The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-16

doctrine that each citizen is to decide for him
self whether a legislative enactment is legal.
Il was the law Of the land in August last, and
when, in direct opposition to its provisions,
Mr.. Johnson sought to relieve Mr.. Stanton,
that Office, Notwithstanding his previous
opinion, was right and consistent in calling
attention to its provisions and claiming the
rights which it guaranteed. This is 30 simple
proposition that we are surprised that Mr..
Johnson should have sought to charge the
Secretary with inconsistency on that account.
The last ground for removal furnished by
the President is in regard to the alleged sup
preston of a despatch relative to the New
Orleans massacre. He says:-
BY kilograms from:the Lieutenant. Governor
ana ana Attorney-General OF Louisiana, dated the
Nth and 2Sth of August, was advised that
body OF delegates, claiming to be a eonstitu-
Ilonal convention, were about to assemble in
Grand Jury, but that IL would be impossible to
execute civil process without a riot, and this
question was asked:-'Is the military TO inter-
fere to prevent process OF courtY This ques-
tton was asked at time when the civil courts
were In the full exercise of their authority, and
the answer sent by telegraph, on the same 2Sth
OF August, was this:-'Tbe military will be ex-
pected TO sustain and not interfere with the
proceedings of the courts
"On the same 18th Of August the following
telegram was sent to Mr., Stanton by Major
General Baird, then lowing to the absence of
General Sheridan) in command OF the military
at New Orleans:-
"'Hon. Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary orwar-A
Convention has been called with the sanction of Gov
eTnor Wells, 70 meet hSre on Monday, The Lieu
nj, and propose to break t up by arresng the dele
gates have given no orders on the subject, but
or permit such sciion Without Instruction to that
effect from Lhe President Please instruct me at once
This despatch the President says was not
shown to him by Mr.. Stanton for several
been prevented. Let us look at this statement.
The President acknowledges the receipt of a
telegram on the 9th, and one on the 2Sth,
telling him of the Convention-telling him
that the Grand Jury was about to indict the
Convention; that civil process would lead to a
riot; and wanting to know whether the mill
tary would interfere to prevent a riot by for
bidding the execution of the civil process. This
is acknowledged by Mr.. Johnson. To this he
replied, forbidding the military to interfere,
except to aid the courts. This was done on
the 2Sth. The same day the despatch from
General Baird was sent. 1t went over
exactly the same grounds, it stated the
soAhO loObS1 ~ PiOPhOoAON hAO oohAO AOouAeo
and asked for instruction. Mr.. Stanton had
already seen the President, and that officer
had already given an answer to an exactly
similar despatch. Why, then, hasten with
this duplicate? The result would, in all
human probability, have been the same. Mr..
Stanton neglected to send it. In doing so he
possibly erred, but it was not crime; that
being neglect to supply two copies of the
same thing. For this he is arraigned. Whether
guilty or not the country has already decreed.
So much for the communication. 1t exone-
rates MIR. Stanton from all blame for want OF
delicacy. In fails to prove even an inconsis-
tency against him, and attempts, without
success, to trump up mere neglect. The
message will do Mr.. Stanton much good. 1t
is the best refutation to the many ISLANDERS
heaped against him, and, instead of being an
accusation, is in itself defense.