Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-07
ReQi5fFafK0n.

The whole country looked with much.
anxiety to the opinion ofAttorney General
SrANBERY to settle all the important ques-
tons and doubts OF the Reconstruction
measures of Congress. AS Unsatisfactory
as that opinion was. there were some points
upon which it was clear and distinct Per-
sons who held certaill positions previous to
the war, and aftcrward engaged i'll it, were
pronounced disqualified for register
ing and voting, and certain others who had
held official positions under similar cir
cumstances, were declared to he entitled to
this opinion was understood to have re
ceiyed the endorsement Of the President
and his entire Cabinet, except, perhaps,
the Secretary of War, Mr.. STANTON, and
also that Genera, GRANT had warmly APP
proved it. It is yet thought it will be is
sued III general orders from the War De
partment, as instructions to the District
Commanders, the delay being probably
caused by desire to embrace i'll the order
the opinions OF the Attorney General up
upon the powers 81 the Military Comman-
ders. ....
TO receive the orders based upon these
opinions was thought to be the cause for
the delay i'll registration except in Louis
lana and Texas, where General SHERIDAN
appears to 60 to work regardless of law, au-
thority, respect to superiors or justice to
the people. A desire to explain fully the
meaning aud intention of the acts, and to
prescribe uniform rules for registration
throughout the South, was the purpose Of
the opinion, and we supposed it would
have been regarded as, if not formally made,
authority. But from the order of General
ScHorIELD, published yesterday, we must
think that MIR. STANBERI $ opinion is worth
less, rs that order ignores some of the few
points decided by the Attorney General. =
For instance, municipal officers in certain
cases are prohibited from registering i'll
Virginia, when Mr.. SrANBEKY decided ex
pressly that they could. General ScHorIELD
includes Justices of the Peace within the
prohibited officials, while the Attorney
General reserves the question for a future
decision.
On the other hand, members of tho Sc
cession Convention, who are held by Mr..
STANBERY as coming within the disfran
chising clauses of th8 act, are allowed by
General ScHoFIELD to register and vote
The Board OF Registration is given more
option IN refusing persons the right to
register than the Attorney General says
they possess, which. after all. is the most
dangerous and unjust departure from the
line laid down 10y the law officer Of the
Government.
Whether the District Commanders are
each to constitute the Jaw for themselves, OF
rules to govern ali are to emanate from
Washington, we cannot tell. If the former
is to be the mode OF process Of reconstruc
ton. with the disposition on the part of all
of them to add to the harshness of harsh
legislation--to heap unnecessary burdens
upon d PROSTATE pcoplo--We expect but lit
tie justice at the ballot. box, and are pre-
pared to witness the destinies of our State
placed under the control of the worst Gle
ments Of our disorganized society
pared to which the Pandemonium which
now rules Tennessee will be an elysium Of
justice and peace.