Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-19
Recommendation.


probation of the Reconstruction Acts by
passing another and quite different one.
This was adopted by both Houses late on
Saturday, and by means of the telegraph
we were enabled to lay it before our rea-
ders in Sundays second edition.
The Southern people have long ceased
to wonder at any injustice and tyranny
which is thrown upon them. Under the
convenient cloak of Reconstruction and
guaranteeing to States = republican form
of government. the bitter sectional ami
mosities of the North have been cast upon
the South with destructive fury by men,
for the most part, too timid to vent
their spleen upon the battlefield. Our
people now inquire rather as to the hopes
of the terms being tinality than as to the
peculiar punishments which the fertile
brains of congressman have newly invent
ed. Heartily tired of the miserable foole-
ries of the stupendous scheme for party
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which for two years has
disgraced the country, the wish of the
Southern people is to know when the
lowest depths OF their own humiliation and
their countrys degradation has been
reached. Too weak to resist, without
power to offer objection, already too hum
bled to suffer in self-rcspect, the end will
be welcomed, for it can bring no evils not
anticipated.
Our readers had become somewhat ia
L, a. l.
original act and the one supplementary
thereto, and we must endeavOr to note the
changes which the new act has made in the
former.
The present Illegal State governments
are expressly declared to be subject. IN all
respects, to the military commanders of
the respective districts, and to the para
mount authority of Congress. This of
course gives to the commander the power
of removing from, and appointing to, Of
flee i'll the civil departments, which is sub
sequently conferred in express words, sub
ject to the disapproval of the General of
the Army General GRANT, and also gives
them power to enact and repeal any law
that may seem best, subject to the para
mount authority of Congress only.
The act, then, provides as above stated, for
the removal and appointment of any officer
within the State, and also for the per-
Torrance of their duties, subject to the
disapproYal of the General of the Army.
Giving, in other words, absolute control in
all matters to the Generals of Districts.
The act gives to General GRASr not only
manders, but also the same power of APP
pointment and removal which they possess.
The acts of the officers of the army al
ready done in removing civil officers are
confirmed, and it is made the duty of such
officers to remove from office all persons
they may regard as disloyal to the Govern
ment, or who use their official influence
against the due and proper administration
OF the act.
The Boards of Registration arc given the
power to use their discretion in entering
names upon the register even though the
applicant takes the required oaths.
In regard to those excluded from regis
tration, those formerly disfranchised are,
and judicial offices arc construed to en-
brace all civil offices created by law for the
administration of any general laws of
State or for the administration of Justice
This, we think, will settle adversely the long
mOoted question as to the light of sheriffs,
clerks, constables, city officials, and the
other innumerable officers of county and
jurisdiction, to register and vote.
The time for completing the registration
may he extended to the LIST day of October,
1867, in the discretion of the Commander
of any District, and the Board Of Registrar
ton has power fourteen days before all
elections. to revise for Il period of five days
the registration lists, with power to add to,
and strike from, them such names as they
think should be enfranchised or disfran-
chised. Power is also given to the Com
mander to remove any or all members OF
any Board Of Registration he may desire
and appoint others in their stead.
Not only are the members of the Regis
tratlOn Boards required 10 Take inc teSt-Oltn
as heretofore, but al persons hereafter
elected or appointed to offices i'll the mill
tary districts, arc required to take the same
oath. In other words, us long as the
Southern States remain under military gov
every civil officer, State, county
and municipal, hereafter elected OF appoint
ed, mast take Tie irO1a-clad test oath.
The District Commanders and their sub
ordinates, and the Boards of Registration
and their subordinates are made independ
ent of the President and his Cabinet, and
subject only to the disapproval of General
GRANT and Congress.
Such is the government set up over us
and whether we like it or not, it is none
the less the rule by which we must govern
our action. Will any honest and honor
able Southern man endorse it? Some Will
do so, but Will not their course reflect more
upon themselves than answer the question
affirmatiyely? Strangers in our midst, who
1,ox,o on 4,,rr Of mind houa oh