The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-08


rary government and such laws not 10 o.
by OF the constitution In like manner mere
being longer States In exitcn-e In the conqereu
territory alone power 70 reconstruct
into States for admission 10 the Union, and fo a pur
pose could cut II up IN any manner Una. lsn ~ -
desirable without regard TO former divisions NO ohor
power Congress- mad authority 90 reconsroct Ids
conquered territory TO make aSs Tor is
any exercise Of authority by any other branch
OF Inc government. was usarpaiien OF the functions
and powers OF Congress Vieaed ~ W1 ngnt the
whole work OF recons,ru was simple enough and
n the majority 10 Congress had honestly ana rmy
red this principle In all their egs'ato n there would
have been complication or difficulty about IT, 3
WHAT ras MILITARY RECONSTRUCTION HILL WAS DESIGNED
Your correspondent having Expressed desire 70 learn
the opinon of Old Ihad upon the Military Reconstruc-
,ion b,ll. received the following reply fftr
.sThe Reconstruction bill now In operation was first
brought in after several other propositions had failed
through the bscksIdings OF some Of weak kneet
friends military police bill alone In order that
United States force might into the territory we
had from an Independent bclhgerent 70 preserve
order carry Instructions and protect
tho loyal people and czens OF the United States who
might bs found there But some o. our friends were 20
impatient to get the Southern rebels bsck 70 their
embrace, in th forlorn hope making polic capital
OF them when they returned into the Union, tlal
they lost sight Of the great underlying substance OF the
bill whiio searching about alter tho shadow Of ok
pedency.' ~ a48t W4#lt
now TIE BILL WAS BorCHED
HEvery now and then another OF these de-
moralzed ropublcans would tack some amen DIN mt
conceived by diluted philanthropy, and.cscuaied to
bolcb bill aud destroy its real efficiency. Senator
Sherman with usua meddiesomc folly, put IN sort
OF enabling act which would have LEFT the loyaisss
10 rsm.ia Syas,uped su, when the de-
bauched bill back to the House, Shellabager and
my self took counsel together and got up several
propositions OF amendment lated 10 remedy tho
mischief that had besn DONE Iwoo thcse propositions,
which adopted, eecuaiy headed on tho real evil
com plished this, glad to pass the bill in the
shape il then was for We 81" thai wo had TO take That
no.hinR ~.F t tft lal
the DISCRIMINATION oosGRsss-wIvEs AND woaES
ssIhe is Congress had usual become Thoroughly
dcmoralized. Some members had their wives al
Washington and their women at home and others their
women at Washnet ton and their wives home, and ii
imposso,e keep them together The bill was not
all that wanted but 1t VAS the best We could get and
passed II. At first II was proposed that Congress
should itself name the generals who were TO command
The different military districts into which She con
quered territory divided but the objection as made
that 1t look d like an Interference with the discipline Of
the army Then the commanding general was to make
the salections but some Of our feads sand, On, let
the President do It, It can do no HARM; and 50 We lei 1t
60 at that
CosGRzss THE INTERPRETER OF THE MILITARY BILL
ave collection this, inasrnucb as 1t was
distinctly understood that the generals command in
the military had simply do the work ordered
by Congress, and thai Congress alone, and no other
had the right 70 interpret the Reconsr act
Over and over again Conress had declared that hey
alone had the power TO reconstruct the conquered
territory; that President, aud no judges
courts had any right to Interfere in tue busl-
ness in any shape manner. II had been
hard work TO drive our friends 70 the recognition
territory outside the Union and the constitution TOM
pozipg, time servin, cowardly policy Was desired by
some OF them and with Others Jealousy OF so-caled
leaders INSTRUCTED determined and straig ward
action But we had compelled them pu. themselves
on record on several this important punt
WHAT MILITARY BrL REALLY WAS.
when the bill became law, IT was therefore simply
the instructions Of Congress 10 tive military agents. gen.
erals the army o, the United states who should DO
named bv the President as TO how they were TO 40 on
and do certain work IN tho conquered territory laid
down bv Congress We never thought OF oelcaang tue
r,gbt 10 the President or any other person. Judge At
ornev raj or any ono else to Interpret the law or to
orter the military nraanders what TO do Neither had
the people any right to appeal tho courts
10 test the OF thu law The constr
tuition had nothing to do VITA them nor they with it,
Tnev were outside the pale OF the constitution The
President had NO right To in the execution OF
t,e ay by The mia ry commanders The Attorney Gem
era mai no right TO give any opinion about what Con-
prcas mad done or Was doing Couyrcss had moi asked
him for any opinion rs Esl-2 IN.
-us rS. y ,xrr,prpuxcx On wu sr.xorpv
Evervthiug was going on very we'll until this trick OF
obtaining an opinion from disputatous lawyer throw
tina country again into disorder look upon his action
IN the mater as wholly impernent una thorizsd and
iuofcia being continuation OF the usurpaiion Of TIE
p,e.dsnt when he nnd{rtoox 10 id IN states ont Of
the terr,tnrv e inc soal,ed be-
fore Congress had taken action thereon n I 81.
WHAT HAD STEVENS WOULD DO IN CONGRESS rms EXTRA
fH SESSION. 1T
VEINS al would declare cvery act that had been done by
the President mr. his Cabinet or hs lev nj
tho adournment Congress- in reference TO The ouss
interference with and upou
tina powers and duties Of Congress; ADD would forb
n v nareD nm
orers or that might issue from the ros
dent I wonld 90 further and nasx n sepnr,te
enac,ment In which I would distipctiv on,roerate
who should be registered and who sbould he
dsfrap sbsod IN the copa,Iered territory THAT wopld
serve TO protect tnc military oalc who arc intrustei
,h tse dntv of carrying out Ihs instrncions or Com
gress and leave no doubt as the meaning Of the law
rur txrgAcuMxyr or THE pnes,pESr ~
rbnt might answer we'll enough for the crescent extra
session proy,ded the country in wlnny TO 20 on Tor
some tie time longer with man at tue head OF The
government iur s,ed with the execution OF the laws
who as soon az Congress- has ased acts and brought he
conquered TERRITORY in suhacon 10 tho Union uses all
tie means m It's power to defeat the wei known and a
kpo~ered object and In ention or the avs ard TO null
fy all mat tho legislative arm OF tns government has
done IN the coinry wants such a man at its heal
(which say candid | do not, ano gh have SPOKEN
but nt,le about npsacnmont, then repeat the action
have stated might snce lust the present time But
II na people aaree with me In the desire to put msr n
the Executive posittun who will faithfully SEQ the IN
OF the United Sta es executed at all times aud under an
circums,ances and who will scek usurp the
puwers and obatruci the OF national Cong
IN a we should at once impeach and remove andrew