New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-10
A CONTRAST ANp A WARNING.

The generals commanding military dis
tricts under the reconstruction acts were
intrusted by the government with extensive
and.unusual powers, for the.express purpose
of etiecting the restoration of the states com
posing their commands on basis accept
able to the country at large. In order to
properly perform their duties and exercise
their powers these officers should not only
be familiar with the letter of the law which
they are to enforce, but imbued with Its
spirit. One can not worship God and
laws of congress governing recon
struction in these states and at the same
time leave undisturbed such Of their old
local laws as were framed in spirit dia-
metrically opposite. The intention of the
reconstruction acts is evidently to sweep
away every obstruction to their own en-
iorcement For this purpose they ex-
pressly declare all existing governments in
these states provisional only, and subject
tie the control of the general government.
For this purpose they give such great power
to the commanding general. They do not
contemplate his abdicating any portion of
that power at the shrine of a civil law
which they simply tolerate for convenience
sake, and in matters not bearing on the
great object they have in view.
Regarded in this way, what contrast
between the course pursued by General
Mower and that chosen by his successor !
The former seemed actuated by that single
ness of purpose which travels direct to its
aim regardless Of personal considerations,
of the praise or blame of unworthy or in
terested parties. The latter has entered
upon tOrtuous path, protesting respect
for the local civil law, but overriding that
law whenever he pleases. One day the
military authority is subservient to the
civil power, the next the reverse is the
case. General Mower made some long de-
manded removals, principally of persons
who had been chosen to the places they
held in reward for services rendered to the
rebellion, and who were using the influence
of their respective offices, either directly or
indirectly in opposition to the recOnstruc-
ton policy OF congress. General Hancock
has reinstated most Of the officials thus re-
moved, and that without requiring them to
take the test oath which is demanded by
the spirit of the law, but may be avoided
by technicality. General Mower made,
it must be admitted, a few mistakes
in his selections; but the greater
part were good and his removals received
constitutional convention. He did not,
however, make the one, fats.l, inexcusable
mistake of appointing men VIGOROUSLY op-
posed TO the laws of the land regulating
reconstruction, and hostile TO the senti-
ments of the majority of the nation. He
would, moreover, have been ready to cor
rect such appointments as soon as made
acquainted with the necessary facts, and
not to have made any mistakes under such
circumstances would have been extraordi-
nary indeed. The effect of General Mowers
course carried out to its natural results
would have been to place the power OF the
state in the hands of those favorable TO the
congressional plan Of reconstruction. The
effect of General Hancock's course, unless
controlled by supplementary legislation on
the ma ri nf copurass will nn IN dofoaE tbot
plan. The characterization press hate
and abuse General Mower; they laud and
fatter General Hancock Is there no
significance in abuse or praise from such
source! The fact is, congress must go to
work and amend their amendments, and
pass supplements to their supplements, if
they would not see themselves checkmated
by Andrew johnson, They might as well
repeal the reconstruction laws at once, and
let the president rule openly according to
his individual will, as leave these states
to be governed by officers Of his
choice. The only thing that now re-
mains to be done in order to circum-
vent the Vaccinations of the opponents
to the present reconstruction laws is to en-
power the conventions to establish pro-
FisiOnal governments. A billto this effect
might easily be passed in time to secure
the adoption of the new constitutions, and
the prompt admission Of these states. That
an organization for the purpose Of defeat
ing this is now being established all through
the South is to be learned from every daily
paper; and that the men engaged in it
know how to achieve their purposes the his
tory OF the secession movement sufficiently
proves. Let congress be warned in time.
EXPLANATION.