal opinion. Not
to keep the reader too long from the new
view taken of the law, we subjoin one para
graph of Mr.. Stanbury s opinion:
1t is of a power to protect all persons in
t.,c:::: 4: rights Of person and property. 1t is
not power to create new rights but only
to protect those which exist and are estab.
lished by the laws under which these peo-
pie live. Ii is power TO preserve not to
abrogate; to sustain the existing frame of
social order and civil rule, and not a po,cer
to introduce military rule in its place. IN eff
feet, it is police power.
We may fairly expect to see Monroe re-
instated, the attorney General Heron pIac-
ed where he can have criminals sit in judg-
ment on the acts of the victims OF their
cruel hate. and Gen. Wells have fun swing
again in Louisiana.
This change is to be regretted. 1t is
all political. There is not single necess-
ity for this change of front, and it is omi
nous of a gathering storm. The country
will not suffer General Sherman to be
beaten, through the completely of high
ofiicials-rebcls in Office. The people will
marshal under his banner to sustain him
and to retrieve the partial losses Of the
day, and "go in" to beat back the rebels,
with the alacrty with which his followers
obeycd his voice after the disaster at Ce-
dar Creek. II the President. Mr.. Seward.
and the Blairs waut to make General
Sheridan the next President, they will
have only to continue to attack him and
assist General Early's friends instead of
the General.
The Tribune says:--
The National IatelIigencer announces
that at "a very recent consultation of the
cabinet it was decided that the military
''otlicers in command of the five Districts
into which the ten represented Southern
Estates are divided have no power tn re-
''moye civil officers deriving their authori-
ty from the State Governments as now or
.'ganized. +" 1t is intimated tlat orders
will be issued ''re, placing the deposed off
GERS" Wells will again he Governor of