The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-16

disposed OF as soon as may be practicable. II
b aSSeTeT Pe WhicR Your pTocs@a ION
refers VIII be subject 70 the decision OF Con-
gress. -
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
His E1ceueney William Afarpii,
But there are some other facts that
have a bearing upon this aspect ofthe
subject. allude to the manner in
States after they were thus instituted
by him, to show that by his own action
he repudiated their authority, their
binding force, and their validity as a
State governments Independent of Ex-
ecutive control of congressional con-
troll. I refer you to an instance, per-
haps forgotten by Senators; when Gem
eral Terry, then in command at the
city of Richmond, set aside an act of
the Virginia Legislature, called "the
yagrant act" General Terry under
took, upon his military authority, to
set that act aside. From his order in
the premises an appeal was made, and
delegation was sent to Washington,
and an Interview was had with the
President. The order of General Terry
was in these words.
at is, therefore. ordered that no magls-
trate, civil officer, or other person shall, in
any, way or manner, apply or attempt to
colored person in this department"
This was in contravention of an act
of the Legislature of Virginia passed
under the reconstruction policy of Mr..
johnson, and when the matter was laid
before Mr.. johnson he overruIed the
petitioners application and allowed
General Terry's order to stand.
Again, we all know that when the
pirate Semmes was elected probate
judge at Mobile, and the matter was
brought to the notice of the Executive
at Washington, he Immediately tele-
graphed orders that Semmes should be
ousted from office, and designated u
military officer, to act as judge of pro.
bate in Mobile in his stead.
Why, sir, the history of the past few
years is full of instances corroborating
the same fact. As late as July, 1856,
General Grant, then under authority of
the President, his Chief,
issued the following sweeping order In
reference to the authority OF these State
General Orders. No. All
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, !
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WasHTSGToS, July o, 1865. }
Department, district, and post command
erS In the States lately in rebellion, are here
been or may hereafter he Changed with the
commission OF crimes and onenseS against
officers, agents, cttizsns, and inhabitants OF
cases where the civil authorities have failed,
neglected, or are unable TO arrest and bring
such parties 10 trial, aud to deta n them IN
military confinement until such time AS n
proper judicial tribunal may DC ready and
willing To try them. .-......
a strict and prompt enforcement OF tbs
order is required.
E. ID. TowSSEND,
-I&sfsLdft AdJutdnt General.
hfnL 1, N
President OF the United States regarded
the authority of these State govern
menLs which he set up IN the South,
and which he and Senators who GUS
tain him now desire us to recognize as
legal and as beyond the reach and cou-
troll OF Congressional legislation.
But there is another objection alleged
to this bill now pending that 1 may
notice in passing. My friend sitting by
my side [hr. Salisbury claims these
Southern States being States in the
Union, we have no authority to impose
upon them any fundamental conditions
in the restoration of representation; in
fact, denied that we had any authority
in the premises 10 impose any con.
ditions whatsoever, as l understood
him. Now, what kind OF IL record does
his leader, the President OF the United
States, exhibit in the promises? The
plan of the President is the autagonis-
tic plan.
MIR. Snulsbury-Will my friend allow
me- to interrupt him for moment?
Mr.. Willey-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Saulsbury-When am to be the
follower of any man, MIR. President, L
beg leave to say 10 my honorable
friend, wish to have some voice in the
choice of my leader. 1 cannot consent
that the Republican party, of which the
Senator is Il member, shall select a
leader for me. Four years ago the party
to which he belongs, with his hearty
approval, took the present President of
the United States as its second great
leader, and commended him to the
people of the United States. l did not
accept him as q leader Then; do not
choose to have him imposed upon
me as leader now by the hon
orable gentleman. But / will say
that when he seeks TO do injustice
to his own leader, believing his leader
to be honest in his present policy
and in the course which he pursuing,
a sense OF justice prompts me 10 yindi,
date the character of that distinguished
leader of the gentleman against his
own assaults.
Mr.. Willey-NIr. President, in as
signing my friend to a position under
the leadership of Mr.. Johnson, L merely
designed to designate the fact, which L
do not understand him to deny, that he
friend of his policy-especially OF his
policy in regard to what is called the
reconstruction of the late rebellious
States.
Mr.. Saulsbury-One word more, and
will not interrupt the Senator
again. AS to being the friend of the
President of the United States, /
was his personal friend before he was
President; am his personal friend
still. L believe him to bean honest man,
a patriot, and acting with an eye
single TO the good of his country
Bot If the Senator will observe
the speech which / made on this
floor this winter on the subject of
reconstruction, L dissented from the
policy ofthe President or the basis OF
authority which he claimed for his plan
of reconstruction, while also dissenting
from the plan or the basis of authority
OF the plan of the Congress of the uni
ted States. hold, as held then, that
the guaranty clause of the Consultation
gave no authority to the President of
the United States or 40 Congress TO in
tervene in regard TO these southern
States; that they were States In the
Union before what YOU call the rebel
lion; that they were States in the Union
during that rebellion: that they
uuent to that rebellion; that the consti-
buttons which they had previous to the
rebellion were valid constitutions; that
the constitutions under which they
lived during the rebellion were valid,
subsisting constitutions of govern
ment de Jdcto, to which the people owed
obedience, and by which the could be
punished in case of disobedience; and
that the governments which they form
ed subsequent to the Termination of the
war were valid and subsisting govern
ments; in other words. that they never
h q 10 hnan Einna thew hnYa been in the