Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Jury i'm surratt,s Case.

NEW YORK, June l2.-The Times Wash
ington special says: 1t has transpired that
OF the present petit jury over two thirds
are like Surratt Catholics. Taking them as
a whole, judging from their appearance
Surratt would fare better by relying upon
their Ignorance and prejudices than upon
the intelligence of another party. selected
from leading citizens by the marshal.
The Attorney Generals Opinion on
the Powers of District COmman-
ders. --.
1t is understood that the Attorney Cen
eral holds that District commanders have
no right to remove civil officers without a
trial by military commission, and then
only when they have been found guilty of
impeding the enforcement of the Recon-
struction act. If this opinion is adopted by
the President Governor Wells and the city
officials of New Orleans and Mobile will be
ordered to be tried. Prominent Southern
ers here entertain a hope that this view of
the matter will be officially promulgated,
but express fear that the President will
do nothing in the premises until after the
time shall have passed for a July session of
Congress.
Letter From General Pope.
General Pope in recent letter to Gen.
Grant, on affairs in Mobile, says from what
he can learn he doubts if the removal of
the Mayor and Chief of Police has been
most satisfactory to the Union men, or to
the respectable rebels in Mobile.
A Tribune Item
The Tribune's Washington special says:
AS long ago as April I'd last, Gen. Sheridan
notified Gen. Grant that he found he would
have to remove Cows. Throckmorton, of
Texas, and Wells, of La, but Gen. Grant
advised him to wait for the Attorney Gen
erals opinion on the power to remove.
Important Cabinet Meeting.
The Worlds Washington special says: {:
The Cabinet to-day had an important ses-
sion on the question of the power claimed
by certain commanders of military dis
tricts in the South to remove State and To-
cal officials. All the members were pres
ent except Browning. 1t was maintained
by all of them, it is believed, but Secretary
Stanton. that the views of the Attorney
General were correct; that no such remov-
ais could be made under the military re-
construction acts until the officials had
been arrested and tried by military COM
mission for hindering the enforcement of
those acts.
1t was further maintained that their of
fees could not be made vacant until the
occupants had been tried on the charges
defined and provided by the law, the same
as against other persons, and that even in
case of conviction and sentence the vacafi-
cies thus created under the State or munic-
ipal Governments could not be filled by
the mere military orders of the General
commanding the district.
1t was held that there was nothing in the
law that could be constructed to the con-
trary. Ifthe power to remove State officers
and to appoint other civilians to take their
places be valid, it was declared that it
would be just as legal for the commanding
officer to supply vacancy on the bench,
caused by the death of Judge holding his
office under State law.
The Presidents Views.
There is no reason to doubt that the
President holds these views, and that he
will reinstate all of those officials who have
not been deposed according to law. This
may not take place for some days, as Gov.
Wells, OF Louisiana, is expected here
shortly.
The Herald's Washington special says
In the case of the outrages alleged to have
been committed by the Tennessee State
Militia, Instructions have been given to
General Thomas, commanding the Depart
ment of the Cumberland, to investigate the
acts of violence said to have been perpe-
trated. General Whipple has already COM
menced the investigation. rr.--- -.ev i
-f .--s Governor Wells. :1s 'rsl
The probability is that Governor Wells
will not be Immediately reinstated,
although there is some reason to believe
that the course of General Sheridan in the
matter Is not approved. ----5 AE SIT
The Jury In Surratt,s Case Dis
-- -..-- charged. s-r7- st-yr-sr
WASHINGTON, June l2.-Judge Fisher de-
liyered an opinion on the motion to quash
the array of panel in the case of Surratt,
concluding with an order to discharge the
present jury and select new one. The
Court then adjourned,