The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-12

unconstitutional and invalid. His so-called
State Governments are in the eye of the law no
Governments at oil. They are mere Executive
creations, which are exercising usurped au-
thority. They must be replaced by some
thing which has validity, something which
springs not from revolution but from ldC.
How vain for the President to pretend
to legality or regularity for these creations
of his, which are the mere product OF
revolutionl Show us any Ldw for the exist
ence of the present State Government in
North Carolina. 1t did not grow out of the
old State Government of North Carolina by
legal and constitutional succession, for under
that old Government, Vance is to-day the
rightful Governor OF the State, and Worth is
a usurper. 1t did not grow out Of any law
of Congress, for Congress has passed no law
for the creation of a State Government in
North Carolina. 1t exists, therefore, without
law. in defiance of law, and purely as the fruit
of violence and usurpation.
Upon either theory, therefore -conserva-
tive or radical-the socalled State Govern
ments created by Executive usurpation in the
late Rebel States are illegal According TO
the conservative theory, the old Rebel State
Governments are still the rightful and con-
stitutional Governments of those States; ac-
cording to the radical theory, there are no
valid Governments there, and it is the duty
of Congress to provide for their erection.
Some Suggestions 10 the Naval Committee.
Hon. A. ii. RICE, Hon. Augustus Brandagee,
and Hon. w. A. Darling constitute sub
Committee to investigate the security of
League Island as a naval station. These
gentlemen have commenced their services
in our city, and as two at least are known
opponents OF the site, it might be we'll tor the
cause of Justice that the questions asked of
the officers examined should not be all lead
ing questions in opposition to the naval depot.
From the evidence at our command, we
would venture to recommend the following
interrogator,es, as calculated TO throw light
on the subject of the burning of the New
Ironsides =
Were proper, or the usual, precautions
against fire observed at League IslandP
Were there any means OF extingushing
fire?
How many watchmen were on duty at the
time the fire was discovered?
Were there any military guards on the
island, or the ships OF the fleet?
Is there one at the naval magazinep
If any are there, is the force sufficient?
We understand that there were thirty-One
ships in ordinary at League Island, valued
at about sixteen millions of dollars. The five
ships in the Delaware-New Ironsides, Die
tator, Atlanta, st. Louis, and Clematis-
valued at three millions, had only one aOGtch-
man awake and on duty at the time of the
fire. The entire force was regarded by
naval authorities as utterly insufficient; yet
an order had been received from Washington
to reduce it still further, only two days be-
lore the fire. When the command had been
obeyed, there was left but six watchmen to
guard three millions worth of property. The
causes which led to this reduction were not
only those Of public economy, but the assu
rance felt a. the department that the location
was perfectly secure.
The watchmen employed, such as they
were, were nothing but civilians, and any
dereliction in duty was punishable merely by
dismissal. Under such circumstances there
can be no surprise that the vessel was de
stroyed. What is needed is heavy marine
guard, who are answerable for the proper per-
formance of duty with their lives. if sucl
had been detailed at the island, the los
would have been prevented. We ask the
Committee to so far do away with their pre-
! ,udices as tO consider the facts and bV thei
report show that even partisans can be dis
interested, or at least just.