The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-05

La Bill to Dissolve Civil Society and
to Abolish the Executive,
From the N. Y. World
The new. Reconstruction bill, so-called,
reported by Mr.. Bingham from the Com
mite on Reconstruction and now pend
ing before Congress, shows how language
can be perverted in its application to par
tisan measures. This bill has title the
very reverse Of its character aud object.
Its proper title would be, "a bill to dis
solve civil society and to abolish the Exc
cutive."
First, it declares that IN the Southern
States there are no civil State govern.
ments, and that the so-called civil govern
ments in said States respectively shall not
be recognized as valid or legal State gov
eraments either by the executive or judi
ciai power or authority OF the United
States" This sweeping revolutionary
measure dissolves 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 a
disorganized condition worse than that of
the barbarian tribes Of Africa or the South
Sea islands. What chaos what fright
full condition for the South and Southern
people to be placed ini But the South
erners 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 recover
ing their property, It is virtual repudia-
ton on large scale. Contracts are rem
dered void and abrogated. All business
must be suspended, confidence will be de-
stroyed and the whole South, blready at
the point Of starvation, will be turned into
a wilderness. Such is the infamous bill
which radical Congress has the hardihood
to call a reconstruction law. II is the
grimest joke and most cruel sarcasm ever
attempted.
The authority Of the President, which
the people Of the United States, from the
foundation Of the government. have regard
ed as constitutionally vested in him, is
abolished. Congress presumes to say that
he shall not be Commander-in- Chief Of the
Army, though the constitution says he
shall. This is what this Infamous act de-
clares =" The General oft Army Of the
United States Grant is hereby authorized
and required to enjoin, BY. special orders,
upon all officers in command with the sew
eral military departments within said seye-
raj States, the performance of all acts an-
thorized by said several laws above recited,
and to remove by his order from command
any or all Of said commanders, aud detail
other officers Of the United States army,
not below the rank of colonel, to perform
ell the duties and exercise all the powers
authorized by said several acts" Thus
Grant is made Commandments Chief ip
place Of the President, and the constitu-,
tional functions Of the President are abol-
ished. 81 ,....s3a., IS
But this is mot all. The third section
of the bill says "the General Of the Army
may remove any or all civil officers and APP
point Others to discarCe the duties.n Here
The military power is placed strictly over
the civil and executive power Of the Presi-
dent both in the matter ofremoval from
and appointment to purely civil Offices.
This is going further even than the Jacobin
Convention of France in the assumption Of
despotic authority and subiugation Of eve
ry other branch of government. Indeed,
the conduct Of Congress is more criminal,
for it pretends to be acting within the lin
it's Of its legislative capacity, while the
French Convention was honest enough to
avow primary powers above all constitu-
tions. ;s{s
~ can tho c,;n,sx Of This revolntionarv
measure Il Is made unlawful for the Presi.