The New York herald., 1867-06-12
WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON June IL, 1867
Important Meeting of the Cabinet--The Power
Of Military Commanders to Remove Civil
OHicers-The Alleged Outrages of the state
Troops i'm Tennessee.
The Cabinet meeting to-day protracted to later
hour than usual and all of the members present
except Secretary Browning who was represented by
Judge Otto Assistant Secretary Of the Interior. The
questions under consideration the opinion Of Attor-
ney General sanbery the power Of military district
commanders to remove officers OF the civil govern
ments, the action OF Generals Sheridan and
Pope in removing Governor Wells Of Louisiana,
and Mayor withers OF Mobile and the petition of the
citizens of Franklin county, Tennessee the President
asking protection from the tyranny Of Governor Brown
lows militia Very little information obtained
TO whether the Cabinet arrived at any definite con-
cuson in reference 10 the Of General Sheridan and
Governor Wells, but the probability Is that Governor
Wells will be immediately reinstated although there
Is reason to believe that the course of General
Sheridan in the matter is not approved. The Wow
taken Of the action Of General Sheridan by the
more prominent officers OF the government IL is
stated good authority is that the Reconstruction
acts give authority to district commanders
I, remove civil officers, and that such military power
cannot be exercised except through martial law; thar
district commanders created preserve peace and
authorities to enforce the laws In cases where the civil
officers fail to do justice in any matter coming under
their Jurisdiction commanders have the power Of ad-
justing the matter by military commission, but no
authority to the offending civil officer Tho be-
lief is entertained by many we'll informed persons here,
that IL the opinion of the Attorney General is ad-
TO the actions of Generals Sheridan and
Pope in removing civil officers In their Districts or IL
either OF these commanders Is relieved the deposcd
officers renstated the effect will be to Congress to
their session in Juy, at the call OF the president
Of the Senate and the Speaker Of the House.
In the Of the outrages alleged TO have been
ea oy the Tenhessee State militia, instructions have
been given to General Thomas, commanding the Depart
OF the Cumberland TO investigate the acts Of VIC.
lence said to have been perpetfatcd On Thursday
last General whIpple, Of General Thomas staff,
was in Winchester county, Tennessee, Engaged
in examining into tho murder of James Brown
Of Franklin county After concluding his investga-
ons General whippe will report tho result the De-
partment commander, when there be doubt what
that in the petition and aidavits found to
set forth the facts summary will be taken to
protect peaceabe and law abiding citizens from like
persecution the future and that e work of official de-
capitation will 60 brskly for tme in Tennessee.
The petition Of eight hundred residents Of Frank
sented to the President by Mr.. Jesse ArIidge, a
few nights ago, gives an alarming description
Of affairs in Tennessee and information now in posses
sion of the government proves beyond doubt that Ten
is to-day further behind in the work Of recon-
sruction than any other Of the Southern States The
petition Of the Tennesseans concludes as follows:-
Your Excelency having been personally acquainted
with people, and knowing how dearly we loved
rights, and how jealousy guarded them,
8DDrociat0 how 0Xuui6itelV felt their
loss. But Notwithstanding all this. we
tent 70 bear our wrongs In silence, and we
grievances It not that the heel OF despot-
ism upon necks may longer be borne All that is
history since the Ia without reproach, have
shown Excelency. yet rulers affecting to ques
tion our loyalty, have organized band OF rock.
less, dissolute and irresponsible men, and turned
them loose TO do their will upon us. We
submitted to their humatlng threatenngs, being
determined 10 do act that would afford them pre-
text to wreak their malice upon The
officer in charge, in public order ad-
Offensive manner that % he had como among us for
the purpose OF enforcing and bringing criminals to JUS
ce and at that time mad but one at large under
indictment MURDER and he had boen abscondng and
conceang himself for two years to escape arrest upon
an indictment for murder perpetrated in ls60 and also
onsed to the rebel army Notwithstanding these facts,
and on the face Of his published order. the onlcer
bs ID now going publicly around to the terror Of tho
Ds1Us Dses1 s,,uss . one Of The most Non IN n
he is one Of the few mel If wbose character speak
with certainty and the purpose Of fixing MIN with
infamy that could distinguish Ssm above s fellows
toward people, and falsely preending 10 be the
guardians Of the law, began their d6predatons upon us
By wanon searches Of our homes and the seus Of
thorty to Search our houses and seize our stock as
the property Of the United States government In the
exercise Of this pretended authority they have robbed
u.s. cursed and abused wives and children, and de-
nounced all who questioned their right They have
taken from our farms the mems Of making their crops
so taken TO their own use. They maintain their
right 70 take the property Of our citizens with
by threatening the lives of many OF citizens
They went the house Of OF citizens in the
night time and red several T shots at nm and he saved
abiding citizen from beside his hearthstone, and despite
the tears and prayers Of his wi rie and aged e
shot him down like dog. These red-handci murder
still at large and denouucng tho terri
to rob and say us at their viii Impoverished as wo
are many Of people in that portion OF country
have been forced TO abandon their houses and
lives and in every part OF our country our
people filed with fear and apprehension: and,
indeed absolute ana complete is the rei.n of
they have inauguratcd, that many Of our people
afraid TO meet with to peaceaby present wrongs
the consideration Of your Excsliency This terrible
state OF affairs is beyond endurance and inasmuch
this cruel bloody, lawcss band organized armed
and set over us by State cauthoritesnasmuch
your duty Chief Magistrate to that the laws
faithfully executed-inasmuch we have the right 10
pcaceaby assemble ourselves together to petition for
the redress Of our grievances aud nasmuch as we have
abiding conf ience en- soictudc for the welfare
and protection Of all law abiding ctizens, without refer
ence to thor antecedents or political sentiments, we
therefore earnestly entrcat your Exceency to- II you
question either the propriety or expedency o. rcmov
ing the awless band which Is opprc sing u.s. that you
will send country sufficient number OF national
troops 10 protect our persons and property ana bring to
punishment the muroerers OF our people.
Important Postal Affairs.
The United States Consuls at Kanaeawa, Japan, and
shanghae, China have been appointed United states
postal agents those ports, to receive distribute de-
liver despatch the correspondence conveyed by the
line OF United States mail steam packets between
san Francisco and China, via Kanagaws, japan. Neeo
tiatons also in progress with the Colo
NAL Post Office at Hong Kong China. and
with the British Post Department at Lon
don, having for thcir object the establishment OF re-
duced OF POSTAGE the correspondence conveyed
hv Trnftad uackefa bctWpcn counrv