Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-26
The Presidents Message.

Inc message OF the IroSluenI, presenting
| his objections to the recent act of Congress.
in reference to the Southern States. The
calm, dispassionate tone of this Message
cannot fail to create q profound impression
upon every citizen. The unconstitutlon-
atty of the measure, and the assumption
of authority on the part of Congress ID Its
passage its injustice ; the evil with which
| it will be attended, and which will result
from bestowing such unlimited authority
upon irresponsible agents, are all shown
and most impressively presented.
The position in which the President is
himself placed by this wild and frenzied
measure of dominant party, thus taking
advantage of temporary majority IN Con-
gress, presents subject for weighty con-
sideration. His oath to support and de-
fend the Constitution must be violated If
he attempts the execution of this measure,
and true cause will then be shown for i'm
parchment.
From an article in the National Intelligent
Ger, of the Goth inst, regarding this Mes
sage, we extract the following, which IS
just comment upon the measure which the
Executive, by his veto, has endeavored to
make void, and which for unconstltutlon-
ality and total disregard of the rights
of citizens, excels all that have heretofore
emanated from any Congress of the United
States.
The InteligenCeT says
ssThe inconsistency Of Congressional action IN
regard to the States lately in rebellion is forclbly
illustrated. The unconstitutionality OF the act
under consideration is plainly and unequiVocally
shown, that it is incredible how any set of men
can be so much carried away by partisan mad
ness as TO insist on the adoption OF measure
that subverts the whole system OF republican gov
ernment, and disregards every obligation i'm
posed by the Constitution, from which alone
Congress itself derives all the power it exer-
else.
"The passage of this bin by Congress is the in
auguration Of revolution most fearful in its con-
sequences. 1t is nullidcation of the Constitu-
ton by men who have taken an oath to support
and obey it's obligations. 1t is an absolute abro-
cation of all popular rights, of all civil liberty IN
ten of the States of the Union. 1t ehectually
wipes these States out of existence 1t substitutes
military despotism for governments erected by
the people. 1t practically annuls the three great
departments of the Goyernment-leSislative, ex-
ecutive and iudicial-and cOnfers all their powers
upon irresponsible agents, who are set up petty
espots il the several military districts into which
the South is divided.
"The passage of this bill is attempt on the
part of temporary majority in Congress to exer
else power which that body does not possess. It
is an act of treason of the most fragrant charac
ter Its unconsttutionality is 80 glaringly patent
that it cannot be regarded treated as a law By
any officer of the Government who has taken an
official oath to support and obey the Constitution,
much less by one who has sworn to protect de-
fend and preserve it to the best OF his ability
Obedience to this measure, law, involves dis
obedience to the Constitution anu al the laws.
It is an act of open rebellion, ineXcusable and
uniustiiable as that OF Jefferson Davis and his
associates in attempting to set un an independent
Government in the South.
s'The people OF the country can regard this act
of Congress in nc other light than this. Without
reference to the individual who at present occu-
pies the Executive Office, the fact must be appa-
rent to every candid reader, that this action OF
Congress is aD outrage upon the Constitution,
sentially revolutionary, subversive, and fatally
dangerous to the liberties Of the people,
Appointment OF Registers for the Second
Military Disfrict-GeneraI Order Nc. so.
Through the courtesy of Col. FRANK,
Commandment of this Post, we have before
us General Order No. Co. from Headquar-
tiers Second Military District, in which
General SICKnEs announces the appoint
ment of Registers for the several counties
and districts. We append the order, to-
gether with the appointments for North
Carolina. For tins county it will be seen
that nine Registers are appointed Four
Of these are natives, three who have since
the war taken up their abode in this place,
and two colored men of the class designa-
ted by Congress as freedmen.
The assignment from the number of APP
pointees from each county, to the different
precincts: will be made by the Command
ant of the several posts. Those for Will
mington will hereafter be made KNOWN
The record OF most of these men assigned
to this county is known to many of our cit
mend them favorably to our confidence.
The following Is the order:
HEADQUARTERS SECOND MILITARY DISTRICT,
CHARLESTON, s. c., July 10, 1867
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 60.
The following appointments of Registers are an
nounced. The persons named will be assigned to
duty by Post Commanders as members of Boards
of Registration for the several Registration Pre-
cincts they may establish within their commands.
Commanding Officers of Posts will fill vacancies
and report their action to these Headquarters for
confirmation.
Two Boards of Registration will be organized
for each County in North Carolina having more
than six election precincts, except the Counties of
Beaufort, Cumberlend, Craven, Edgecombe. Gran
vile, Halifax, New Hanover, Wake, Davie and
Wilson, which shall have the Boards provided for
III this order.
Three Boards of Registration will be organized
for each Districi ia South Carolina, except the
Districts of Barnwell, Berkeley, Orangeburg, Lex
ington Beaufort, Greenviile, Chester, Coileton
and the city of Charleston, which shall have the
Boards provided for in this order.
Registers will be required to take the oath pre-
seribed by the Act of Congress approved I'd July,