The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-16

General Grants note to General Buchanan
ia simply an affirmation of that officers powers
under the raconstruction laws. The act of
March 2, 1867, commonly known as the Miiita-
nv act, provides that until the people OF the
Rebel States are admitted to representation in
Congress any civil governments therein shall
be provisional merely and in all respects sub
ject to the paramount authority of the United
States, represented by the military command
of the districts into which they were divided.
The preliminaries TO representation were the
adoption of a constitution, its approval by Con-
gress, and the ratification by the legislature
elected under the constitution of the 14th
amendment to the constitution of the United
States The order OF these steps is to be par
ticularly noted. The 15Sth article of the Lou
isiana constitution provides that on the second
Monday after the official publication of the
election returns, the civil officers elected I'M
der that instrument shall enter upon the dis
charge of their duties. There appears to have
been some delay in the announcement of the
returns, but it was finally made ON the 9th in
slant. On the same day committee OF seven'
created by the convention, issued a hasty and
ill-advsed proclamation, denouncing General
Buchanan and notifying civil officers through
out the State to take possession of their offices
on Monday, 18th instant. For this action they
were all arrested, but were subsequently, re-
leased in obedience to a telegram from Wash
ington
1t appears from this recital of facts that the
committee OF seven derive all their powers
from a constitution which is invalid until it
fbo oil Of t.
pears Furthermore that the civil government
of Louisiana is for the present provisional
and in all respects subject to the authority of
the military commander. 1t appears also that
General Buchanan has not neglected his du-
ty, but has announced che result of the cleo
ton and issued his order for the installation
of the officers elect. Under these crcum-
stances it is plain that the action of the COM
mittee of seven is unauthorized and improper.
General Grant has accordingly sustained the
commander. The bill ow before Congress
the passage of which General Grant thinks it
best to await, provides that the Legislatures
of the reconstructed States shall meet on the
day fixed in their constitutions or by procla-
nation of officers authorized by the conven-
tions, and that the executive and judicial
officers elected under the constitutions shall
be inaugurated aCheneuer the States shall be od-
naitted to representation an Congress.
Major Keelar, of General Buchanan's staff,
who arrived in Washington last week, tele-
Rraphed to his commander Saturday, that the
present intention of the President, as express
ed to several persons interested in the admis-
sion of the Southern States, is to let both the
Arkansas and the omnibus reconstruction bills
become laws without his signature. If he
does this the Arkansas bill will become law
without his signature next Saturday, and the
bill ad hitting the other States on the follow
ing wednesday. The President has probably
learned lesson by his recent ex perience, and
may be depended ON with considerable conf
dence to stick to this good resolution