The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-05
THE Combat Deepens' The New
Reconstruction Bill.

1Ae U0mDat Deepen" The New
Reconstruction Bill
/ From the N. 7. World.]
There has never been time, even II
the extraordinary period which we are pas
sing, when the political atmosphere was 81
surcharged with electricity as atsthe pres
ent moment. Congress feels that the boil
is about to fall upon the structure it has
been so laboriously rearing, and it has
abandoned all other business in it's haste
to erect protecting lightening-rods. The
Srpremc Court is the quarter from which
the expected stroke is to descend and be
sides the contemplated bill for gagging tina,
tribunal, a bill was introduced in the House
yesterday, and is to be hurried through by
unprecedented and unheard OF means, fol
withdrawing the Reconstruction Jaw from
the jurisdiction of the Court, lts initia
section provides that the State government
of the excluded States "shall not be recog
nized valid either by the executive OF jj1
dlcial power or authority Of The United
States" Not onlyis q two.thirds MAORI
! ty ofthe Court to be required for pronoun,
cling any act of Congress unconstitutional
but the leading feature Of the Reconstruc
ton acts is to be withheld from judicial
consideration. When Congress proceeds
to suclfan extremity, it must be ia state
of desperation. It's intended enactmeDts
are as blind and futile as they are desper.
ate. Suppose Congress should pass q bill
enacting that the State government Of New
York "sha | not be recognized as valid by
the Executive or judicial department
could our State government be ia this way
crushed without judicial remedy? Such a
law is just as subject to judicial revision
as any other II constitutional rights are
attempted to be subverted by an act Of
Congress, the act is just as void in one
shape as in another. If the State govern
ment of New York cannot be subverted by
such bill as was introduced yesterday
neither can the government of any other
State. - Va
Such Is the haste to push this bill
throughin advance of the decision Of the
Supreme Court on the Reconstruction acts
that discussion is to be gagged, and argu-
ments against it denied hearing. We
clip the following statement from a dispatch
In the Evening Post;
The resolution provides that when the
previous question is called there shall be
no dilatory motions entertained by the
Speaker, the rules Of the Hou-e in relation
to such motions being suspended until the
bill is disposed Of.
Besides an attempt to dictate the decis-
ions of the Supreme Court, the bill propo-
ses to divest the President of the command
of the army conferred upon him by the
Constitution in the most explicit and une-
quivocal language. We copy the second
and third sections:
SEC. 2. Belt further enacted, Tint for
the speedy enforcement Of The act entitled
Gan act to provide for more efficient gov
ernment Of the rebel States" passed March
2, 1867. and the several acts supplements
ry thereto, the General of the Army of the
United States is hereby authorized and re-
quired to enjoin by special orders upon all
officers in command within the several mil
itary departments within said States the
performance Of the acts authorized by said
several laws above recited, and to remove
by his order from command any or all Of
said commanders, and detail other officers
Of said army, not below tho rank of colo.
mel, to form oil the duties and exercise OF
all the powers authorized by said several
acts to the end that the people OF, said ssY,
eral States may speedily reorganize civil
governments, republican in form in said sew
efal States and be restored 10 political
power in the Union.
SEC. 3. BE ufurther enacted, That the
General Of the Army is authorized to re-
move any or all civil officers now acting
under the several provisional governments
within said disorganized States, and ap-
point Others to discharge the pertaining to
their respective Offices, and may do any or
all acts which by said several Jaws above
mentioned are authorizedto be done by the
several commanders of military depart
ments within said States, and so much Of
said acts OF Of any act that authorizes the
President to detail military commanders
to said military departments, OF remove
any officers which may be detailed as here
in provided, is hereby repealed.
Hit be possible for any bill to be at va
rance with the Constitution, this is. II is
a selfevident proposition that if the Pres
ident has right to command, the officers
of the army are bound to obey. But here
a law is proposed releasing them from the
duty Of obediefce. The Constitution de-
clares that they shall obey, and Congress
is about to declare by law that they shall
not. In case where the conflict is SO
clear we do not see how the President
could be justified ins paying the slightest
heed to the law. If General Grant, or any
other officer refuses, to obey his orders,
it will be his duty to put him under arrest
and appoint a courthartial to try him for
characterization and mutinY.
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