The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-07-22
THE VETO.

Message from the Presidcnt--Objec'
items 20 the Supplementary Recon
struction Act ~ .H-.a q t-k.t
The Presidents last veto message has
been received. 1t applies to the last
Reconstruction Act all the objections
urged IN his veto of the Reconstruction
Act of March I'd, and then considers
some points peculiar to the bill under
consideration. OF the first section il
speaks in substance as follows:
The first section purports to declare
the true intent and meaning in some
particulars of the two prior acts upon
this subject. 1t is declared that the in'
tent and meaning of those acts was
first, that the existing government IN
the ten rebel States were not legal State
governments, and second, that thereaf'
ter said governments, to be continued,
were to be continued subject in all re-
spects to the military commanders OF
the respective districts, and to the para
mount authority of Congress.
By the sixth section of the original
act these governments were made in all
respects subject to the paramount au'
thority of the United States. Now by
the declaratory act it appears that Con.
gress did not by the original act intend
to limit the military authority to any
particulars or subjects therein prescrib-
ed. but meant to make it universal
Thus over all these ten States this mill
tary government is now declared to
have unlimited authority. 1t is nc
longer confined to the preservation OF
the pnblic peace, the administration OF
criminal Law s, the registration of voters,
and the superintendence of elections,
but in all respects is asserted to be para
mount to the existing civil govern
ments. 1t is impossible to conceive any
state of society more intolerable than
this; and yet it is to this condition thai
twelve millions of American citizens
are reduced by the Congress of the
United States. ...-
Speaking of the unlimited authority
given to the Brigadiers, the message
says: frrgHSr
The act now before me, not only de.
clares that the intent was to confer
such military authority, but to confer
unlimited authority over all the other
courts of the State, and over all officers
Of the State, Legislative, Executive and
Judicial. A power that hitherto all the
Departments of the Federal Govern
ment, acting in concert or separately
have not dared to exercise, is here at
tempted to be conferred on a subordi-
nate military. To him as q military
officer of the Federal Government is
given the power, supported by q suffi-
cient military force, to remove every
civil officer of the United States.
What nextl The District Command
er who has thus displaced the civil Off.
GERS is authorized to fill the vacancy by
the detail of an officer ora soldier of the
army, or by the appointment Of some
other person. This military officer,
whether an officer or soldier, is to per.
form the duties of such officer or person
so superseded, or removed. In other
words, an officer or soldier of the army
is transferred into civil officer. He
may be made Governor or Legislator
or a Judge. However unfit he may deem
himself for such civil duties, he must
obey she order. The officer, if detailed
must 20 on the supreme bench Of the
State with the same prompt obedience
as if detailed to act on Court Martial
The soldier. if detailed to act as JUS
tice Of the Peace, must obey rs quietly
as If detailed for picket duty.
flao Of afl lnsa FsfH
United States detailed to fill q civil Of
fee in one of these States, gives no OH
cial bond and takes no official oath foi
the performance Of his new duties, bui
as q civil officer of the State only takes
the same oath which he had already Ia
ken as military officer of the United
States. He is at best military officer
performing civil duties, and the author
ity under which he acts is federal au
thority only, and the inevitable result
is that the Federal Government, by the
agency of its own officers, In effect as
sumes the civil government Of th'
State. 50 -vFf1 EFF y
A singular contradiction is apparent
here. Congress declares these loca
State governments to be illegal govern
ments, and then provides that thess
illegal governments shall be carried or
BY Federal officers, who are 70 perform
the very duties imposed on its owl
officers by this illegal State authority
1t certainly would be novel spectacl,
if Congress should attempt to carry
on q legal State government by .tht
agency of its own officers. 1t is YET
more strange that Congress attempts Il
sustain or carry on an illegal State gov
eminent by some Federal agency.
The President then notices the proyi
sion nullifying the opinion Of any civi
officer of the United States in constru
ing the Act:
Strictly, no opinion Of any civil of
fcer than n Judge has binding force
but these military appoiEtees would MOI
be bound even by judicial opinion
They might very we'll say, esen vhel
their action is in conflict with the Su
preme Court Of the United States, tha'
Court is composed Of civil officers Of th'
United States, and we are not bound :,
conform our action to any opinicR o
any such authority. -
The message then repeats the srgu
ment, with which our readers are al