, 1870-06-25
AMOS T. AKERMAN.
Inp0FfRnt Views OF the New Attof.
ney General ON Connltuslonx1t

Iuporinnt Views OF tho New Attor-
ney General ON Conautusion.af
Quehtsons.
Washington {June 81, Desnaseh to TIE iSt,o York
Any information concerning tho political
opinions and views Of the new Attorney Cen
eral will be interesting at this particular mo-
ment and Republicans especially may be graf
fled to learn that his opinions on certain CON
shtutioul questions, especially on tho valid
ity, scope, and force OF the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution
OF the United Slater, are as far advanced aud
as broad, oven, as those Of Judge Bingham,
than whom there is not in Congress man
who has a more faI.reaching. grasp
M ssssaa ssastntiGn il 4. aosS assssPs couess a. s as
body began to take cognizance Of tho condition
Of things in Georgia which hid followed the
expulsion Of the coIored mombers from the
Legislature. Mr.. AkeE1nan Was among tho
witnesses summoned to testify as TO affairs in
that State, and as to the cortectirea which
should be applied. Many Of the matters on
which he then expressed an opinion we're local
in their character, and h4ve since been super
eeded by change in the nature and condition
OF things, but his Eiews On other points are
very interesting at this munont. After giving
history Of the outrages and difficulties
which attended the voting at his own town Of
Elberton, in the election Of 1868, he referred
to the insecurity Of life and property in the
State, through la1ity in enforcing the Laws,
and eaid:
Congress- ia desirable, and that action should
be founded upon the power which Congress-
possesses under the Fourteenth amendment OF
the Constitution, which forbida any State from
denying to any class Of it's citizens the equal
protection Of its l&ws.
"By MI. Beck: Q.-In other vords,you think
that carrying ont eFourteenth amendment by
ff1
States, would be sufficient protection to the
people Of Georgia Al think there should
BE- some special 1egislation over tho people Of
Georgia.
ID: Would there not be difficulty in Con-
gress passing under that amendment, for .
upon II A. With al due deforeuce, think
not; the amendment provides that NO State
shall deny to my person within it's Jurisdiction
the equ1l protection Of the law, and think
when any State does deny that protection,
Congress may enact Law bearing particularly
upon that State for instance, the composition
Of cur General Assembly is supposed, and
think correctly, to stand in the way Of the en-
ac.ment Of euch laws Is will do Justice to all
classes of people; the composition Of that
Legislature has been changed, in violation of
what understand to be the Constitution Of
.Geole lei1; think there is machinery, which is
still potential, thAt Congress can put in mo-
Of the State Legislature"
This was in pecember, 1868, before the CON-
position Of the Legislature hnd been correct
ed by action Of Congress-, and at = time when
the representatives Of deotgia were absolutely
On tho floor OF Congress-.
"By Mr.. Be&man: Q. You think, then, the
Reconstruction laws have not been exscuted in
G.o1gia7 A. I think they have been e1e-
cute1, but that Congress may resort to this
legislation under the powers given by the Four
teenth Anel dment to the Constitution.
| ~. Then you think the present government
o. @ eeqIgA IL proylsionsl7 A. No. sir, think
not think that question hiss alreAdy boen
~. % yeu think Congress- could p.ss Inv
to assernblo convention in the Rtats Of Ma.
saclusssts. and correct any wrong existina %
there7 A. undoubtedly; think Conrraas
has tlted up the very nachinery In that aunend.
melt To enable you 10 do this do not eco Of
~hst use tho first section OF this last amend,
meut il, unleea it Is applicable to just such !
sAse-
q. Then conld not Congfe directly rein.
| state thesemen who are excluded2 A. Per