12_U.S._Op_Atty._Gen._182_(1867). Page of 151 [ Ci t e as 12 U. S. Op At t y. Gen. 182] Uni t ed St at es At t or ney Gener alTHE RECONSTRUCTI ON ACTS.June 12, 1867

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[ Ci t e as 12 U. S. Op At t y. Gen. 182]

Uni t ed St at es At t or ney Gener al

THE RECONSTRUCTI ON ACTS.

J u ne 1 2 , 1 86 7.

* 1 8 2 1. The power s and dut i es of t he mi l i t ar y commander s i n t he di st r i ct sc o ns t i t u t e d b y t h e a c t o f Ma r c h 2 , 1 86 7, ' t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e mo r e e f f i c i e ntgover nment of t he r ebel St at es, ' consi der ed and det er mi ned.

2. The j ur i sdi ct i on of mi l i t ar y commi ssi ons under t hat act def i ned.

3. Summar y of t he poi nt s consi der ed and det er mi ned i n t he f or mer opi ni on of t heAt t or ney Gener al on t hi s subj ect .

The PRESI DENT.

SI R

On t he 24t h ul t i mo, I had t he honor t o t r ansmi t f or your consi der at i on my opi ni onupon some of t he quest i ons ar i s i ng under t he r econst r uct i on act s t her ei n r ef er r edt o . I n ow p r o c ee d t o g i v e my o pi n i o n o n t h e r e ma i n i n g * 1 8 3 quest i ons upon whi cht he mi l i t ar y commander s r equi r e i nst r uct i ons.

1. As t o t he power s and dut i es of t hese commander s.

The or i gi nal act r eci t es i n i t s pr eambl e, t hat ' no l egal St at e gover nment s ora de qu at e p r o t e c t i on f o r l i f e o r p r o pe r t y e x i s t ' i n t h os e t e n St a t e s , a nd t h at ' i ti s n ec e s s ar y t h at p ea c e a nd g oo d o r d er s h ou l d b e e nf o r c e d' i n t h os e St a t e s ' un t i ll oyal and r epubl i can St at e gover nment s can be l egal l y est abl i shed. '

Th e 1 s t a nd 2 d s e c t i on s d i v i de t h es e St a t e s i nt o f i v e mi l i t a r y d i s t r i c t s , s u bj ec tt o t he mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed St at es, as t her ei naf t er pr escr i bed, andma k e i t t h e d ut y o f t h e Pr e s i d en t t o a s s i g n f r o m t h e o f f i c er s o f t h e a r my a g en er a lof f i cer t o t he command of each di st r i ct , and t o f ur ni sh hi m wi t h a mi l i t ar y f or cet o per f or m hi s dut i es and enf or ce hi s aut hor i t y wi t hi n hi s di st r i ct .

Th e 3 d s e ct i o n d ec l a r e s , ' t h at i t s h al l b e t h e d ut y o f e ac h o f f i c e r , a ss i g ne d a sa f o r e s ai d , t o p r o t e c t a l l p er s o ns i n t h ei r r i g ht s o f p er s o n a nd p r o pe r t y , t osuppr ess i nsur r ect i on, di sor der , and vi ol ence, and t o pu ni s h, or c aus e t o b e

puni shed, al l di st ur ber s of t he publ i c peace and cr i mi nal s , and t o t hi s end he maya l l ow l o c al c i v i l t r i bu na l s t o t a k e j ur i s di c t i on o f a nd t r y o f f e nd er s , or , when i nh i s j ud gme nt i t ma y b e n ec e s s ar y f o r t h e t r i a l o f o f f e nd er s , h e s h a l l h av e p owe r t oor gani ze mi l i t ar y commi ssi ons or t r i bunal s f or t hat pur pose; and al l i nt er f er ence,u nd er c o l o r o f St a t e a ut h or i t y , wi t h t h e e x er c i s e o f mi l i t a r y a ut h or i t y u nd er t h i sa ct , s hal l be n ul l a nd v oi d. '

Th e 4 t h s e c t i on p r o v i d es , ' Th at a l l p er s o ns p ut u nd er mi l i t a r y a r r e s t b y v i r t u eo f t h i s a c t s ha l l b e t r i e d wi t h ou t u nn ec es s ar y d el a y, a nd n o c r u el o r u nu su alpuni shment shal l be i nf l i ct ed; and no sent ence of any mi l i t ar y commi ssi on or


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t r i bunal her eby aut hor i zed, a f f e c t i n g t h e l i f e o r l i be r t y o f a ny p er s on , s ha l l b ee x ec u t e d, u nt i l i t i s a pp r o v ed b y t h e o f f i c e r i n c o mma nd o f t h e d i s t r i c t , and t hel aws a nd r e gu l a t i on s f o r t h e g ov e r n me nt o f t h e a r my s h al l n ot b e a f f e c t e d b y t h i sa c t , e xc ep t i n s o f a r a s t h ey c on f l i c t wi t h i t s p r o vi s i o ns : Pr o vi d ed , Th at n os e nt e nc e o f d ea t h * 1 8 4 u nd er t h e p r o vi s i o ns o f t h i s a ct s h al l b e c a r r i e d i n t oef f ect wi t hout t he appr oval of t he Pr esi dent . '

Th e 5 t h s e c t i on d ec l a r e s t h e q ua l i f i c at i o n o f v o t e r s i n a l l e l e c t i o ns , a s we l l t of r a me t h e n ew c o n s t i t u t i on f o r e ac h St a t e , a s i n t h e e l e c t i on s t o b e h el d u nd er t h epr ovi s i onal gover nment , unt i l t he new St at e const i t ut i on i s r at i f i ed by Congr ess,and al so f i xes t he qual i f i cat i ons of t he del egat es t o f r ame t he new c onst i t ut i on.

Th e 6 t h s e c t i on p r o v i d es , ' Th at u nt i l t h e p eo pl e o f s ai d r e be l St a t e s s ha l l b e b yl aw admi t t ed t o r epr esent at i on i n t he Congr ess of t he Uni t ed St at es, any ci v i lgover nment s whi ch may exi st t her ei n shal l be deemed pr ovi si onal onl y , and i n a l lr espect s subj ect t o t he par amount aut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed St at es at any t i me t oabol i sh, modi f y, cont r ol , or super sede t he same; a nd i n a l l e l e ct i o ns t o a ny o f f i c eu nd er s u c h p r o v i s i o na l g ov e r n me nt s a l l p er s o ns s h al l b e e nt i t l ed t o v o t e , a nd n on eo t h er s , wh o a r e e nt i t l ed t o v o t e u nd er t h e p r o v i s i on s o f t h e 5 t h s e c t i on o f t h i sa c t ; a nd n o p er s o n s h al l b e e l i g i b l e t o a ny o f f i c e u nd er a ny s u c h p r o v i s i o na lgover nment s who woul d be di squal i f i ed f r om hol di ng of f i ce under t he pr ovi si ons oft he t hi r d ar t i cl e of sai d const i t ut i onal amendment . '

The dut i es devol ved upon t he commandi ng gener al by t he suppl ement ar y act r el at eal t oget her t o t he r egi st r at i on of vot er s , a nd t h e e l e ct i o ns t o b e h el d u nd er t h ep r o v i s i o ns o f t h at a c t . An d a s t o t h es e d ut i e s , t h ey a r e p l a i n l y e no ug h e x pr e s s edi n t h e a c t , a nd i t i s n ot u nd er s t o od t h at a ny q ue s t i o n, n ot h er e t o f o r e c o ns i d er e di n t h e o pi ni o n r e f e r r e d t o , h as a r i s e n, o r i s l i k el y t o a r i s e , i n r e s pe c t t o t h em.

My at t ent i on, t her ef or e, i s di r ect ed t o t he power s and dut i es of t he mi l i t ar ycommander s under t he or i gi nal act .

We see cl ear l y enough t hat t hi s act cont empl at es t wo di st i nct gover nment s i n eacho f t h es e t e n St a t e s: t h e o ne mi l i t a r y , t h e o t h er c i v i l . Th e c i v i l g ov e r n me nt i sr e c og ni z e d a s e x i s t i ng a t t h e d at e o f t h e a c t . Th e mi l i t a r y g ov e r n me nt i s c r e at e db y t h e a ct .

Bot h ar e pr ovi si onal , and bot h ar e t o cont i nue unt i l t he new St at e const i t ut i oni s f r amed and t he St at e i s admi t t ed * 1 8 5 t o r epr esent at i on i n Congr ess. When t hatevent t akes pl ace, bot h t hese pr ovi s i onal gover nment s ar e t o cease. I ncont empl at i on of t hi s act , t hi s mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y and t hi s ci v i l aut hor i t y ar e t ob e c a r r i e d o n t o ge t h er . Th e p eo pl e i n t h es e St a t e s a r e ma de s u bj e c t t o b ot h , a ndmust obey bot h, i n t hei r r espect i ve j ur i sdi ct i ons.

Th er e i s , t h en , a n i mp er a t i v e n ec e s s i t y t o d ef i ne a s c l ea r l y a s p os s i bl e t h e l i n ewh i c h s e pa r a t e s t h e t wo j ur i s di c t i on s , a nd t h e e x ac t s c o pe o f t h e a ut h or i t y o feach.

