Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-06-20
NUMBER 25.
THE PROGRAMME.
How johnson once more Hopes to SWIM
e t~ts die the country. s

| Fl tea.tt 0le tne country. 7.1..
| We have no doubt of tho correctness in
all respects of the following special telegram
from Washington to the Philadelphia Press !.
WAsHiNesoN, June IA, 1867.
| learn from an authoritative source that
the President meditates a practical nullifca-
ton of the military reconstruction laws In
this he is Sustained by a majority of his Cabi-
net, only one member (Secretary Stanton)
dissenting. The first opinion concerning
registration, given by Attorney General
| Stanbery, was but the initiative of tlHs move
| ment upon the part of the Administration.
IThe forthcoming opinion of Mr.. Johnson's
law officer with regard to the powers of the
| military commanders will complete the pro-
grammc. iIisN
| He is proceeding with this nefarious work
with more deliberation and greater cunning
than he has exhibited in any of his attempts
| to defeat a restoration of the Union on the
stated that the opinion of the Attorney Gen.
is not near completion, and that it will not
| be laid before the country for some time.
This is given out for the purpose of mislead-
ing the people, and in order to enable the
AttorneyGe to withhold his opinion
until after the time has passed for the July
session of Congress. II is nearly ready now,
and has been consi lered in Cabinet meeting
to-day and on Tuesday last. The President
does not, wish u. alarm the country, nor to
give the members of Congress any occasion
to meet here in July. This, he apprehends,
would defeat his scheme. The Attorney
General interprets the reconstruction law to
mean that the military commanders have no
power to remove civil officers in the late
rebel States, not even a policeman, much
less q Governor. hn4 Ia - a45s
/. Acting under this advice of his legal coun-
sellor, the President proposes to restore all
the civil officers who have been removed by
Sheridan and the other military comman-
ders. He does not intend to remove Sheri-
dan or any other officer, but, if they do not
like the new programme theywill be at liberty
to resign Nothing stands between the Prt
sidept and a consumAati0n of his plan bri
a July session of Congress. This he hop,
to avoid, first, by Withholding the opinio.
of the Attorney General until after the first
Wednesday in July; and second, by holding
out the idea that he will call an extra session
of Congress in August as despatch coming
directly from the White House and inspired
by the President, to this effect, was publish
ed in some of the New York and Philadel-
phia papers to-day, would indicate. Mr..
johnson has no intention of calling Con-
gress together, and this is a mere ruse to
keep them.from holding a session in July
If they do not meet on the first We s.
day Of that month they stand adjo, ed,
according to the law passed by both houses
previous to the recess, until December.
During the intervening months he will
carry out the reconstruction laws accorili'
to his own construction Of them, and ,..,s.er
| the Interpretation given them by the Attor-
ney General Such is the political situation
as have gathered it from those who have
ample means of knowing what is going on
| in the inner circles of the Administration.
| In view of these facts, it is considered by
| leading Republicans here that session OF
Congress in July is inevitable.