Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-21
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Herald.
WASHINGTON.

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WASHINGTON, June. II, 1867
Important Meeting of the Cnbinet-The
Power of Military Comma nders to Re
move Civil OHicers-The Alleged Outra-
Ses OF the State Troops in Tennessee.
The Cabinet meeting to-day was protrac-
ted to later hour than usual, and all of
the members were present except Secreta-
ny Browning, who was represented by
Judge Otto, Assistant Secretary of Interior
The questions under consideration were
the opinion of Attorney General Stanbe-
ry on the power of military district COM
manders to remove officers of the civil gov
ernments, the action of Generals Sheridan
and Pope in removing Gov. Wells, of Lou
isiana, and Mayor Withers, of Mobile, and
the petition of the citizens Of Franklin
county, Tennessee, to the President, ask
ing protection from the tyranny of Gov.
Brownlow's militia. Very little informa-
ton can be obtained as to whether the
Cabinet arrived at any definite conclusion
in reference to the case of General Sher-
idan and Governor Wells, but the proba-
bility is that Gov. Wells will not be imme-
diately reinstated, although there is some
reason to believe that the course of Gener-
al Sheridan in the matter is not approved
The view taken of the action of General
Sheridan by the more prominent officers of
the Government, it is stated on good au-
thority, is, that the Reconstruction acts
give no authority to district commanders to
remove civil officers, and that such militia
ry power cannot be exercised except
through martial law; that district comman-
ders were created to preserve peace and
good order in their districts, and to assist
the civil authorities to enforce the laws
In cases where the civil Ulcers fail to do
justice to any matter coming under their
jurisdiction, commanders have the power
of adjusting the matter by military com
mission, but no authority to remove the Of
Tending civil officer. The belief is enter
tanned by many well informed persons here,
that if the opinion of the Attorney General
is adverse to the actions of Generals Sheri-
dan and Pope, in removing civil officers in
their districts, or If either of these COM
manders is relieved, or the deposed officers
reinstated, the effect will be to cause Con
gross to resume their seats in July, at the
call of the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House.
In the case of the outragcs alleged to
have been committed by the Tennessee
State militia, instructions have been given
to General Thomas, commanding the De-
partment of the Cumberland, to investigate
the acts of violence said to have been per-
petrated. On Thursday last General Whip
pie, of Gen. Thomas staff was in Winches-
ter county, Tennessee, engaged in examin-
ing into the murder Of James Brown, of
Franklin county. After concluding his in
vestigation General Whipple will report
the result to the Department commander,
when there can be no doubt whatever that
in case the petitions and affidavits are found
to set forth the facts, summary measures
will be taken to protect peaceable and law
abiding citizens from like persecution in
the future, and that the work of official de-
capitation will go on briskly for time in
Tennessee
The petition of over eight hundred resi-
dents of Franklin county, accompanied by
numerous affidavits, presented to the Pres
ident by Mr.. Jesse Arlidge, few nights
ago, gives an alarming description of affairs
in Tennessee, and information now in pos
session of the government proves beyond
doubt that Tennessee is to-day further
behind in the work of reconstruction than
any other of the Southern States. The
petition of the Tennesseeans concludes as
follows
Your Excollency having been personally
acquainted with us as people, and know
ing how dearly we loved our rights, and
how jealousy we guarded them, can appre-
ciate how exquisitely we feel their loss
But Notwithstanding all this, were content
to bear our wrongs in silence, and we would
not trouble your Excellency now with our
grievances, were it not that the iron heel
OF despotism upon our necks may no Ion
ger be borne. All that is left us is our lives
and little property, and although our his
tory since the war is without reproach, as
we have shown your Excellency, yet our
rulers, affecting to question our loyalty,
have organized band of reckless, disso- |
lutte and irresponsible men, and turned |
them loose to do their will upon u.s. We |
submitted to their humiiating threaten |
ings, being determined to do no act that |
would afford them pretext to wreak their |
malice upon us. The officer in charge, in |
public order addressed to our people, an |
nounced in most offensive manner that |
he had come among us for the purpose of |
enforcing and bringing criminals to JUS |
tlce, and at that time we had but one more at
large under Indictment for murder, and he |
had been absconding and concealing him |
self for two years to escape arrest, upon an |
Indictment for murder perpetrated in 1860, |
and also for second murder perpetrated |
in 1864, while he belonged to the rebel ar
my. Notwithstanding these facts, and on
the face of his published order, the officer |
In charge received the murderer into his |
command, and he is now going publicly |
around, to the terror of the people. We
have been informed and believe that the
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