No w, a s t o t h e c i v i l a ut h or i t y r e c og ni z e d b y t h e a c t a s t h e p r o v i s i o na l c i v i lg ov e r n me nt , i t c o v er e d e v er y d ep ar t me nt o f c i v i l j ur i s di c t i on i n e ac h o f t h es eSt at es .

I t had al l t he char act er i st i cs and power s of a St at e gover nment - - l egi s l at i ve,j ud i c i al , an d ex ec ut i v e- - an d was i n t he f ul l an d l awf ul ex er c i s e of al l t he s epower s , e x c ep t o nl y t h at i t wa s n ot e nt i t l e d t o r e pr e s en t a t i o n a s a St a t e o f t h eUni on.

Th i s e x i s t i n g g ov e r n me nt i s n ot s e t a s i d e; i t i s r e c og ni z e d mo r e t h an o nc e b y t h e


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a ct . I t i s not i n a ny o ne of i t s depa r t men t s , o r as t o a ny on e o f i t s f unc t i ons ,r epeal ed or modi f i ed by t hi s act , s a v e o nl y i n t h e q ua l i f i c at i on s o f v o t e r s , t hequal i f i cat i ons of per sons el i gi bl e t o of f i ce, t he manner of hol di ng el ect i ons, andt he mode of f r ami ng t he const i t ut i on of t he St at e. The ac t do es no t i n any ot herr espect change t he pr ovi s i onal gover nment , nor does t he act aut hor i ze t he mi l i t ar yaut hor i t y t o change i t .

Th e p owe r o f f u r t h er c h an gi n g i t i s r e s er v e d, n ot g r a nt e d, a nd i t i s r e se r v ed t oCongr e ss , not del egat ed t o t he mi l i t ar y commander .

Congr ess was not sat i sf i ed wi t h t he or gani c l aw or const i t ut i on under whi ch t hi sci vi l gover nment was est abl i shed. Th at c o ns t i t u t i o n wa s t o b e c h an ge d i n o nl y o nepar t i cul ar t o make i t accept abl e t o Congr ess, and t h at wa s i n t h e ma t t e r o f t h eel ect i ve f r anchi se. The pur p os e, t he s ol e obj ec t of t hi s ac t , i s t o ef f ec t t hatchange, and t o e f f e c t i t b y t h e a ge nc y o f t h e p eo pl e o f t h e St a t e, or s uc h of t hema s a r e ma de v o t e r s b y me an s o f e l e c t i o ns p r o v i d ed f o r i n t h e a c t , a nd i n t h emeant i me t o pr eser ve or der and t o * 1 8 6 p un i s h o f f e nd er s , i f f o un d n ec e s s ar y , b ymi l i t ar y c ommi s si ons .

We ar e, t her ef or e, not at a l oss t o know what power s wer e possessed by t hee x i s t i ng c i v i l a ut h or i t y .

The onl y quest i on i s upon t he power s conf er r ed on t he mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y.

What ever power i s not gi ven t o t he mi l i t ar y r emai ns wi t h t he ci vi l gover nment .

We s ee , f i r s t o f a l l , t h at e ac h o f t h es e St a t e s i s ' made subj ect t o t he mi l i t ar yaut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed St at es' - - not t o t he mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y al t oget her , but wi t ht hi s expr ess l i mi t at i on- - ' as her ei naf t er pr escr i bed. '

We must , t hen, exami ne what i s t her ei naf t er pr ovi ded, t o f i nd t he ext ent andnat ur e of t he power gr ant ed.

Thi s, t hen, i s what i s gr ant ed t o t he mi l i t ar y commander : Th e p owe r o r d ut y ' t op r o t e c t a l l p er s o ns i n t h ei r r i gh t s o f p er s o n a nd p r o pe r t y ; t o s up pr e s si ns ur r ect i on, di s or der , a nd v i o l e nc e, a nd p un i s h , o r c au s e t o b e p u ni s h ed , a l ldi st ur ber s of t he publ i c peace and cr i mi nal s; ' and h e ma y d o t h i s b y t h e a ge nc y o ft he cr i mi nal cour t s of t he St at e, or , i f ne ces s ar y , he may have r esor t t o mi l i t ar yt r i bunal s.

Thi s compr i ses al l t he power s gi ven t o t he mi l i t ar y commander .

He r e i s a g en er a l c l a us e , ma k i n g i t t h e d ut y o f t h e mi l i t ar y commander t o gi vep r o t e c t i on t o a l l p er s o ns i n t h ei r r i gh t s o f p er s o n a nd p r o pe r t y . Consi der ed byi t s e l f , a nd wi t h ou t r e f e r e nc e t o t h e c o nt e x t a nd t o o t h er p r o v i s i o ns o f t h e a c t , i ti s l i abl e, f r om i t s gener al i t y, t o be mi sunder st ood.

Wh at s o r t o f p r o t e c t i o n i s h er e me an t ? Wh at v i ol a t i o ns o f t h e r i gh t s o f p er s o n

o r o f p r o pe r t y a r e h er e i n t e nd ed ? I n wh at ma nn er i s t h i s p r o t e c t i o n t o b e g i v e n?Th es e q ue s t i on s a r i s e a t o nc e .

I t appear s t hat some of t he mi l i t ar y commander s have under st ood t hi s gr ant ofpower as al l compr ehensi ve, conf er r i ng on t hem t he power t o r emove t he execut i vea nd j ud i c i al o f f i c e r s o f t h e St a t e , a nd t o a pp oi nt o t h er o f f i c e r s i n t h ei r p l a c es ;t o s u s pe nd t h e l eg i s l at i v e p owe r o f t h e * 1 8 7 St a t e ; t o t a k e u nd er t h ei r c o nt r o l , b yof f i cer s appoi nt ed by t hemsel ves, t he col l ect i on and di sbur sement of t he r evenueso f t h e St a t e ; t o p r o hi b i t t h e e x ec u t i o n o f t h e l a ws o f t h e St a t e b y t h e a ge nc y o fi t s appoi nt ed of f i cer s and agent s; t o change t he exi st i ng l aws i n mat t er s af f ect i ng


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p ur e l y c i v i l a nd p r i v at e r i g ht s ; t o s u s pe nd o r e nj o i n t h e e x ec u t i o n o f t h ej ud gmen t s an d de c r ee s of t he es t ab l i s he d St at e c ou r t s ; t o i nt er f er e i n t he or di na r yadmi ni st r at i on of j ust i ce i n t he St at e cour t s, by pr escr i bi ng new qual i f i cat i onsf o r j ur o r s , a nd t o c h an ge , u po n t h e g r o un d o f e x pe di e nc y , t h e e x i s t i n g r e l a t i o ns o ft h e p ar t i es t o c o nt r a c t s , g i v i ng p r o t e c t i on t o o ne p ar t y b y v i ol at i ng t h e r i gh t s o ft he ot her par t y.

I f e el c o nf i d en t t h at t h es e mi l i t a r y o f f i c er s , i n a l l t h ey h av e d on e, h av es u pp os e d t h at t h ey h ad f u l l wa r r a nt f o r t h ei r a c t i o n. Th ei r e du c at i on a nd t r a i n i n gh av e n ot b ee n o f t h e k i n d t o f i t t h em f o r t h e d el i c at e a nd d i f f i c ul t t a s k o f g i v i n gc o ns t r u c t i on t o s u c h a s t a t u t e a s t h at n ow u n de r c o ns i de r a t i on . Th ey r e qu i r ei ns t r u c t i o n, a nd n ea r l y a l l o f t h em h av e a s k ed f o r i n s t r u c t i o n, t o s o l v e t h ei r o wnd ou bt s , a nd t o f u r n i s h t o t h em a s a f e g r o un d f o r t h e p er f o r ma nc e o f t h ei r d ut i es .

Th er e c a n b e n o d ou bt a s t o t h e r u l e o f c o ns t r u c t i on a c c or d i n g t o wh i c h we mu s ti nt er pr et t hi s gr ant of power . I t i s a g r a nt o f p owe r t o mi l i t a r y a ut h or i t y , o v erc i v i l r i g ht s a nd c i t i z en s , i n t i me o f p ea ce. I t i s a n ew j ur i s di ct i on , n ev e rgr ant ed bef or e, by whi ch, i n cer t ai n par t i cul ar s and f or cer t ai n pur poses, t heest abl i shed pr i nci pl e t hat t he mi l i t ar y shal l be subor di nat e t o t he ci v i l aut hor i t yi s r ever sed.

Th e r u l e o f c o ns t r u ct i on t o b e a pp l i ed t o s uc h a g r a nt o f p owe r i s t h us s t a t e d i nDwar r i s on St at ut es, p. 652: ' A s t a t u t e c r e at i ng a n ew j u r i s di c t i on o ug ht t o b econst r ued st r i ct l y . '

Gu i d ed b y t h i s r u l e , a nd i n t h e l i g ht o f o t h er r u l e s o f c o ns t r u c t i o n f a mi l i a r t oe v er y l awy e r , e s pe c i a l l y o f t h os e wh i c h t e ac h u s t h at , i n g i v i ng c o ns t r u c t i on t os i n gl e c l a us e s , we mu s t l o ok t o t h e c o nt e x t a nd t o t h e wh ol e * 1 8 8 l aw, t hat gener alc l au s es a r e t o b e c o nt r o l l ed b y p ar t i c ul ar c l au s es , a nd s u c h c o ns t r u c t i on i s t o b ep ut o n a s p ec i a l c l a us e a s t o ma k e i t h ar mo ni z e wi t h t h e o t h er p ar t s o f t h e s t a t u t es o a s t o a v oi d r e pu gn an c y, I p r o ce ed t o t h e c on s t r u ct i o n o f t h i s p ar t o f t h e a ct .

