The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-19
SECOND EDITION
FROM WASHINGTON THIS AFTERNOON.

ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO EVENING TELEGRAPH. !
WASHINGTON, March 10.
Reconstruction Law In the CnrOIinas.
The War Department has received from the
Department of the South, headquarters at
Charleston, S. c., General Order No. o. dated
March l3, 1867, issued by Brevet Maior-G Gene
raj J. c. Robinson. The order is as follows:-
An official copy Of the law entitled IAN act to
provide for the more efficient government of
the Rebel States" having been received at these
headquarters 1t Is hereby announced for the
that the said law Is in force within the military
district composed of North Carolina and South
Carolina from this date.
President JOhnsOn's Views OF Military
Republics.
In an interview with President Johnson last
Saturday, the subject of reconstructng the
Southern States under the new Military Gov
ernor bill came up, and his opinion being
asked on the subject, he shook his head
gravely, and remarked that the holding of
elections under military control was in con-
iict with the spirit of republican Institutions
Then rising and retiring into an adjoining
room, he returned with a book in his hand,
and read the following extract from an address
of Daniel Webster to the citizens of Massa-
chusetts, on the occasion of the completion of
the Bunker Hill Monument, ON the 18th of
June, 1S43:-
They are yet on their trial, and 1 hope for a
favorable result; but truth-sacred truth-and
fidelity to the cause of civil liberty compel me
to say that hitherto they have discovered quite
too much of the spirit of that monarchy from
which they separated themselves. Quite too
frequent resort is made to military force, and
quite TOO much of the substance of the people
is consumed in maintaining armies, not for
defense against foreign aggression, but for en-
forcing obedience to domestic authority. Stand
ing armies are the oppressive instruments Tor
governing the people In the hands of
hereditary and arbitrary monarchs. A
military republic, government founded
on mock elections, and supported only
by the sword is a movement indeed,
but a retrograde and disastrous movement,
from the regular and old-fashioned monarchial
system. If men would enjoy the blessings Of
republican government, they must govern
consultation, by sense and feeling of general
interest, and by the acquiescence of the mino-
rity in the will of the majority properly ex-
pressed, and, above all, the military must be
kept, according to the language of our bill of
rights in strict subordination to the civil autho-
rity. Wherever this lesson is not both learned
and practised there can be nc political freedom.
Absurd, preposterous is it, a scof and satire
on free forms of government to be prescribed
by military leaders, and the right OF suffrage to
be exercised at the point OF the sword.
His (the President's) own feelings, he said,
agreed with Mr.. Webster on that subject.
Personal.
Mr.. George Kelly, Deputy and Acting Col
lector of Internal Revenue in the First District
of Pennsylvania, is now in town, and it is un-
derstood that he comes here with the deter
mination of being relieved from the position
which he at present fills.