Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-12-14
JoNEsBoROUGH, TENNESSEE THURSDAY DECEMBER ID 49,

deliver to the marshal or military Office
of the United States all arms, ammunition
I uniforms, disguises and other means ant
implements used by them for carrying
] out-their unlawful purposes. This warn
/ ing not having been needed, on the 18th o
! October another proclamation was ISSUED
suspending the privilege of the writ o
7 habeas corpus in nine counties in The
State.nss eal- io2a ssf Ts
! Direction owas given that within tn,
Counties SO designated persons supposed
upon creditable information, to be mem
bers of such unlawful combinations should
be arrested by the military forces of the
United States and delivered to the Mar
\ shall, to be dealt with according to law
|, In two, of said counties-York and Spar.
tanburg-many arrests have been made
tAt last accounts the number of persons
thus arrested were ono hundred and sixty
eight. Several hundred, whose criminal
!. ityv was ascertained to be of an inferior de-
gree; were released for. the present.
These have generally made confessions OF
their guilt. Great caution has been ez
efcised in making test arrests, and. not
| withstanding the large number. it is be-
ieved that no innocent person is now, in
custody. The prisoners will held fer
regular trial in the judicial tribunals of
the United States.
As soon as it appeared that the authsri-
ties of the United States were about to
take vigorous measures to enforce the law,
many pers ons absconded, and there is
good ground for supposing that all such
persons have violated the law. A full re-
port of what has been done under this law
viii be submitted to Congress by the At
torney General.
...- POLITICAL DISABILITIES.
More than six years having elapsed
since the last hostile gun was fred between
the armies then arrayed against each 9TH
er-one for the perpctuation, and the 9TH
er for the obstruction of the Union, it
may be we'll considered whether it is not
time that the disabilities imposed by the
Fourteeth Amendment. should be remov-
ed /; that tue amendmeEt does not exclude
the ballot, but only requires the disability
to hold Office of certain classes, when tho
pur ity of the ballot and secure majorities
are sure to elect officers rejecting the
views of the majority. | do not see the
advantage or propriety of excluding men
from office merely. They were, before
the rebellion, men of standing and ehara-
ctcr sufficient to be elected to positions
requiring them to take an oath to support
the Constitution, and admitting to eligi-
bility those entertaining the same views,
but Of less standing in their communities.
Itmay be said the former violated an oath
while the latter did not. The latter did
not have it.in their power to do SO. If
they had taken this oath it can not be
doubted they would have broken it as did
the former class. If there are any great
er criminals distinguished ABOVE all others
for the part they took in opposition to the
Government, they might, in the judgment
of Congress be excluded from such an am
uesty. This subject issubmitted for your
careful consideration.
The condition of the Southern States
are, unhappily. not such as all true, patri-
otto citizens would like to see. Social os-
tracism for opinions sake, personal vio-
lence or threats towards persons entertain
ing political views opposed to those en-
tertained By the majority of the old citi-
zeiIs prevents Immigration and the flow of
much needed capital into the States lately
in rebellion. It will be happy condition
of the country when the old citizens of
these States will take an interest in pub
lie affairs and promulgate ideas honestly
entertained, vote for men representing
their Views and permit the same freedom
of expression and ballot in tlfose entertain
ing different political convictions.
III ss.CIyILsERvIcE REFoM. eHT
In my MESA &c to Congress one year
ago, l urgently recommended a arcform in
the civil service of the country in confor-
nifty with that recommendation. Con-
gress, in the 9th section of an act making
appropriations for sundry civilexpenses of
the government. and for other purposes.
approved March 3D., 1871, gave the ncces-
sary authority to the Executive to inaugu-
rate a civiIservice reform, and placed up
on the responsibility of doing SO under
the authority of said law. | convened
board Of gentlemen, eminently qualified
for the work, to devise rules and regula-
tions to effect the needed reform. Their
laborsa are E not yet complete. but it is be-
lieved that they will succeed in devising
a plan which can be adapted to the great
relief of the Executive the heads of de-
partments and members of Congress. and
Which win rebound to the true interest of
the public service. At all events, the ex-
pertinent shall have fair trial.
s9y,T -77------~-1--------4----