The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-05

OF all was tho act which, under the abused
forms OF law, took away from the President
his function OF Commandcr-in-Chief OF the
army, and assigned it to a subordinate who
was legally bound to receive his orders
from the White House To make the mill
itary governments in the South successful,
it was Indispensable to tho Republican
leaders that they should dictate the COM
mandcrs who were to carry out their pro-
grammc OF action. Otherwise they might
be beaten Mt their own game.
Upon the bill making appropriations for
the support OF the urmy-similar To that
recently vctocd-thc following condition
was engraftcd:
Thc Headquarters OF the General OF the Army at that
time Cen GRASr shall he at Washington and all orders
and instructions relating to military operations issued by
the President Secretary OF War shall be issued
through the General OF the Army aud In case OF his
inability through the next In rank The General OF the
Army shall not be removed suspended or relieved from
command or assigned 10 duty elsewhere than at salt
headquarters ,5cJf n his rqu, without he pr,ttoe
aypanfoChs Sla and any orders instructions relat
n to military operations issued contrary to the require
mcnts of this section shall he null and void and any
officer Of the army who shall transmit convey obey
any orders instructions issued contrary TO the rro-
visions OF this section knowing that suc orders were 80
issued shall be liable TO imprisonment tor not less than
than twenty years, upon conviction there
OF in any court Of competent jurisdiction
1t is thus seen that by this section the Re-
publcans assumed TO confer upon the Sem
ate a part OF the Executive power and made
IL a penal offence for any officer to obey the
orders of the Commander-in-Chief desig-
mated by the Constitution. In every sense
tins Vas revolutionary legislation without
precedent or parallel. The great charter of
our liberties was wilfully defled and kicked
aside as worthless parchment. Many Of the
most conspicuous leaders in the present
Congress, and who are now shouting Revo-
luton, voted for this and the other partisan
measures. CoNKLING, ANTHONY, HAMLIN
MORRILL,, CHANDLER, BLAINE, DAWES
WINDOW, GARFIELD. and others less noted
are among the number who trampled upon
the Constitution without the courage Of
THADDEUs STEVENS, who denounced it as en-
| titled to no respect or obedience
Mr.. HAYES, then an insignificant member
| Of the House. supported all these partisan
schemes, as he was ordered to do by the
chiefs OF his party. Ho had no mind OF his
own, and knew no duty higher than that o.
submission. Yet HAYES now has the ef
frontery to tell Congress that a repeating
clause TO an odious statute passed during
the war, which regulates the use OF the army
and forbids its presence at elections, is " al
together foreign to the purpose Of an Army
Appropriation bill" The repeal was pu
properly where 1t belonged, because Con
gress alone has the constitutional right u
make rules for the government and regula
ton OF the land and naval forces.
That authority was exercised by providing
that no part OF the twenty-seven millions
voted for the support of the army should b.
used for maintaining troops at the polls
This principle cannot be surrendered with
out disgrace to whoever consents to the sacri
flee, and without ruin TO the party that b.
cowardlce shall invite 1t.