The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-16
THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY RECON
STRUCTIO- ACT.

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY RECON
sTRUCTIO- ACT.
On Saturday, the 18th, a bill was passed by
both Houses of Congress, which was printed in
full in our telegraphic columns yesterday. Our
readers will remember that Mr.. STEVENS, in
the first days of the present session, proposed
a bill in the House, and Mr.. TRUMBULL one in
the Senate, to further define the Reconstruc-
ton Acts of March and March %, 1867. The
bill, as finally passed, embodies the principal
features of both, but, in the main, is the same
as that proposed by Mr. STEVENS.
When we say that but for the surprising
"Opinions" of the Attorney-General, in re-
gard to the meaning of the Reconstruction Acts
of March last, and the published concurrence
of the President in these Opinions, Congress
would not have assembled in July, and the peo-
pie of the South would not have been burdened
with the further increase of disabilities con-
tanned in this Active ure stating no more than
must be unhesitatingly acknowledged by both
the friends and the foes of the President. We
cannot question the motive that prompted the
interference of the Executive. 1t was, doubt
less, kind and meant to protect the interests of
the people of the South, to the extent of his
power. But, whatever the motive, we are ut
terly at loss to account for SO grave an error
Of Judgment in an official holding the exalted
position of Mr.. JOHNSON, and surrounded, as
we had right to expect by wise and judi
cious counsellors. The result was inevitable,
and 70 eseen by every one save Mr.. JOHNSON,
and part Of his Cabinet. We so expressed
ourselves ut the time these "Opinions" wore
published. If the President still doubted the
supremacy of Congress in the Government Of
the United States, after the two Acts had been
promptly passed over his veto, and after he had
tacitly accepted their legality, and after the
Supreme Court had refused to take cognizance
ofoomplaints brought against them by two of the
Southern States, he exhibited what we may
consider either q great obtuseness in compre-
uendine his position, or else o strange tenacity
of purpose in wrong direction: wrong, GER
tsinly, if his object was, as we have every rea-
son to believe, to befriend and protect the
South. The second Act contained more penal
disabilities than the FIRST; and this second sup
Elementary bill, passed on Saturday, takes
from the President and the Courts every ves-
tige Of power 70 interfere in the execution of
these laws.
In this connection, we may moreover state
that nothing could have been more illogical
than the conduct of the President through the
entire history of this legislation. Nothing
that has been done by any Of the District Com
manders, under the Acts Of March last, and
nothing that has since been engrafted upon
these Acts by Congress, oversteps the power
granted by the original Act, as set forth
lengthily and lucidly in the veto message Of the
President to that Act. Congress, if it can lay no
claim to moderation or clemency, has at least
been consistent, virtue that we have been
unable TO discover in the action of the Presi-
dent.
Well may the Southern people exclaim,
"Save me from my friends" The uncompro-
missing opposition to the first Bill, on the part
Of "our friends" it is we'll known, resulted in
some Of its most odious features
upon that Act. The people of the South GER
tainly could not be otherwise than grieved at
what seemed to them harsh measures of recon-
struction. Still they acquiesced in them, and
we're progressing steadily and peaceably under
heir operation, when, ut an evil hour, without
fault Of ours, our friends interfered to our
1etriment.
After all, however, there is no material diff
ference between the original Act, as interpreted
in the Presidents veto to it, and the first and
second Supplementary Bills; and it will, there
fore, make no practical difference to us. The
Bill it is true, has not yet the force of law. 1t
must first 60 through the form of being re-
turned by the President, with his COLLECTIONS"
and next passed by two-thirds vote of both
Houses of Congress, "the Presidents opinion
to the contrary Notwithstanding" But all this
is matter of few days only. No one can
doubt the result
We will now examine the Bill just passed,
and note its leading points.
Ep1ToMB OF THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY BILL.
Section l. Reafirms that there are no legal
State Governments in the ten rebel States.
q Empowers the District Commanders dis
tinotly to suspend or remove from Office, when
ever they deem it necessary, any officer hold
ing any civil or military Office, under any
power, derived from any so-called State, or any
or other division thereof. He shall
have power, upon such removal, to fill the va
cancy by the detail of some competent officer
or soldier of the army, or by the appointment
of some other person. These powers are sub
ject to revision by the General commanding the
armies of the United States.
3. The General of the armies of the United
States shall be invested with all the powers of
removal appointment, and detail
granted in the preceding section to District
Commanders.
4. All acts of the officers of the army already
done in removing officers in the said districts,
Is now provided for in section g is hereby con-
6rmed; and it shall be the duty of the Com
manders of Districts to remove from Office all
persons who are disloyal to the Government of
the United States, or who use their official in
auence in any manner to hinder the due admin
stration of these acts.
s. The Boards of Registration shall have
supreme power to decide on the qualifications
for registration. They may refuse registration,
or strike name from the list after it has been
registered, required only to enter the grounds
of such refusal, or such striking from the book