To c o ns i de r , t h en , i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e, t h e t e r ms o f t h e g r a nt . I t i s of a powe rt o p r o t e c t a l l p er s o ns i n t h ei r r i gh t s o f p er s o n a nd p r o pe r t y . I t i s not a powe rt o c r e at e n ew r i g ht s , b ut o nl y t o p r o t e c t t h os e wh i c h e x i s t a nd a r e e s t a bl i s h ed b yt he l aws under whi ch t hese peopl e l i ve. I t i s a p owe r t o p r e s er v e , n ot t oabr ogat e; t o s u s t a i n t h e e x i s t i ng f r a me o f s oc i a l o r d er a nd c i v i l r u l e, and not apower t o i nt r oduce mi l i t ar y r ul e i n i t s pl ace; i n e f f e ct , i t i s p ol i c e p owe r ; andt he pr ot ect i on her e i nt ended i s pr ot ect i on of per sons an d pr oper t y agai nstvi ol ence, unl awf ul f or ce, and cr i mi nal i nf r act i on. I t i s gi v en t o meet t hec o nt i ng en c y r e c i t e d i n t h e p r e amb l e , o f a wa nt o f ' ad eq ua t e p r o t e c t i on f o r l i f e a ndp r o pe r t y ' a nd t h e n ec e s s i t y a l s o r e c i t e d, ' t h at p ea c e a nd g oo d o r d er s h ou l d b eenf or ced. '

Thi s const r uct i on i s made mor e appar ent when we l ook at t he i mmedi at e cont ext ,and s ee i n what mode and by what agency t h i s p r o t e ct i o n i s t o b e s e cu r e d. Th i sdut y or power of pr ot ect i on i s t o be per f or med by t he suppr essi on of i nsur r ect i on,di sor der , and vi ol ence, and by t he puni shment , ei t her b y t h e a ge nc y o f t h e St a t e

cour t s , or by mi l i t ar y commi ssi ons, when necessar y, o f a l l d i s t u r b er s o f t h e p ub l i cpeace and cr i mi nal s; and i t i s de cl ar e d, t h at a l l i nt e r f e r e nc e, un der c ol or ofSt at e aut hor i t y, wi t h t he exer ci se of t hi s mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y , s ha l l b e n ul l andvoi d.

Th e n ex t s u c c ee di n g c l a us e p r o v i d es f o r a s p ee dy t r i a l o f t h e o f f e nd er , f o r b i d st h e i nf l i c t i o n o f c r u el a nd u nu s ua l p un i s h me nt , a nd r equi r es t hat sent ences oft hese mi l i t ar y cour t s, wh i c h i nv o l v e t h e l i b er t y o r l i f e o f t h e a c cu se d, s hal l hav et he appr oval of t he commandi ng gener al , and , as t o a s ent enc e of d eat h, t heappr oval of t he Pr esi dent , bef or e execut i on.


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Al l t hese speci al pr ovi s i ons have r ef er ence t o t he pr eser vat i on* 1 8 9 o f o r d er a ndpr ot ect i on agai nst vi ol ence and cr i me. They t ouch no ot her depar t ment or f unct i onof t he ci v i l admi ni st r at i on, save onl y i t s cr i mi nal j ur i sdi ct i on, and ev en as t ot h at t h e c l e ar me an i n g o f t h i s a ct i s , t h at i t i s n ot t o b e i n t e r f e r e d wi t h b y t h emi l i t ar y aut hor i t y, unl ess when a necessi t y f or such i nt er f er ence may happen t oar i se.

I s e e n o a ut h or i t y , n or a ny s h ad ow o f a ut h or i t y , f o r i nt e r f e r e nc e wi t h a ny o t h erc o ur t s , o r a ny o t h er j ur i s di c t i on , t h an c r i mi na l c o ur t s , i n t h e e x er c i s e o fcr i mi nal j ur i sdi ct i on.

The exi st i ng ci v i l aut hor i t y, i n al l i t s ot her depar t ment s- - l egi s l at i ve,execut i ve, and j udi c i al - - i s l ef t unt ouched.

Th er e i s n o p r o v i s i o n, e v en u nd er t h e p l e a o f n ec e s s i t y , t o es t a bl i s h, bymi l i t a r y a ut h or i t y , c ou r t s o r t r i b un al s f o r t h e t r i a l o f c i v i l c as e s, o r f o r t h ep r o t e c t i on o f s u c h c i v i l r i gh t s o f p er s o n o r p r o pe r t y a s c o me wi t h i n t h e c o gn i z a nc eof ci v i l cour t s, as cont r adi st i ngui shed f r om cr i mi nal cour t s .

I n p oi n t o f f a ct , t h er e wa s n o f o un da t i o n f o r s uc h a g r a nt o f p owe r ; f o r t h ec i v i l r i gh t s a c t , a nd t h e f r e ed me n' s b ur e au a c t , n ei t h er o f wh i c h i s s u pe r s e de d b yt hi s act , made ampl e pr ovi s i on f or t he pr ot ect i on of al l mer el y ci v i l r i ght s, wher et h e l aws o r c o ur t s o f t h es e St a t e s mi gh t f a i l t o g i v e f u l l , i mp ar t i al p r o t e c t i on .

I f i nd n o a ut h or i t y a ny wh er e i n t h i s a c t f o r t h e r e mo v al b y t h e mi l i t a r yc o mma nd er o f t h e p r o pe r o f f i c e r s o f a St a t e , e i t h er e x ec u t i v e o r j u di c i a l , o r t h eappoi nt ment of per sons i n t hei r pl aces.

No t h i n g s h or t o f a n e x pr e s s g r a nt o f p owe r wo ul d j u s t i f y t h e r e mo v al o r t h ea pp oi n t me nt o f s u c h a n o f f i c e r . Th er e i s n o s u c h g r a nt e x pr e s s ed o r e v en i mp l i e d.On t h e c o nt r a r y , t h e a c t c l ea r l y e no ug h f o r b i d s i t . Th e r e gu l a r St a t e o f f i c i a l s ,d ul y e l e c t e d a nd q ua l i f i e d, a r e e nt i t l e d t o h ol d t h ei r o f f i c e s . Th ey , t o o, h av er i ght s whi ch t he mi l i t ar y commander i s bound t o pr ot ect , not aut hor i zed t o dest r oy.

We f i n d i n t h e c on c l u di n g c l a us e o f t h e 6 t h s e ct i o n o f t h e a c t t h at t h es eo f f i c i a l s a r e r e c og ni z ed , a nd e x pr e s s p r o v i s i on i s ma de t o p er p et u at e t h em. I t i se na c t e d t h at , ' i n a l l e l e c t i on s t o a ny o f f i c e u nd er s u c h p r o v i s i on al g ov e r n me nt s ,* 1 9 0 a l l p er s o ns s h al l b e e nt i t l e d t o v o t e , a nd n on e o t h er s , wh o a r e e nt i t l e d t ov o t e u nd er t h e p r o vi s i o ns o f t h e 5 t h s e ct i o n o f t h i s a ct ; a nd n o p er s on s ha l l b eel i gi bl e t o any of f i ce under such pr ovi s i onal gover nment s who woul d be di squal i f i edf r o m h ol di ng o f f i c e u nd er t h e p r o v i s i on s o f t h i s a c t . '

Th i s p r o v i s i on n ot o nl y r e c og ni z es a l l t h e o f f i c er s o f t h e p r o v i s i on alg ov e r n me nt s , b ut , i n c a s e o f v a c an c i e s , v e r y c l e ar l y p oi n t s o ut h ow t h ey a r e t o b ef i l l e d; a nd t h at h ap pe ns t o b e i n t h e u su al wa y, b y t h e p e op l e , a nd n ot b y a nyo t h er a ge nc y o r a ny o t h er p owe r , e i t h er St a t e o r f e de r a l , c i v i l o r mi l i t a r y .

I f i n d i t i mp os s i b l e , u nd er t h e p r o v i s i o ns o f t h i s a c t , t o c o mp r e he nd s u c h a no f f i c i a l a s a g ov er n or o f o ne o f t h es e St a t e s a pp oi n t e d t o o f f i c e b y o ne o f t h es emi l i t a r y c ommand er s.

Ce r t a i n l y h e i s n ot t h e g ov e r n or r e c og ni z ed b y t h e l aws o f t h e St a t e , e l e c t e d b yt h e p eo pl e i n t h e St a t e , a nd c l o t h ed a s s u c h wi t h t h e c h i e f e x ec u t i v e p owe r . No ri s he appoi nt ed as a mi l i t ar y gover nor f or a St at e, whi ch has no l awf ul gover nor ,u nd er t h e p r e s s ur e o f a n e x i s t i ng n ec e s s i t y , t o e x er c i s e p owe r s a t l ar g e.

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mi l i t a r y o r d er , a nd t o p ut h i m i n t h e p l a c e o f t h e r e mo v ed g ov e r n or , t o e x ec u t e t h ef u nc t i on s o f t h e o f f i c e, a s p r o v i d ed b y l aw.

