Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-04-16
The OPPOSITION TO THE RECONSTRUC-
TION RII.L.


The Suoreme Court of the United States has
refused TO entertain the Mississippi injunc-
ton bill, against the President of the United
States in regard to the execution OF the sup
Elementary reconstruction bill, and thus the
FIRST step OF opposition TO the action Of Con-
gress proves to be a f0UJ pas. An application
to file a new bill, VIII ich will not attempt to
enjoin the President Will now have to be
made There is a rule OF the Court that "pro-
cess issued out OF this Court IN any suit in
equity shall be served on the defendant sixty
days before the return Of such process;" and
as the Court adjOurns in May, definite action
on the Georgia bill, and on an amended Mis-
sissippi bill, II filed, will necessarily have TO
be deferred until the next regular term of the
Court IN December next. So the rule is inter
preted by competent legal authority.
Itwould be much better for the South if the
leaders in this opposition 20 the law would
let the matter rest here. While they have an
unquestiOned night to apply to the Court 10 test
the constitutionahty OF the law they should
consider well, whether any good to the peopls
as likely 10 result from the application and
whether il would not be for the best interests
Of the South that the work OF reconstruction
under the law, should proceed without i'm
pediment Because they doubt the constitu
tionality of a law enacted by Congress, they
and continue the evils which afflict their fel
low-citizens. Would not true patriotism sac-
rifce its opinions on the altar OF the puplic
good? The Southern people should be de
luded no longer. There is but one course for
them to pursue, and that is TO organize at
once, under the acts OF Congress. MANY of
them see and realize the necessity tor such
a course, and are working in good faith
with q view 10 speedy organization, bu,
their laoors are constantly impeded by the
same class of politicians who have ALWAYS
stood in the way of every movement calcu-
lated 70 advance the future interests of their
section They seem 10 have learned nothing.
and hang on TO their obsolete distractions with
tenaclfy OF purpose which would be ludie-
rons only, If it was not SO mischievous in its
effects Lit seems strange that leaders who
have brought their followers TO ruin should
still be adhered to, or have any influence In
the community, but 1t is one of the idiosyncra-
cies of Southern character
Ii is all very well 10 pirate about standing 10
principle and yielding nothing 10 policy, but
something may be said on the other side of the
question For instance, Hon. Reyerdy John
son, who Is true friend Of the South being
willing TO surrender his private opinions
for the public good, in a letter to geptle
man in Georgia states that he voted in favor OF
the Military Reconstruction bill "not because
approved of it, but because i knew that If
defeated, or not carried out by the South, 9th /.
er measures, ruinous TO them in every way
would follow" His advice is .sthat the prom
er course to be pursued by the people of the
late rebellious States, lis TO organize, undo
the act at Ice, and in good faith" II has also
been stated that Mr.. johnson was asked TO be-
come counsel In the Georgia injunction case
against the Reconstruction bill, but he de-
clinsd. as he desired to aid the South, and was
of the opinion that the proceedings in the SUI
Prems Court would end in injury to that sec
ton, rather than good. The same views that
caused him to pursue the course taken by him
in the Senate on the reconstruction question
compelled him to keep him aloof from all pro-
cesdings in opposition to the measures deter
mined upon by Congress, and be regrets their
appearance in the courts.