Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-02-04
OPPRESSION.

1t would seem that Congress is determined to
bring the science Of oppression to the most
consummate state of perfection The new re-
construction act that passed the House of Re
representatives. few days ago was another bold
and lawless step on the road to military despot
ism in this country. 1t strips the Executive of
all the authority confded to that branch of gov
ernment by the Constitution, and makes the
President poWerless to protect the rights of the
States and the liberties of the people from in
vasion. By the provisions Of this bill it is de-
clared that the existing provisional civil State
Governments in the ten unreconstructed States
shall not be recognized by the executive Gr
judicial authorities of the United States 1t
is also enacted that the General Of the army
shall have full and absolute authority in theex-
ecution Of the reconstruction laws over each and
all of the ten States embraced in the five South
ern military districts That the General of the
army, at his discretion, may remove and appoint
the civil officers in said States and the President
shall not interfere with him in such matters, or
in the selection or appointment Of the military
district commanders. 1t is further provided,
that it shall not be lawful for the President to
order the army or navy to the support of any of
the existing provisional civil governments In the
ten unreconstructed States, and that any
interference by any person, with intent to pre-
vent the execution of the orders of General Grant
under this law, shall be held high inside
meanor, subject to penalty Of five thousand
dollars fine and two years imprisonment.
But as unconstitutional and revolutionary as
is this act, it hardly equals IN enormty the infa-
nous bill that the Reconstruction Committee is
said to have agreed TO report to Congress, cOm-
pletely usurDing all the functions and authority
of the Supreme Court of the United States, and
and rendering that tribunal nuty in the
administration of justice or the preservation of
liberty. That act is as follows The appellate
jurisdiction Of the Supreme Court shall not ex-
tend to any act done, or which shall be done,
or to any proceeding had, or which shall be had.
under and by virtue Of the act entitled an act
to provide for the more efficient government of
the rebel States, approved March ID, 1867, or
of the several acts supplementary thereto. And
all such cases now pending in said court, either
by appeal or otherwise from any proceeding had
in the premises in any district or circuit court
of the United States shall be dismissed by said
Supreme Court, and no record of any proceed
ings had, or which might be had, under either
of the district commanders under either of the
acts, shall be removed to, or reviewed in any
other tribunal either upon hG6eds corpus, ono
,Ca,ranto, or in any other manner whatever"
The passage of this law, if submitted to by
the Northern people, will conclude the destruc
ton of all civil government and legal justice in
this country. and consign the splendid fabric of
American Liberty to the charnel- house of Des
potism violence and compulsion are the
argumentative implements offalsehood, and the
arbitrary mode Of proceeding characteristic only
of tyrants. ''-Lynchburg REPUBLICAN,
CURE FOR ACHE Take small piece
of cotton batting, or cotton wool, making de-
preston in the center with the end of finger,
and Eli it with as much ground pepper as will
rest on five cent piece, gather it into ball and
tie it up, dip the ball into sweet oil and insert
it into the ear, covering the latter with cotton
its place. Almost instant relief will be expert
enced and the application is so gentle that an
infant will not be injured by it, but experience
relief as well as adults