Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-20
Union aud 9ispatM.
THURSDAY. JUNE 20, 1867
Largest Circulation in City and State.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SA.
..e.l. TRAPH. Z
what II 20 be Dose and IL Being Done
O1 Both SIdes-The Presfdenf. the
Cabinet, and Thad. stevens.

whom deyolyes the primary duty of exc
cutting the law The executive action is
thus foreshadowed by the National Ente'li-
gsncer, Of the 18th:
"We have satisfactory authority for
saying that there is no foundation for the
industrious representations multiplied all
over the country to the effect that because
the President has been officially advised,
and having with his Cabinet approved the
advice, of the invalidity Of the removals
and appointment Of civil officers by the
usurping cOmmandants at the South, he Is,
therefore, about TO rush precipitately to a
complete notification Of all that has been
done by these Generals, without discrimina-
ton and irrespective Of expediency. These
statements are altogether groundless, aud
calculated TO excite and infame in advance
the disapprobatiUn of all who think they
realize that some progress, however little,
has been made toward a restoration of the
South, and who would regret to see
this progressive movement thrust back 10
its starting point Even in such flagrant
examples Of usurpation as those of Sheri-
dan ia the case of the Governor and Judges
at New Orleans, now that the wrong is to
be redressed not GueRged, the question is
viewed az one Of rational expediency, to
be governed by the circumstances, as they
are now, and not as they were when the
outrage was committed. We learn that in
vestigations are 10 be made, reports are to
be had, and the whole matter deliberated
upon as practical question in every one
Of these cases Of infraction of the laws Of
Congress and the principles Of the constitu-
ton. In word, the President will act
efficiently, but he will act remedially, not
vindictiyely."
On the day Of this publication, the tele-
graphic correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enquirer, gives the following in reference
to the position of the Cabinet, and the
mind Of the Generals on the subject:
WASHINGTON, June Il, l867.-An ex-
ira session of the Cabinet was convened to-
day at eleven o'clock A. NJ, and continued
till half past two P. NJ, to consider what
course should be taken upon the acts of
Southern commanders in the removal Of
State officers, etc, applying the legal opin-
ion and construction of the Attorney Gen
eral 10 these States.
II - AilutIbiOOu ltldl the L Ic0iutuL anu
Cabinet have clearly decided upon revok-
ing the military orders especially referred
TO in the Attorney Generals opinion, and
it is probable that such revocation will
take place within a few days. Much of
this will necessarily be done by correspond
ence with the military commanders, all Of
whom have asked iAsa7Ietisas upOu their
acts, or submitted reports to them for APP
proval or disapproval by the Executive.
The Generals in command have asked
Sheridan 20 concede the authority of the
President to supervise their action and re-
cognize his power, and under this superyi-
sorry discretion to revoke their orders and
hence, SOME of them asked instructions, in
order that uniformity of action and ruling
upon the law may be obtained throughout
the ten districts"
Seeing the course Of events likely to en-
sue upon the unauthorized usurpations OF
the military commanders, Thad Stevens
invokes Congress, in the following letter to
the Washington Chronicle:
LANCASTER, PA, June l3, lSG7.-TC
| THE EDITOR OF THE CHRONICLE: | think
it is proper TO suggest the propriety OF
having a quorum in Congress on the lst
| proximo. The opinions Of the Attorney
| General seem 10 require some explanatory
or supplemental acts. | need not point out
| the errors in favor Of the Rebels, "a they
are. many of them, easily seen. For in
| stance, il is provided that 10 entitle to be
| registered requires one years residence in
| the State. Every man can see that this
means continuous residence Immediately
| before the election. The Attorney General
holds that the party may take nine month.
when he was boy and three months now
Andrew johnson, 10y going month before
the election 10 North Carolina, where ht
lived thirty years ago, could vote Sc
! with regard to clerks, military and civil
officers, and the holding of Confederate of
fees while in rebellion But | will no
take time to critcise now. A mistake NOR,
| Objectionable than either. is the fact o
usurpation by the Attorney General in act
ing at all in the question, and treating
his directions as binding officially. Tn,
Attorney General has no more right TO in
terfere than the President had to reconstruct
which pretension Congress has settled
Since it has been adiudged that the con
| quered States are 10 be treated As subdue,
territory, and rebuilt without reference Il
their former condition, by the legislatv,
power alone, it is to he supposed that Con
gress alone is 90 be appealed to in case o
difficulty,
Ii is true that the Attorney General is to,
good lawyer TO pretend 10 act under tn
constitution, as ii is well decided that ad
mitting new States, and OF course rebuild
ing conquered territory, does not com
within the provisions Of that instrument
His opinion ia Just "a good a. any othe
| good lawyers, and no better. Ii Ia the al
tempt 90 treat IL as official that is objection
able. When he rules what shall be eyi
dence, if obeyed, he does great wrong. II
has fair excuse, however, under the invi
tation Of the commanding Generals.
! have said this much with great reluct
ance, but finding my colleagues indiferen
20 the question, have not been able to re
frain. | feel painful fear lest it should b
thought that / obtrude my opinions TO
oilen in public matters, but my anxiety
possibly my over eNerted anxiety-relativ
10 reconstruction must be my excuse.
With great respect, your obedient ser
want THADpEUS STEVENS.
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