Th e l a w t a k es n o c o gn i z a nc e o f s u c h a n o f f i c i a l , a nd h e i s c l o t h ed wi t h n oa ut h or i t y o r c o l o r o f a ut h or i t y .

Wh at i s t r u e a s t o t h e g ov e r n or i s e qu al l y t r u e a s t o a l l t h e o t h er l eg i s l at i v e ,

execut i ve, and j udi c i al of f i cer s of t he St at e. I f t he mi l i t ar y commander can ousto ne f r o m h i s o f f i c e, h e c an o us t t h em a l l . I f h e c an f i l l o ne v ac an c y, h e c a n f i l la l l v a ca nc i e s, a nd t h us u su r p a l l c i v i l j u r i s di c t i o n i n t o h i s o wn h an ds , o r t h ehands of t hose who hol d t hei r appoi nt ment s f r om hi m and subj ect t o hi s power ofr e mo v al , a nd t h us f r u s t r a t e t h e v e r y r i gh t s e c ur e d t o t h e p eo pl e b y t h i s a c t .Ce r t a i n l y t h i s a c t i s r i go r o us e no ug h i n t h e p owe r wh i c h i t g i v e s . Wi t h a l l i t ss e v er i t y , t h e * 1 9 1 r i gh t o f e l e ct i ng t h ei r o wn o f f i c er s i s s t i l l l ef t wi t h t h ep eo pl e , a nd i t mu s t b e p r e s er v e d.

I must not be under st ood as f i x i ng l i mi t s t o t he power of t he mi l i t ar y commanderi n c a se o f a n a c t u al i n s ur r e c t i o n o r r i o t . I t ma y h ap pe n t h at a n i n su r r e ct i o n i none of t hese St at es may be so gener al and f or mi dabl e as t o r equi r e t he t empor ar ys u s pe ns i o n o f a l l c i v i l g ov e r n me nt , a nd t h e e s t a bl i s h me nt o f ma r t i a l l a w i n i t sp l a c e. An d t h e s a me t h i n g ma y b e t r u e a s t o l o c al d i s o r d er o r r i o t , i n r e f e r e nc et o t h e c i v i l g ov e r n me nt o f t h e c i t y o r p l a c e wh er e i t b r e ak s o ut . Wh at e v er p owe r i snecess ar y t o meet suc h emer genci es t he mi l i t ar y commander may pr oper l y exer ci se.

I conf i ne mysel f t o t he pr oper aut hor i t y of t he mi l i t ar y commander wher e peacea nd o r d er p r e v ai l . Wh en p ea c e a nd o r d er d o p r e v ai l , i t i s n ot a l l o wa bl e t od i s p l a c e t h e c i v i l o f f i c e r s , a nd a pp oi n t o t h er s i n t h ei r p l a c es , u nd er a ny i d eat hat t he mi l i t ar y commander can bet t er per f or m hi s dut i es, and car r y out t heg en er a l p ur p os e s o f t h e a ct b y t h e agency o f c i v i l o f f i c e r s o f h i s o wn c ho i c er a t h er t h an b y t h e l a wf u l i n c umb en t s . Th e a c t g i v e s h i m n o r i g ht t o r e s or t t o s u c ha ge nc y , b ut d oe s g i v e h i m t h e r i g ht t o h av e ' a s u f f i c i en t mi l i t a r y f o r c e ' t o e na bl ehi m ' t o per f or m hi s dut i es and enf or ce hi s aut hor i t y wi t hi n t he di st r i ct t o whi chh e i s a s s i g ne d. '

I n t he suppr essi on of i nsur r ect i on and r i ot t he mi l i t ar y commander i s whol l yi nd ep en de nt o f c i v i l a ut h or i t y .

So, t oo, i n t he t r i al and puni shment of cr i mi nal s and of f ender s, he may super sedet h e c i v i l j ur i s di c t i on .

Hi s power i s t o be exer ci sed i n t he speci al emer genci es, a nd t h e me an s a r e p uti n t o h i s h an ds b y wh i c h i t i s t o b e e x er c i s e d, t h at i s t o s ay , ' a s u f f i c i e ntmi l i t ar y f or ce t o enabl e such of f i cer t o per f or m hi s dut i es and enf or ce hi saut hor i t y, ' and mi l i t ar y t r i bunal s of hi s own appoi nt ment t o t r y and puni shof f ender s. These ar e st r i ct l y mi l i t ar y power s, t o be execut ed by mi l i t ar ya ut h or i t y , n ot b y t h e c i v i l a ut h or i t y , o r b y c i v i l o f f i c e r s a pp oi n t e d b y h i m t oper f or m or di nar y ci v i l dut i es.

* 1 9 2 I f t h es e e me r g en c i e s d o n ot h ap pe n, i f c i v i l o r d er i s p r e s er v e d, a ndcr i mi nal s ar e dul y pr osecut ed by t he r egul ar cr i mi nal cour t s, t he mi l i t ar y power ,t hough pr esent , must r emai n passi ve.

I t s p r o pe r f u nc t i on i s t o p r e s er v e t h e p ea c e, t o a c t p r o mp t l y wh en t h e p ea c e i sbr oken, and r est or e or der .

When t hat i s done, and t he ci v i l aut hor i t y may agai n saf el y r esume i t s f unct i ons,t he mi l i t ar y power agai n becomes passi ve, but on guar d and wat chf ul .


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Thi s, i n my j udgment , i s t he whol e scope of t he mi l i t ar y power conf er r ed by t hi sa c t ; a nd , i n a r r i v i n g a t t h i s c on s t r u c t i o n o f t h e a ct , I h av e n ot f o un d i tnecessar y t o r esor t t o t he st r i ct const r uct i on whi ch i s al l owabl e.

What has been sai d i ndi cat es my opi ni on as t o any supposed power of t he mi l i t ar ycommander t o change or modi f y t he l aws i n f or ce.

The mi l i t ar y commander i s made a conser vat or of t he peace, not l egi s l at or . Hi sdut i es ar e mi l i t ar y dut i es, execut i ve dut i es: not l egi s l at i v e dut i es . He has n oa ut h or i t y t o e na c t o r d ec l a r e a new code of l aws f or t he peopl e wi t hi n hi sd i s t r i c t , u nd er a ny i d ea t h at h e c a n ma k e a b et t e r c o de t h an t h e p eo pl e h av e ma def or t hemsel ves.

The publ i c pol i cy i s not commi t t ed t o hi s di scr et i on. The Congr ess whi ch passedt h i s a c t u nd er t o ok , i n c e r t a i n g r a v e p ar t i c ul ar s , t o c h an ge t h es e l aws ; a nd , t h es echanges bei ng made, t he Congr ess saw no f ur t her necessi t y of change, but wer ec o nt e nt t o l e av e a l l t h e o t h er l a ws i n f u l l f o r c e , but subj ect t o t hi s emphat i cd ec l a r a t i o n: t h at , a s t o t h es e l a ws , a nd s u c h f u t u r e c h an ge s a s mi g ht b ee x pe di e nt , t h e q ue s t i o n o f e x pe di e nc y , a nd t h e p owe r t o a l t e r , a me nd , o r a bo l i s h ,was r eser ved f or ' t he par amount aut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed St at es, at any t i me, t oabol i sh, modi f y, cont r ol , or super sede t he same. ' Wh er e , t h en , d oe s a mi l i t a r ycommander f i nd hi s aut hor i t y ' t o abol i sh, modi f y, cont r ol , or super sede' any one oft hese l aws?

The enumer at i on of t he ext r aor di nar y power s exer ci s ed by t he mi l i t ar y commander si n some of t he di st r i ct s woul d ext end t hi s opi ni on t o an unr easonabl e l engt h.

* 1 9 3 A f ew i nst ances must suf f i ce.

I n o ne o f t h es e d i s t r i c t s , t h e g ov er n or o f a St a t e h as b ee n d ep os e d u nd er at h r e at o f mi l i t a r y f o r c e , a nd a no t h er p er s o n, c a l l ed a g ov e r n or , h as b ee n a pp oi nt e dby t he mi l i t ar y commander t o f i l l hi s pl ace. Thus pr esent i ng t he st r ange spect acl eo f a n o f f i c i a l i nt r u s t e d wi t h t h e c h i e f p owe r t o e x ec u t e t h e l aws o f t h e St a t e ,wh os e a ut h or i t y i s n ot r e c og ni z ed b y t h e l aws h e i s c a l l ed u po n t o e x ec u t e .

I n t h e s a me d i s t r i c t , t h e j ud ge o f o ne o f t h e c r i mi na l c o ur t s o f t h e St a t e h asbeen summar i l y deal t wi t h.

The act of Congr ess does gi ve aut hor i t y t o t he mi l i t ar y commander , i n cases ofnecessi t y, t o t r a ns f e r t h e j ur i s di c t i on o f a c r i mi na l c o ur t t o a mi l i t a r y t r i bu na l .Th at b ei ng t h e s p ec i f i c a ut h or i t y o v er t h e c r i mi na l c o ur t s g i v e n b y t h e a c t , n oot her aut hor i t y over t hem can be l awf ul l y exer ci sed by t he mi l i t ar y commander .

