The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-03-06
The Military Bill.--Couments of the
PreSe.


Houses Of Congress for the establishment
of military despotism over the southern
States "and for other purposes" Published
elsewhere in this paper, is now n measure
of absorbing public interest, the subjoined
comments Of the Press, North and South,
showing how the Bill is construed, its
results and effects, will be read with more
than ordinary interest.
The New York Express is strong in its
denunciations OF tho infamous provisions
of the bill, and sums up the substantial
features of the measure as follows:
Element. l. The destruction Of State
Governments, the State Judiciary, and
State laws OF all kinds.
2. The substitution in lieu thereof of i've
brigadier generals, men Of epaulettes,
"men on horseback
8. The abrogalion Of every principle Of
British liberty, rs laid down in Blackstone.
or won at Runnymehe, rs extorted hv the
barons from King John-as fought for by
the Puritaus even, under 'CrAmw well-as
died for by l1ampden and other British
patriots-as guaranteed in the revolution
Of our British fathers, that took q prince
from Holland and put him on the British
throne, and "a soIemnlv set forth in our
DeclIration OF Independence and in the
Constitution Of the United States, viz ::
the principles Of magma char,a, the rgh,
Of petition, the bill Of rights, g..
a. The President Of the United States
(sec 81 is clothel with absolute power
over the lives Of 100000 of human
beings, without judge or jury-for he
creates the five governing brigader gen
erals, and their military commissions.
The Richmond Times says the "Recon'
Structiom bill" as framed ,0jM such ingeni,
Gus matignancy, that achether zoe adopt
the constitutional amendment or prefer to
continue IN our rorescnt unrepreScnted con
dition, are cannot dUoi negro Suffrage.
The "provisional governments" as the
present State governments are called, can
not be continued unless we throw open
the ballot box to every male negro who is
over the age Of twenty one. No elections
can be held unless the negro is given all
the political privileges Of the white man.
Nothing can be clearer than tina. this is
the intention of the bin.
The sixth Section Of the bill provides
that until the people Of the said rebel
States shall be, by law, admitted to re'
presentation in the Congress Of the United
States, any civil government that may ex'
Is. therein shall be deemed provisional
only, and in all respects subject to the
paramount authority of the United States,
at any time to abolish, modify, control or
supersede the same and an all elections
to any office under such provisional gov.
ernments, all persons shall be entitled to
pote under the. Jffth section Of This act
And no person shall be eligible to any
office under such provisional government
who would be disfranchised from holding
office under the provisions of the third
article Of said constitutional amend
ment."
The fifth section Of the above act ex
tends the right Of suffrage to "thc male
citizens of said State, twenty one gears
old and upwatd, ofuOhateUer race, color,
or previous condition, aCho hare been re
sident. in said State for one gear pro
Sious 10 the d9y Of such election, except
such as may be decentralization 1arti.
cipation an the rebellion, or for felony at
common laV"
Whether, therefore, we adopt the "con
stitutional amendment" with negro suf.
frage, and Congressional representation
"annexed," or prefer to continue as we
are, we cannot, il Shernan's bill becomes.
a law, avoid almost immediate negro
equality at the ballot box.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL DO
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Tribune says:
A protracled session Of the Cabinet was
held to day 10 consider the Military Re-
construction bill. The President would
sign the bill but for the first section, which
provides for dividing the ten States into
FIVE military districts. The other features
Of the measure are not so objection able
although he much preferred the simple
Blaine amendment. II is understood that
the Cabinet take nearly the same view.
The most earnest supporters Of the Re
construction bill, now in the hands Of the
president affirm that aIthough he will
veto the bill, he will on Monday or Tues
day return it TO the House Of Representa-
tives, in which it originated, thus afford
ing an opportunity for Congress to take
action upon the measure.
WHO ARE DISQUALIFIED
The Richmond Wing says: "Ths act
excludes no one froru serving as a mem