The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-20
Bill to ssolve Civil Society and to
Abolish the Executive.

Reconstruction and now pending before Con-
gress, sho vs. how language can be perverted
in its application to partisan measures. This
bill has title the very reverse OF its character
and object. It's proper title would be, "a bill
Executive"
First, it declares that in the Southern States
'there are no civil State governments, and that
the so-called civil governments in said States
respectively shall not be recognized as valid
or legal State governments either by the exec
utive or judicial power or authority of the
United States" This sweeping revolutionary
measure diss Dives all civil society makes all
laws invalid and imperative, abolishes the
right of property, leaves the people without
municipal or local laws for the protection Of
property, life and liberty, and reduces over ten
millions of people to y disorganzed condition
worse than thato Of the barbarian tribes OF Africa
or the South Sea islands. What chaos what
frightful condition for the South and Southern
people to be placed in But the Southerners
will not be the only sufferers. Northern Debtors
Northern merchants and capitalists who have
invested in the South or who have debts owing
to them there, are cut off from all legal means
Of recovering their property. 1t is virtual
reputation on large scale. Contracts are
rendered void and abrogated. All business
must be suspended, confidence will be de-
stroyed and the whole South, already at the
point of starvation, will be turned into will
derness. Such is the infamous bill which
~ H..
reconstruction law. It Ia the grimest joke
and most cruel sarcasm ever attempted.
The authority of the President, which the
people OF the United States, from the founda-
ton of the government, have regarded as con-
stitutionally vested in him, ia abolished. Con-
gress presumes to say that he shall not be Com
mander-in-Chicf of the Army, though the con-
stitution says he all. This is what this infa-
nous act declares:-"The General OF The Army
of the United States Grant is hereby author
lied and required to enjoin, by special orders,
upon all officers in command within the several
military departments within said several
States, the performance of all acts authorized
by said several laws above reci'ed, and to
remove by his Ter from command any or all
of said commanders, and detail other officers
Of the United States army, not below the rank
of colonel, TO perform all the duties and
exercise all the powers authorized by said
several acts" Thus Grant is made Com
mander-in-Chicf in place of the President,
and the constitutional functions of the Presi-
dent are abolished.
But this is not all. The third section of the
bin says that the General of the Army
may remove any or all civil officers and
appoint others to discharge the Duties" Here
the military power is placed strictly over the
civil and executive power OF the President
both in the matter OF removal from and
appointment to purely civil offices. This is
going further even than the Jacobin Conven-
ion of France in the assumption OF despotic
authority AMI subjugation of every other
branch of government Indeed, the conduct
of Congress is more criminal, for it pretends
TO be acting within the limits of it's legislative
capacity, while the French Convention was
honest enough to avow primary powers above
all constitutions.
To cap the climax of this revolutionary
measure, il is made unlawful for the President
Of the United States to enforce the civil law.
and il is provided that "any Interference by
any person (by the Presidency with intent to
prevent by force the execution Of tue orders
Of the General of the Army shall be held to
be high misdemeanor, and the party guilty
thereof shall, upon conviction, be fined not
exceeding five thousand dollars and imprisoned
not less than two years" A penalty is i'm
posed upon the President, as upon some bur-
gar or other vile criminal, for any attempt to
execute his constitutional functions as the
Executive and Commander-in-C Usurpa-
ton and revolution cannot go further short
OF arresling and deposlng the President and
declaring the Office absolutely abolished The
radicals in Congress have reached that limit
and the next step is a Directory, after the
model Of the French Directory, and q military
despotism over the whole country, North as
well IS South. This would be exactly suited
to the ideas Of Ben Wade, Thad Stevens and
others of the Mountain faction who boldly
declare the constitution Is destroyed.
The Tenure Of Office bill and the proposed
control over the action OF the Supreme Court
by Congress are parts Of the same general
plan to destroy the government and the liber-
ties Of the people. A great deal is said about
the constitutionalty or unconstitutionalty OF
lhese measures. Whether they be regarded
constitutional or not according 10 tho strict
letter, they are certainly unconstitutional
or representation in principle and
according to the practice OF Tho gov
eminent fcom ils foundation. II Is possible
there may be defect In the letter of The con.
stitution with regard to this matter for the
founders OF The government could hardly have
anticipated such atrocious usurpation on the