Bu t , i n t h i s i ns t a nc e , t h e j ud ge h as , b y mi l i t a r y o r d er , b ee n e j e c t e d f r o m h i so f f i c e, a nd a pr i vat e ci t i zen has been appoi nt ed j udge i n hi s pl ace by mi l i t ar ya ut h or i t y , a nd i s n ow i n t h e e x er c i s e o f c r i mi na l j ur i s di c t i on ' ov e r a l l c r i me s ,mi sdemeanor s, and of f ences' commi t t ed wi t hi n t he t er r i t or i al j ur i sdi ct i on of t hecour t .

Thi s mi l i t ar y appoi nt ee i s cer t ai nl y not aut hor i zed t o t r y any one f or anyof f ence as a member of a mi l i t ar y t r i bunal , and h e h as j us t a s l i t t l e a ut h or i t y t ot r y a nd p un i s h a ny o f f e nd er a s a j u dg e o f a c r i mi n al c o ur t o f t h e St a t e .

I t h ap pe ns t h at t h i s p r i v at e c i t i z en , t h us p l a c ed o n t h e b en c h, i s t o s i t a s t h es o l e j ud ge i n a c r i mi na l c o ur t wh os e j ur i s di c t i on e x t e nd s t o c a s es i nv o l v i ng t h el i f e o f t h e a cc u se d.

I f h e h as a ny j u di c i a l p owe r i n a ny c as e, h e h as t h e s a me p owe r t o t a k e


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c o gn i z a nc e o f c a pi t a l c a s es , a nd t o s e nt e nc e t h e a c c us e d t o d ea t h , a nd o r d er h i sexecut i on. A s t r ange spect acl e, wher e t he j udge and t he cr i mi nal may ver y wel l' change pl aces; ' f o r i f t h e c r i mi na l h as u nl a wf u l l y t a k en l i f e , s o t o o d oe s t h e

j ud ge . Th i s i s t h e i n ev i t a bl e r e s ul t , f o r t h e o nl y t r i b un al , t h e o nl y j ud ge s , i ft hey can be cal l ed j udges, whi ch a mi l i t ar y commander * 1 9 4 can const i t ut e anda pp oi n t u nd er t h i s a c t , t o i n f l i c t t h e d ea t h p en al t y , i s a mi l i t a r y c o ur t c o mp os e dof a boar d, and cal l ed i n t he act a ' mi l i t ar y commi ssi on. '

I s e e n o r e l i e f f o r t h e c on de mn ed a ga i n st t h e s en t e nc e o f t h i s a ge nt o f t h emi l i t a r y c o mma nd er . I t i s n ot t h e s o r t o f c o ur t wh os e s e nt e nc e o f d ea t h mu s t b ef i r st appr oved by t he commander and f i nal l y by t he Pr esi dent , f or t hat i s al l owedonl y wher e t he sent ence i s pr onounced by a ' mi l i t ar y commi ssi on. ' Nor i s i t as e nt e nc e p r o no un c ed b y t h e r i gh t f u l c o ur t o f a St a t e , bu t by a c ou r t an d b y a j u dgenot cl ot hed wi t h aut hor i t y under t he l aws of t he St at e, b ut c o ns t i t u t e d b y t h emi l i t ar y aut hor i t y . As t h e r e pr e s en t a t i v e o f t h i s mi l i t a r y a ut h or i t y , t h i s a c tf o r b i d s i nt e r f e r e nc e , ' u nd er c o l o r o f St a t e a ut h or i t y , ' wi t h t h e e x er c i s e o f h i sf unct i ons.

I n anot her one of t hese di st r i ct s a mi l i t ar y or der commands t he gover nor of t heSt at e t o f or bi d t he r eassembl i ng of t he l egi s l at ur e, and t hus suspends t he pr operl e gi s l a t i v e p owe r o f t h e St a t e . I n t h e s a me d i s t r i c t a n o r d er h as b ee n i s s u ed ' t or e l i ev e t h e t r e as u r e r o f t h e St a t e f r o m t h e d ut i es , b on ds , b oo k s , p ap er s , &c . ,apper t ai ni ng t o hi s of f i ce, ' and t o put an ' assi st ant quar t er mast er of Uni t edSt at es vol unt eer s ' i n pl ace of t he r emoved t r easur er ; t he dut i es of whi chquar t er mast er - t r easur er ar e t hus summed up: He i s t o make t o t he headquar t er s oft he di st r i ct ' t he same r epor t s and r et ur ns r equi r ed f r om t he t r easur er , and amont hl y st at ement of r ecei pt s and expendi t ur es; he wi l l pay al l war r ant s f orsal ar i es whi ch may be or become due, and l egi t i mat e expendi t ur es f or t he suppor t oft he peni t ent i ar y, St at e asyl um, and t he suppor t of t he pr ovi s i onal St at eg ov e r n me nt ; b ut n o s c r i p o r wa r r a nt s f o r o ut s t a nd i n g d eb t s o f o t h er k i nd t h an t h os especi f i ed wi l l be pai d wi t hout speci al aut hor i t y f r om t hese headquar t er s. He wi l ldeposi t f unds i n t he same manner as t hough t hey wer e t hose of t he Uni t ed St at es. '

I n a no t h er o f t h es e d i s t r i c t s a body of mi l i t ar y edi ct s , i s s u ed i n g en er a l a ndspeci al s or der s r egul ar l y number ed, a nd i n o cc a si o na l c i r c ul a r s , h av e b ee npr omul gat ed, whi ch * 1 9 5 al r eady begi n t o assume t he di mensi ons of a code. Thesemi l i t ar y or der s modi f y t he exi st i ng l aw i n t he r emedi es f or t he col l ect i on ofdebt s, t he enf or cement of j udgment s and decr ees f or t he payment of money, st ayi ngpr oceedi ngs i nst i t ut ed, pr ohi bi t i ng i n cer t ai n cases t he r i ght t o br i ng sui t ,enj oi ni ng pr oceedi ngs on execut i on f or t he t er m of t wel ve mont hs, gi v i ng new l i ensi n cer t ai n cases, est abl i shi ng homest ead exempt i ons, decl ar i ng what shal l be al egal t ender , abol i shi ng i n cer t ai n cases t he r emedy by f or ei gn at t achment ,abol i shi ng bai l , ' as h er e t o f o r e a ut h or i z ed , ' i n c as e s e x c on t r a ct u , b ut n ot i n' ot h er c a s es k n own a s a c t i on s e x d el i c t o , ' a nd c h an gi ng i n s e r v e r a l p ar t i c ul ar s t h eexi st i ng l aws as t o t he puni shment of cr i mes, and di r ect i ng t hat t he cr i mesr ef er r ed t o ' shal l be puni shed by i mpr i sonment at har d l abor f or a t er m note x c ee di n g t e n y e ar s n or l e s s t h an t wo y e ar s , i n t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e c o ur t h av i n g

j ur i s di c t i on t he r eo f . ' One of t he s e ge ne r al or de r s , be i ng No. 10 of t he s er i es ,

cont ai ns no l ess t han sevent een sect i ons, embodyi ng t he var i ous changes andmodi f i cat i ons whi ch have been r eci t ed.

Th e q ue s t i o n a t o nc e a r i s e s i n t h e mi n d o f e v er y l a wy e r , wh at p owe r o r d i s c r e t i onb el o ng s t o t h e c o ur t , h av i n g j u r i s d i c t i o n o f a ny o f t h es e o f f e nc e s , t o s e nt e nc e acr i mi nal t o any ot her or di f f er ent puni shment t han t hat pr ovi ded by t he l aw whi chvest s hi m wi t h j ur i sdi ct i on.

Th e c o nc l u di n g p ar a pr a ph o f t h i s o r d er , No . 1 0, i s i n t h es e wo r d s : ' Any l aw oror di nance her et of or e i n f or ce i n Nor t h Car ol i na or Sout h Car ol i na, i nconsi st ent


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wi t h t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s gener al or der , ar e her eby suspended and decl ar edi noper at i ve. ' Th us a nn ou nc i n g, n ot o nl y a p owe r t o s us pe nd t h e l a ws , b ut t odecl ar e t hem gener al l y i noper at i ve, and assumi ng f ul l power s of l egi s l at i on by t hemi l i t ar y aut hor i t y .

The gr ound upon whi ch t hese ext r aor di nar y power s ar e based i s t hus set f or t h i nmi l i t a r y o r d er , No . 1 , i s s ue d i n t h i s d i s t r i c t : ' Th e c i v i l g ov e r n me nt n ow e x i s t i ng

i n Nor t h Car ol i na and Sout h Car ol i na i s pr ovi s i onal onl y, and i n al l r espect ssubj ect t o t he par amount aut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed * 1 9 6 St a t e s , a t a ny t i me t oa bo l i s h , mo di f y , c o nt r o l , o r s u pe r s e de t h e s a me . ' Th us f a r t h e p r o v i s i o ns o f t h ea c t o f Co ng r e s s a r e we l l r e c i t e d. Wh at f o l l o ws i s i n t h es e wo r d s : ' L oc a l l a ws a ndmuni ci pal r egul at i ons, not i nconsi st ent wi t h t he Const i t ut i on and l aws of t heUni t ed St at es, or t he pr ocl amat i ons of t he Pr esi dent , or wi t h such r egul at i ons asar e or may be pr escr i bed i n t he or der s of t he commandi ng gener al , ar e her ebydecl ar ed t o be i n f or ce; and, i n conf or mi t y t her ewi t h, c i v i l of f i cer s ar e her ebya ut h or i z ed t o c o nt i nu e t h e e x er c i s e o f t h ei r p r o pe r f u nc t i on s , a nd wi l l b er espect ed and obeyed by t he i nhabi t ant s. '

Thi s c o ns t r u c t i on o f h i s p owe r s , u nd er t h e a c t o f Co ng r e s s , p l a c es t h e mi l i t a r ycommander on t he same f oot i ng as t he Congr ess of t he Uni t ed St at es . I t a s s ume s t h at' t he par amount aut hor i t y of t he Uni t ed St at es at any t i me t o abol i sh, modi f y,c o nt r o l , o r s u pe r s e de , ' i s v e s t e d i n h i m a s f u l l y a s i t i s r e s er v e d t o Co ng r e s s .He deems hi msel f a r epr esent at i ve of t hat par amount aut hor i t y. He put s hi msel fupon an equal i t y wi t h t he l aw- maki ng power of t he Uni on; t he onl y par amounta ut h or i t y i n o ur g ov e r n me nt , s o f a r , a t l e as t , a s t h e e na c t me nt o f l a ws i sconcer ned.

