Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-09


third sect,on authorized the Board OF Regis.
ters, composed 81 white, black, blue and gel
low, to disregard the oAths OF votes, and to re-
g
or aey other aathority. The fUurth section
struck az the very Governmsnto OF tue United
Slates in depriving of alfjurisdiction against
district commanders or. officers acting under
their authortyt not only the courts OF the
State, but the Courts OF the Untted States. He
knew not what the President OF the United
States would do; but he knew what be him
self would do Before sending this bill back
to Congress he would send sheridan to Mass
achGsetfs and Maine, and would send Sickies
to Walrussia 10 teach the Esquimaux. But
they threatened to imuea CHI the Peesdeut, and
10 put in his place the agrarian President Of
the Senate. Let them do so. II be were
President .fohnsan he would never allow
Congress to enforce upon him law entirely
subvrrsiye OF the constitution OF the Unitsd
States.
Mr. Garfield sought to interrupt Mr.. Brooks
the gentleman from New York had. in the out.
set OF his remarks, intimated his desire not to
be interrupted.
Mr.. Brooks continued HE argument against
the bill If there was anything that grieved
him more than any hing else in these late
times, It was the assent OF lawyers on the other
eide 10 have the bill OF rights and Magma
Charta overthrow. The semi barbarous ba-
rons, who Tres'ed magma charta from King
John, had stipulated In 1915 that no freeman
should be deprived of life. liberty or property
IL u0, GOO OF people were deprived of all right
of tria! by their peers, and were blected to the
mere will or caprice of five military despOts.
He quoted from the declarations of rights OF
Massachusetts, Vermont. and ether States to
show tnat the people OF the North were once
jealous OF their rights and liberties. The gen.
tle,nan from Pe nnsylvania Mr. Stevansl had
at first proposed only confiscation in the
South. but this bill placed not only the prop
erty, but the lives, liberties, and personal
rights Of twelve million OF people in the power
nf az hn n in ho fao
ard eyes of all written history, and in utter
violation OF every natural and national law;
and its supporters would live. many nj them,
to deplore that they had ever given il sanction
or support. Even the Tartars, when they con.
qutred China, did not destroy the institutio
of China, but assImulated them TO their own.
There was no par alei IN history for this act,
except in the lnhuman conduct OF the Duke
OF Ava. This law was not as respectabie as
the rule OF The Gar or the Emperor of Austrin:
for when the HuHgarians were subingated
taelr civil rights were respected. The least
teihgent of all the races OF this continent had
been selected to 20 into partnership with the
white race in the government OF this country.
The Haytian and the Liberian were wiser than
the supporters OF this bill, for no white man
was allowed 10 hold real estate or to take any
part in the government there, All history
showed that such experiments as this OF COM
mingling races were disastrous In conclu-
sion he declared that this was the proudast
hour in his public life, when he could make
his remonstrance against the outrags ous and,
bill. i
Mr Garfield. referring TO MIR. Brooks alIu-
sion 10 the agrariansm OF Senator Wade re-
minded him and the House that that Sanetcr
had disclalmed the statements imp ,sed tn him
Mr. Wood then took the floor in opposition
TO the bill. He reviewed the history of the re-
construction meas res, and Of the action of the
Presden b, expressing some doubt as 70 the
Constitutional power OF the President To do
what ne had done in establishing pro yIsonaI
governments in the Southern States at the
n u IN tel a inn fhoD roe,
simply made an effort 10 give 10 those States
governments consonant with the Constitution
and to carry onI practically the intention OF
Congress so far as IL was then understood. Con-
gress had waited for TWO years before il had
passed any law on the subject Of reconsrruc-
ton, and the question then was, since the pas-
sage OF the military act Of last session, as to
what lis proper construction was. The Mill.
tary Commanders created by the law differed
among themselves as to its construction, and
General Schofield had come from his district
10 asiingfOn TO consult President Johnson
a TO wha Ms duties were under the law
General Jackson would have given to those
Ill iitary Commanders his own view Of the
law, and would have required them to carry
1t cut, but President johnson did no such thing,
He called upon the law officer of the Govern
mert, consulted him, submitted the law TO
him, and transmitted TO the district command.
ers the opinion which the law officer had
given. WHAT was wrong in that And vet
they were told that this session was called by
Attorney General Stanbery. 'sand disre-
been
aimed AT the Attorney General by the gentle
man from Ohio, Mr.. Schelck> He argued
against the Constltutonality OF the law in
general and in detail. When State officer
were removed. as provided in the SECOND sec
tlon. and others appointed in their places by
the military commanders, they then became
Federal oficers-and the Constitution placed
in the President alone the appointment of
Federal officers. So was this section uncon-
stitutional. General Sicsles, acting as an i'm
perial despot. required the sum of half mil
lion OF dollars 10 carry on, the registration
programme in the act, and demanded also
that the navy OF The United States shall be
subject TO hi orders. Powers over life, liberty
properly, marriage contracts and social rea.
ticG> were reposed IN the imperial despot. Ma
lof Gen. ban Sickies. Was that so designed,
II SO, he wanted it plainly stated in this bill
He did not want to have ano her constructive
act made necessary. As to the III rd section
regulating registration. he did not SEQ wby
such round. about means should be rssorted
to. Why not simply appoint q select commit
tee TO say VINO should be members OF Con-
eress. Tha. would be shorter and
simpler way, and Just as fair towards
the people OF those Siaies as that provided in
the section. The fourth section placed the
district commanders aud all their u bordlnatas
above the law. No matter what crimes thew
might commit-mur der, robbery. rape-the
foilr section declared that no civil court of
the United States, or of any State, should
have any Jurisdiction over them Was
that To be defended! As to the tfth
SECTION, shich provides that no dis
the command assigned 10 him unless the Sen
ATE shall have first consented and ADVISED
thereto. He argued that none Of those officers
I % mater what crime they committed, could
be removed BY the President They were re-
sponsIble only 10 Congress, and Congress was
10 adjourn III a few days. not TO meet again
be hoped. till December
Dir Stevens (Pa.) intimated his intention 10
move now the previous question, first nodi
Tying The fifth section by striking ont the
Worcs '-or uhiess ne shall consent to be re-
liey-d,'' and inserting instead OF them the
words 'or IN arrest Tor an offence pupis liable
by dismissal from the army. or disc ualiyed nv
sickness from the performance Of his duty
Several amendments were proposed by
Nessrs. Schanck, Baker. Batter, Coburn, and
Garfield: but Mr.. Stevens declined 10 hermit
any OF them 10 be offered.
The Hsuse seconded the previous question-
50 10 is-and Mr. Stevens heing en- titled 10 one
hour 10 close the debate, yielded twenty min
ntes 10 Mr.. Bingham who addressed the
HoUss IN support OF she bill.
nC@AN ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE