Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-06-26
OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GEN
ERAL.

burg Gazette, the President embodied his
objections to it in veto message. la
that document, he construed the powers
given to the District Commanders in the
sense intended BY the two Houses, and IL
the ordinary acceptation of the language
employed. All that could be urged agains
the bill ON account of alleged seventies
or of departures from the principles anc
methods Of the civil law, he presented
and with the utmost perspicuity and force
His objections were overruled by Con
gress, and the bill was passed into law
The President, soon after, signified hi:
intention to carry out the law, as the Chic
Executive officer of the nation, and in the
spirit in which it was actually conceived
and expressed. In this he Only express
ed his readiness to perform his undenia
bic duty. The point had passed in which
he was entitled TO PROFOUND his opinion
as to the propriety Of the law. Being on
the statute books, in a constitutional man.
ner, he was made under obligation to ex-
ecute it as promptly and efficiently as
though he approved of it most heartily.
In selecting the officers to carry the
law into effect, however, he hesitated.-
He was clearly disposed to give TIE pre-.
ference to those who would be likely to
lean towards his general policy, rather
than towards the Congressional plan. He
assigned to this duty such officers as he
saw fit. 1t SO happens that with one cor
sent these commanders have construed the
law as was intended by Congress; as the
President construed it in his veto mes
sage as the nature of the circumstances
which the law was designed TO meet, ac-
tually required. In some particulars, in
deed, the commanders have solicited in
structions, but not so much because they
were in doubt as to what ought to be done,
or as to their right under the law to do it,
but from a desire to arrive at essential
unity of action in the various districts,
and to prevent appeals to the President,
which would lend to unsettle affairs and
SO hinder the progress of Reconstruction.
The action Of the commanders has been
so wise and efficient as to give universal
satisfaction to the loyal people of the na-
ton to hush the spirit Of insubordina-
ton at the South, and TO hasten TIE peri
cd when the Ieyolted might be safely re-.
admitted to their old position in the Union.
The President has been uneasy. The
Congressional plan was operating SO we'll
as to draw commentator from many of
the eminent rebel Generals, and in eight
or nine months the process of restoration
under that plan would be complete. In
consequence, lie and his advisers have
been meditatng a scheme to emasculate
the Military Government Act by iuter-
probation. Several weeks have been de-
voted to incubating this scheme, and at
last Mr.. Stanbery, the Attorney General,
has developed it in the form of an elab-
crate opinion upon the details Of the law.
The opinion shows considerable ability
and adroitness; but it is simply lawyer S
plea to defeat the will of the nation. All
men of sense understand that skillful
lawyer is ready to make an argument on
either side of question ; aad it not uc-
frequently happens that lawyer, on one
day, before the same Court, makes plea
in one case, taking one view of the law
and another plea, in another case, taking
exactly the opposite view; and each, con.
sidered separately and apart, ingenious
and calculated to mislead persons not dis
ciplined in exact determinations.
The Attorney General decides tha,
ABOUT ali tHe DlslTlct cOmManuerS Fave
done-at least all that true men have ap.
plauded them for doing-has been done
wrongfully, and consequently must be un
done. At the same time he admits they
have acted honestly, and with view tc
obtaining the best results. These Gen
erals whom he censures are known to the
people as thoroughly loyal, as truly ma
tional, as anxious for speedy reconstruc
ton, as intelligent to an unusual degree
and as abounding both in discretion and
decision Of character. They have no
acted without what seemed to them to be
manifest cause and they will be sustain
ed by the people, no matter what tie
President may propose.
But the real issue Is not between the
President and the Generals, Dut between
the President and Congress. He clearl,
seeks to Illustrate the intention of Con