He pl aces hi msel f on hi gher gr ound t han t he Pr esi dent , who i s si mpl y an execut i veo f f i c e r . He a s s ume s , d i r e c t l y o r i n di r e c t l y , a l l t h e a ut h or i t y o f t h e St a t e ,l eg i s l at i v e , e x ec u t i v e, a nd j ud i c i al , a nd i n e f f e c t d ec l a r e s , ' I a m t h e St a t e. '

I r e gr e t t h at I f i n d i t n ec e ss ar y t o s pe ak s o p l a i n l y o f t h i s a ss u mp t i o n o faut hor i t y .

I r e pe at wh at I h av e h er e t o f o r e s ai d , t h at I d o n o t d ou bt t h at a l l t h es e o r d er sh av e b ee n i s s u ed u nd er a n h on es t b el i e f t h at t h ey we r e n ec e s s ar y o r e x pe di e nt , a ndf ul l y war r ant ed by t he act of Congr ess.

Ther e may be evi l s and mi schi ef s i n t he l aws whi ch t hese peopl e have made f ort hemsel ves, t hr ough t hei r own l egi s l at i ve bodi es, whi ch r equi r e change; but none oft hese can be so i nt ol er abl e as t he evi l s and mi schi ef s whi ch must ensue f r om t hesor t of r emedy appl i ed.

* 1 9 7 One can pl ai nl y see what wi l l be t he i nevi t abl e conf usi on and di sor der whi chs u c h d i s t u r b an c es o f t h e wh ol e c i v i l p ol i c y o f t h e St a t e mu s t p r o du c e. I f t h es emi l i t ar y edi ct s ar e al l owed t o r emai n, even dur i ng t he br i ef t i me i n whi ch t hi spr ovi s i onal mi l i t ar y gover nment may be i n power , t he seeds wi l l be sown f or such af u t u r e h ar v e s t o f l i t i ga t i on a s h as n ev e r b ee n i nf l i c t e d u po n a ny o t h er p eo pl e.

Ther e i s, i n my opi ni on, an execut i ve dut y t o be per f or med her e whi ch cannots a f e l y b e a v oi d ed o r d el ay e d.

For , not wi t hst andi ng t he par amount aut hor i t y ass umed by t hese commander s, t heyar e not , e v en a s t o t h ei r p r o pe r e x ec u t i v e d ut i e s , i n a ny s e ns e , c l o t h ed wi t h apar amount aut hor i t y. They ar e, at l east , subor di nat e execut i ve of f i cer s. They ar er e s po ns i b l e t o t h e Pr e s i d en t f o r t h e p r o pe r e x ec u t i o n o f t h ei r d ut i es , a nd u po n h i mr est s t he f i nal r esponsi bi l i t y. They ar e hi s sel ect ed agent s. Hi s d ut y i s n ot a l lper f or med by sel ect i ng such agent s as he deems compet ent , but t he dut y r emai ns wi t h


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h i m t o s e e t o i t t h at t h ey e x ec u t e t h ei r d ut i es f a i t h f u l l y a nd a c c or d i n g t o l aw.

I t i s t r u e, t h at t h i s a c t o f Co ng r e s s o nl y r e f e r s t o t h e Pr e s i d en t i n t h e ma t t e rof sel ect i ng and appoi nt i ng t hese commander s; and i n t he mat t er of t hei r power s andd ut i e s u nd er t h e l a w, t h e a c t s p ea k s i n t e r ms d i r e c t l y t o t h em; b ut t h i s d oe s n otr e l i ev e t h em f r o m t h ei r r e s po ns i bi l i t y t o t h e Pr e s i d en t , n or d oe s i t r e l i ev e h i mf r om t he const i t ut i onal obl i gat i on i mposed upon hi m t o see t hat al l ' t he l aws ar e

f ai t hf ul l y execut ed. '

I t c a n s c a r c e l y b e n ec e s s ar y t o c i t e a ut h or i t y f o r s o p l a i n a p r o po s i t i on a st h i s . Ne v er t h el e s s , a s we h av e a r e c en t d ec i s i o n c o mp l e t e l y i n p oi n t , I ma y a swe l l r e f e r t o i t .

Upon mot i on made by t he St at e of Mi ssi ssi ppi bef or e t he Supr eme Cour t of t heUn i t e d St a t e s a t i t s l a t e t e r m, f o r l e av e t o f i l e a b i l l a ga i n s t t h e Pr e s i d en t o ft he Uni t ed St at es t o enj oi n hi m agai nst execut i ng t he ver y act s of Congr ess nowu nd er c o ns i de r a t i on ; t h e o pi ni on o f t h e c o ur t u po n d i s mi s s i n g t h at mo t i on , a nd i ts e ems t o h av e b ee n u na ni mo us , wa s d el i v e r e d b y t h e c h i e f j u s t i c e . I * 1 9 8 make t hef o l l owi ng q uo t a t i on f r o m t h e o pi ni on : ' Ve r y d i f f e r e nt i s t h e d ut y o f t h ePr e s i d en t , i n t h e e x er c i s e o f t h e p owe r t o s e e t h at t h e l aws a r e f a i t h f u l l ye x ec u t e d, a nd a mo ng t h os e l a ws t h e a c t s n ame d i n t h e b i l l . By t h e f i r s t o f t h es eact s he i s r equi r ed t o assi gn gener al s t o command i n t he sever al mi l i t ar yd i s t r i c t s , a nd t o d et a i l s u f f i c i e nt mi l i t a r y f o r c e t o e na bl e s u c h o f f i c er s t odi schar ge t hei r dut i es under t he l aw. By t he suppl ement ar y act , ot her dut i es ar ei mposed on t he sever al commandi ng gener al s, and t hei r dut i es must necessar i l y beper f or med under t he super vi si on of t he Pr esi dent as commander - i n- chi ef . The dut yt hus i mposed on t he Pr esi dent i s i n no j ust sense mi ni st er i al . I t i s p ur e l yexecut i ve and pol i t i cal . '

Cer t ai n quest i ons have been pr opounded f r om one of t hese mi l i t ar y di st r i ct st ouchi ng t he const r uct i on of t he power of t he mi l i t ar y commander t o const i t ut emi l i t a r y t r i bu na l s f o r t h e t r i al o f o f f e nd er s , wh i c h I wi l l n ex t c o ns i de r .

Wh i l s t t h e a c t d oe s n ot i n t e r ms d i s p l a c e t h e r e gu l a r c r i mi n al c o ur t s o f t h eSt at e, i t does gi ve t he power t o t he mi l i t ar y commander , when i n hi s j udgment anecessi t y ar i ses, t o t ake t he admi ni st r at i on of t he cr i mi nal l aw i nt o hi s ownhands, and t o t r y and puni sh of f ender s by means of mi l i t ar y commi ssi ons.

I n g i v i ng c o ns t r u c t i on t o t h i s p owe r , we mu s t n ot f o r g et t h e r e c en t a ndaut hor i t at i ve exposi t i on gi ven by t he Supr eme Cour t of t he Uni t ed St at es as t o t hep owe r o f Co ng r e s s t o p r o v i d e f o r mi l i t a r y t r i bu na l s f o r t h e t r i al o f c i t i z en s i nt i me of peace, a nd t o t h e e mp ha t i c d ec l ar a t i o n, a s t o wh i c h t h er e wa s n o d i s s e nt o rd i f f e r e nc e o f o pi n i o n a mo ng t h e j u dg es , t h at s u c h a p owe r i s n ot wa r r a nt e d b y t h econst i t ut i on.

