The New York herald., 1872-12-13

ter OF the Legislatures, the law-maklng power
of the State and the bodies in which vests the
choice of United States Senators. The En-
forcement act. with all its license. ex-
cluded from the jurisdiction Of the
federal Courts such Offices as Presi-
dental electors, Representatives and Dele
gates IN Congress and State Legislatures
This exclusion was dictated by sense Of the
impropriety of giving to a federal Judge ap-
pointed by the President the power TO control
the election of officers closely connected with
and important to the federal government
Yet the Attorney General Of the United States
assumes in one case to dictate how Legisla-
ture shall be formed by . compromise between
two bodies, one of which must be usurping
power in defiance of the will of the people,
and in the other case to decide which Legisla-
ture is the genuine body and to pass upon the
legality of its acts
1t seems difficult TO believe that Attorney
General Williams speaks by authority of Presi-
dent Grant. When the Louisiana trouble first
occurred the President correctly pronounced
it to be s'disgraceful scramble for Office.
and declared his determination not to suffer
the federal power to be used unless in q case
of emergency on one side or the other. 1t is
impossible that he should SO soon have
changed this opinion and resolve, and have
enlisted in both these cases on the side of the
republican scramblers. It would have been
far more seemly both for the President and
his Attorney General to have compelled
an inquiry into the legality or illegality of
Judge Durelrs action in the Kellogg War
moth controversy, and to have counselled
both parties to remain passive until this vital
question was fairly determined. As it is, the
unfortunate telegram to Lieutenant Governor
Pinchback has added fuel to the flames, and
if an outbreak should occur to-day in New
| Orleans it would be mainly attributable to that
despatch. This action of the federal authori-
ties at Washington is the more to be deplored
since the Supreme Court of the United States has
heard the argument on this question Of Judge
Durell's power and his Interpretation of the
Enforcement act, and has not yet rendered its
decision. In the fearlessness, uprightness
and impartiality of that court of final resort
seems now to be the only hope of the Southern
people, and, indeed, of the whole nation. If
the State Legislatures and the State govern
ments are to be held at the mercy of federal
courts, Cabinet Ministers and federal bayonets
! free government is at an end.
The Alleged Dispute Over MIR. Greeley's
Will.
We have received the following comMunica-
ton from Mr.. Samuel Sinclair, of the New
York Tribune, and the associate and personal
friend of MIR. Greeley, which we publish
with pleasure:-
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, NEW YORK, Dec H. 1872
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,, EDITOR OF THE
DEAR sIR-Having done all in my power. as all
the friends have to harmOniZe the interests in Mr..
Greeleys will, was very sorry to see the article
the subject in this mornings HERALD, and par
hcularly the latter part OF 1t, which encl0se:-
should he 0Mr sinclalr support the claim advanced
by Mr. Williams his honor may be impeached, for
1s,s De- s
a n & Mr. an @ ws Do be
envy those who attempt to stem its angry current.
| assure you that there is not word OF truth in
| what have underscored, and do wonder that
| you could have published it, never saw Mr.
Greeley's WILL in which was named as one of the
executors till it was placed in the possession Of
IT..
Surrogate which our simple duty required. On ar.
irving at the Surrogate's once we were shown a
later VIII. AS stated at n the outset the friends
trust that you will not publish anything more
which may tend to disturb harmony; Yours, Ac:,
The family affairs of Mr. Greeley, like those
of any other citizen, would have been exempt
| from comment or criticism, so far as the HERALD
is concerned, but for those peculiar relations
existing between the deceased journalist and
the public, which seemed to make his orphan
children in certain degree the wards of the
American people. Mr.. Greeley rendered great
service to his countrymen during his busy and
useful life, and just before his death he was
candidate for the highest Office in their gift
and received the votes of some three million
citizens. When the impression prevailed that
Mr.. Greeley had died in comparatively
straitened circumstances we only gave
! utterance to the thought and the wish of the
nation when We proposed popular SUBJ
scription fund for the endowment of the
children as a tribute to the memory of
the father We were we'll pleased to hear
that the profered aid was unnecessary,
ana, In common VIII une WnOle community,
we applauded the proud claim of the associ-
ates of the lamented journalist to the privi-
lege Of watching over the future interests of
his orphan daughters. When subsequently it
appeared as if the last will made by Mr.
Greeley in the interests of these bereaved
children was to be contested by those who had
seemed to be his best friends during his life
time, we felt that the championship of the
orphans cause was public duty. We are
glad now to learn-indeed we were unwilling
at the time to believe otherwise-that Mr.
Sinclair and the other personal friends of Mr..
Greeley desire only the advancement of the
children's interests in the settlement of the
estate, and we trust that harmonious ar
rangement honorable to all parties, may be