A s i ng l e e x t r a c t f r o m t h e o pi ni on o f t h e mi no r i t y , a s d el i v e r e d b y t h e c h i e fj us t i c e, wi l l s uf f i c e: ' We by no mea ns as s er t t ha t Con gr es s c an es t ab l i s h an da pp l y t h e l a ws o f wa r wh er e n o wa r h as b ee n d ec l a r e d o r e x i s t s ; wh er e p ea c e e x i s t s ,

t h e l a ws o f p ea c e mu s t p r e v ai l . Wh at we d o ma i n t a i n i s , t h at wh er e t h e n at i o n i si n v ol v e d i n * 1 9 9 wa r , a nd s o me p or t i o ns o f t h e c o un t r y a r e i n v ad ed , a nd a l l a r eexposed t o i nvasi on, i t i s wi t hi n t he power of Congr ess t o det er mi ne i n what St at eso r d i s t r i c t s s u c h g r e at a nd i mmi ne nt p ub l i c d an ge r e x i s t s a s j us t i f i es t h eaut hor i zat i on of mi l i t ar y t r i bunal s f or t he t r i al of cr i mes and of f ences agai nstt h e d i s c i pl i n e o r s e c ur i t y o f t h e a r my , or agai ns t t he publ i c saf et y . '

Li mi t i ng mysel f her e si mpl y t o t he const r uct i on of t hi s act of Congr ess, and t ot h e q ue s t i o n i n wh at wa y i t s h ou l d b e e x ec u t e d, I h av e n o h es i t a t i o n i n s a y i n g,t hat n ot h i n g s h or t o f a n a bs o l u t e o r c o nt r o l l i n g n ec e s s i t y wo ul d g i v e a ny c o l o r o f


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aut hor i t y f or ar r ai gni ng a ci t i zen bef or e a mi l i t ar y commi ssi on.

A per son char ged wi t h cr i me i n any of t hese mi l i t ar y di st r i ct s has r i ght s t o bepr ot ect ed, r i ght s t he most sacr ed and i nvi ol abl e, and among t hese t he r i ght oft r i a l b y j ur y , a cc or d i n g t o t h e l a ws o f t h e l a nd. When a ci t i zen i s ar r ai gnedbef or e a mi l i t ar y commi ssi on on a cr i mi nal char ge he i s no l onger under t hepr ot ect i on of l aw, nor sur r ounded wi t h t hose saf eguar ds whi ch ar e pr ovi ded i n t he

Const i t ut i on. Th i s a c t , p as s e d i n a t i me o f p ea c e, wh en a l l t h e c o ur t s , St a t e a ndf e de r a l , a r e i n t h e u nd i s t u r b ed e x er c i s e o f t h ei r j ur i s di c t i on , a ut h or i z es a t t h edi scr et i on of a mi l i t ar y of f i cer , t he sei zur e, t r i al , and condemnat i on of t hec i t i z e n. Th e a c c us e d ma y b e s e nt e nc e d t o d ea t h , a nd t h e s e nt e nc e ma y b e e x ec u t e dwi t h ou t a j u dg e. A s e nt e nc e wh i c h f o r f e i t s a l l t h e p r o pe r t y o f t h e a c c us e dr e qu i r e s n o a pp r o va l . I f i t a f f e ct s t h e l i b er t y o f t h e a c cu se d, i t r e qu i r e s t h ea pp r o v al o f t h e c o mma nd i n g g en er a l ; a nd i f i t a f f e c t s h i s l i f e , i t r e qu i r e s t h ea pp r o v al o f t h e g en er a l a nd o f t h e Pr e s i d en t . Mi l i t a r y a nd e x ec u t i v e a ut h or i t yr u l e t h r o ug ho ut i n t h e t r i al , t h e s e nt e nc e , a nd t h e e x ec u t i on . No habeas cor pusf r om any St at e cour t can be i nvoked; f o r t h i s l aw d e c l a r e s , t h at ' a l l i nt e r f e r e nc e ,under col or of St at e aut hor i t y, wi t h t he exer ci se of mi l i t ar y aut hor i t y under t hi sa ct , s hal l be n ul l a nd v oi d. '

I r e pe at i t , t h at n ot h i n g s h or t o f a n a bs o l u t e n ec e ss i t y c an g i v e a ny c ol o r o faut hor i t y t o a mi l i t ar y commander * 200 t o cal l i nt o exer ci se such a power . I t i s apower t he exer ci se of whi ch may i nvol ve hi m, and ever y one concer ned, i n t heg r e at e s t r e s po ns i bi l i t i es . Th e o c c as i on f o r i t s e x er c i s e s h ou l d b e r e po r t e d a tonce t o t he Execut i ve, f or such i nst r uct i ons as may be deemed necessar y and pr oper .

Quest i ons have ar i sen whet her , under t hi s power , t hese mi l i t ar y commi ssi ons cant ake cogni zance of of f ences commi t t ed bef or e t he passage of t he act , and whet hert h ey c a n t r y a nd p un i s h f o r a c t s n ot ma de c r i me s o r o f f e nc e s b y f e de r a l o r St a t el aw.

I a m c l ea r l y o f o pi ni on t h at t h ey h av e n o j ur i s di c t i on a s t o e i t h er . They cant a k e c o gn i z a nc e o f n o o f f e nc e t h at h as n ot h ap pe ne d a f t e r t h e l a w t o ok e f f e c t .I nasmuch as t he t r i bunal t o puni sh, and t he measur e or degr ee of puni shment , ar ee s t a bl i s h ed b y t h i s a c t , we mu s t c o ns t r u e i t t o b e p r o s pe c t i v e , a nd n otr e t r o ac t i v e . Ot h er wi s e , i t wo ul d t a k e t h e c h ar a c t e r o f a n e x p os t f a c t o l a w.Th er e f o r e , i n t h e a bs e nc e o f a ny l a ng ua ge wh i c h g i v e s t h e a c t a r e t r o s pe c t , I d on ot h es i t a t e t o s ay i t c a nn ot a pp l y t o p as t o f f e nc es .

Th er e i s n o l eg i s l at i v e p owe r g i v e n u nd er t h i s mi l i t a r y b i l l t o e s t a bl i s h a n ewcr i mi nal code. The aut hor i t y gi ven i s t o t r y and puni sh cr i mi nal s and of f ender s,and t hi s pr oceeds upon t he i dea t hat cr i mes and of f ences have been commi t t ed; butn o p er s o n c a n b e c a l l e d a c r i mi n al o r a n o f f e nd er f o r d oi n g a n a c t wh i c h , wh endone, was not pr ohi bi t ed by l aw.

But , as t o t he measur e of puni shment , I r egr e t t o be ob l i ge d t o s ay t hat i t i sl ef t al t oget her t o t he mi l i t ar y aut hor i t i es, wi t h onl y t hi s l i mi t at i on: t hat t hep un i s h me nt t o b e i n f l i c t e d s h al l n ot b e c r u el o r u nu s ua l .

The mi l i t ar y commi ssi on may t r y t he accused, f i x t he measur e of puni shment , event o t h e p en al t y o f d ea t h , a nd d i r e c t t h e e x ec u t i o n o f t h e s e nt e nc e .

I t i s o nl y wh en t h e s e nt e nc e a f f e ct s t h e ' l i f e o r l i b er t y ' o f t h e p er s on t h at i tneed be appr oved by t he commandi ng gener al , and onl y i n cases wher e i t af f ect s t hel i f e o f t h e a cc u se d t h at i t n ee ds a l s o t h e a pp r o v al o f t h e Pr e s i d en t .

* 201 As t o cr i mes or of f ences agai nst t he l aws of t he Uni t ed St at es, t he mi l i t ar ya ut h or i t y c a n t a k e n o c o gn i z a nc e o f t h em, n or i n a ny wa y i nt e r f e r e wi t h t h e r e gu l a r


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admi ni st r at i on of j ust i ce by t he appr opr i at e f eder al cour t s.

I n t he opi ni on her et of or e gi ven upon ot her quest i ons ar i s i ng under t hese l aws, Igave at l ar ge, f or your consi der at i on, t he gr ounds upon whi ch my concl usi ons wer ea r r i v ed a t , i nt e nd i n g t h er e af t e r t o s t a t e t h es e c o nc l us i on s i n a c o nc i s e a nd c l ea rsummar y. I now pr oceed t o execut e t hat pur pose, whi ch i s made especi al l y necessar yf r om t he conf usi on and doubt s whi ch have ar i sen upon t hat opi ni on i n t he publ i c

mi n d, c a us e d, i n p ar t , b y t h e e r r o r s o f t h e t e l e gr a ph a nd t h e p r e s s i n i t sp ub l i c at i o n, a nd i n p ar t b y t h e i n ap t i t u de o f t h e g en er a l r e ad er t o f o l l owc a r e f u l l y t h e s u c c es s i v e a nd d ep en de nt s t e ps o f a p r o t r a c t e d l eg al o pi ni on .

SUMMARY.

Who ar e ent i t l ed t o r egi st r at i on?

1 . Th e o at h p r e s c r i b ed i n t h e s u pp l e me nt a l a c t d ef i n es a l l t h e q ua l i f i c a t i o nsr e qu i r e d, a nd e v er y p er s o n wh o c a n t a k e t h at o at h i s e nt i t l ed t o h av e h i s n amee nt e r e d u po n t h e l i s t o f v o t e r s .

2 . Th e b oa r d o f r e gi s t r a t i on h av e n o a ut h or i t y t o a dmi ni s t e r a ny o t h er o at h t ot he per son appl yi ng f or r egi st r at i on t han t hi s pr escr i bed oat h, nor t o admi ni st era ny o at h t o a ny o t h er p er s o n, t o uc h i n g t h e q ua l i f i c a t i o ns o f t h e a pp l i c a nt , o r t h ef a l s i t y o f t h e o at h s o t a ke n b y h i m. Th e a c t t o g ua r d a ga i n st f a l s i t y i n t h e o at hp r o vi de s t h at , i f f a l s e, t h e p er s o n t a k i n g i t s h al l b e t r i e d a nd p un i s h ed f o rper j ur y.

No pr ovi s i on i s made f or chal l engi ng t he qual i f i cat i ons of t he appl i cant , ore nt e r i ng u po n a ny t r i al o r i nv e s t i ga t i on o f h i s q ua l i f i c at i on s , e i t h er b y wi t n es s e so r a ny o t h er f o r m o f p r o of .

3 . As t o c i t i z e ns h i p a nd r e s i d en c e. The appl i cant f or r egi st r at i on must be ac i t i z en o f t h e St a t e a nd o f t h e Un i t e d * 2 02 St a t e s, and mu st b e a r e si d en t o f ac o un t y i nc l u de d i n t he e l ec t i o n d i s t r i c t . He ma y b e r e gi s t e r e d, i f h e h as b ee n s u c h

ci t i zen f or a per i od l ess t han t wel ve mont hs at t he t i me he appl i es f orr e gi s t r a t i on , b ut h e c a nn ot v o t e a t a ny e l e c t i o n u nl e s s h i s c i t i z e ns h i p h as t h ene x t e nd ed t o t h e f u l l t e r m o f o ne y e ar . As t o s u ch a p er s o n, t h e e x ac t l e ng t h o fh i s c i t i z e ns h i p s h ou l d b e n ot e d o pp os i t e h i s n ame o n t h e l i s t , s o t h at i t ma ya pp ea r o n t h e d ay o f e l e c t i o n, u po n r e f e r e nc e t o t h e l i s t , wh et h er t h e f u l l t e r mhas t hen been accompl i shed.

4 . An u nn at u r a l i z e d p er s o n c a nn ot t a k e t h i s o at h , b ut a n a l i e n wh o h as b ee nn at u r a l i z ed c a n t a k e i t , a nd n o o t h er p r o of o f n at u r a l i z at i on c a n b e r e qu i r e d f r o mhi m.

5 . No o ne wh o i s n ot t we nt y - o ne y e ar s o f a ge a t t h e t i me o f r e gi s t r a t i o n c a nt a k e t h e o at h , f o r h e mu s t s we ar t h at h e h as t h en a t t a i n ed t h at a ge .

6 . No o ne wh o h as b ee n d i s f r a nc h i s e d f o r p ar t i c i p at i on i n a ny r e be l l i o n a ga i n s tt h e Un i t e d St a t e s , o r f o r f e l o ny c o mmi t t e d a ga i n s t t h e l a ws o f a ny St a t e , o r o f t h eUni t ed St at es, can saf el y t ake t hi s oat h.

Th e a c t u al p ar t i c i p at i on i n a r e be l l i o n, o r t h e a c t u al c o mmi s s i o n o f f e l o ny , d oe snot amount t o di sf r anchi sement . The sor t of di sf r anchi sement her e meant , i s t hatwhi ch i s decl ar ed by l aw, passed by compet ent aut hor i t y, or whi ch has been f i xedu po n t h e c r i mi na l b y t h e s e nt e nc e o f t h e c o ur t wh i c h t r i ed h i m f o r t h e c r i me .

No l aw of t he Uni t ed St at es has decl ar ed t he penal t y of di sf r anchi sement f or


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p ar t i ci p at i o n i n r e be l l i on a l o ne . No r i s i t k no wn t h at a ny s u ch l a w ex i s t s i ne i t h er o f t h es e t e n St a t e s , e x c ep t p er h ap s Vi r g i n i a , a s t o wh i c h St a t e s p ec i ali nst r uct i ons wi l l be gi ven.

7. As t o di sf r anchi sement ar i s i ng f r om havi ng hel d of f i ce, f ol l owed byp ar t i c i p at i o n i n r e be l l i on . Th i s i s t h e mo s t i mp or t a nt p ar t o f t h e o at h , a ndr e qu i r e s s t r i c t a t t e nt i o n t o a r r i v e a t i t s me an i n g. I d ee m i t p r o pe r t o g i v e t h e

e x ac t wo r d s . Th e a pp l i c a nt mu s t s we ar o r a f f i r m a s f o l l o ws :

' Th at I h av e n ev e r b ee n a me mb er o f a ny St a t e l e gi s l a t u r e , n or h el d a ny e x ec u t i v eo r j u di c i a l o f f i c e i n a ny * 2 0 3 St at e, and af t er war ds engaged i n any i nsur r ect i on orr ebel l i on agai nst t he Uni t ed St at es, or gi ven ai d or comf or t t o t he enemi est h er e of ; t h at I h av e n ev e r t a k en a n o at h a s a me mb er o f Co ng r e s s o f t h e Un i t e dSt a t e s , o r a s a n o f f i c e r o f t h e Un i t e d St a t e s , o r a s a me mb er o f a ny St a t el e gi s l a t u r e , o r a s a n e x ec ut i v e o r j u di c i a l o f f i c er o f a ny St a t e , t o s u pp or t t h eConst i t ut i on of t he Uni t ed St at es, and af t er war ds engaged i n i nsur r ect i on orr ebel l i on agai nst t he Uni t ed St at es, or gi ven ai d or comf or t t o t he enemi est her eof . '

Two el ement s must concur i n or der t o di squal i f y a per son under t hese cl auses:f i r s t , t h e o f f i c e a nd o f f i c i a l o at h t o s u pp or t t h e Co ns t i t u t i on o f t h e Un i t e dSt at es; second, engagi ng af t er war ds i n r ebel l i on. Bot h must exi st t o wor kdi squal i f i cat i on, and must happen i n t he or der of t i me ment i oned.

A p er s o n wh o h as h el d a n o f f i c e, a nd t a k en t h e o at h t o s u pp or t t h e f e de r a lConst i t ut i on, and has not af t er war ds engaged i n r ebel l i on, i s not di squal i f i ed.

So , t o o, a p er s o n wh o h as e ng ag ed i n r e be l l i o n, b ut h as n ot t h er e t o f o r e h el d a no f f i c e a nd t a k en t h at o at h , i s n ot d i s q ua l i f i e d.

8. Of f i c e r s o f t h e Un i t e d St a t e s . As t o t h es e , t h e l a ng ua ge i s wi t h ou tl i mi t a t i on . Th e p er s o n wh o h as a t a ny t i me p r i or t o t h e r e be l l i o n h el d a ny o f f i c e,c i v i l o r mi l i t a r y , u nd er t h e Un i t e d St a t e s , a nd h as t a k en a n o f f i c i al o at h t osuppor t t he Const i t ut i on of t he Uni t ed St at es, i s subj ect t o di squal i f i cat i on.

9 . Mi l i t a r y o f f i c e r s o f a ny St a t e , p r i o r t o t h e r e be l l i o n, a r e n ot s u bj e c t t odi squal i f i cat i on.

1 0. Mu ni c i p al o f f i c e r s , t h at i s t o s a y , o f f i c e r s o f i n c or p or a t e d c i t i e s , t o wn s ,and vi l l ages, such as mayor s, al der men, t own- counci l , pol i ce, and ot her ci t y ort o wn o f f i c er s , a r e n ot s u bj ec t t o d i s q ua l i f i c at i on .

11. Per sons who have, pr i or t o t he r ebel l i on, been member s of Congr ess of t heUni t ed St at es, or member s of a St at e l egi s l at ur e, ar e subj ect t o di squal i f i cat i on.But t hose who have been member s of convent i ons f r ami ng or amendi ng * 2 0 4 t hec o ns t i t u t i on o f a St a t e , p r i o r t o t h e r e be l l i o n, a r e n ot s u bj e c t t odi squal i f i cat i on.

1 2. Al l t h e e xe cu t i v e o r j u di c i a l o f f i c e r s o f a ny St a t e , wh o t o ok a n o at h t osuppor t t he Const i t ut i on of t he Uni t ed St at es, ar e subj ect t o di squal i f i cat i on, andi n t h es e I i nc l ud e c o un t y o f f i c er s , a s t o wh om I ma de a r e s er v a t i on i n t h e o pi ni onh er e t o f o r e g i v e n. Af t e r f u l l c o ns i de r a t i on , I h av e a r r i v ed a t t h e c o nc l us i on t h att h ey a r e s u bj e c t t o d i s q ua l i f i c a t i on , i f t h ey we r e r e qu i r e d t o t a k e, a s a p ar t o ft h ei r o f f i c i a l o at h , t h e o at h t o s u pp or t t h e Co ns t i t u t i on o f t h e Un i t e d St a t e s .

13 . Per sons who exer ci sed mer e agenci es or empl oyment s under St at e aut hor i t y ar enot di squal i f i ed, such as commi ssi oner s t o l ay out r oads, commi ssi oner s of publ i cwo r k s , v i s i t o r s o f St a t e i ns t i t u t i on s , d i r e c t o r s o f St a t e b an k s o r o t h er St a t e


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i nst i t ut i ons, exami ner s of banks, not ar i es publ i c, commi ssi oner s t o t akeack nowl edgment s of deeds, and l awyer s.

Engagi ng i n r ebel l i on.

Havi ng speci f i ed what of f i ces hel d by any one pr i or t o t he r ebel l i on come wi t hi nt h e me an i n g o f t h e l a w, i t i s n ec e s s ar y n ex t t o s e t f o r t h wh at s u bs e qu en t c o nd uc tf i x e s u po n s u c h p er s o n t h e o f f e nc e o f e ng ag i n g i n r e be l l i o n. I r e pe at , t h at t wot h i n gs mu s t e x i s t , a s t o a ny p er s o n, t o d i s q ua l i f y h i m f r o m v o t i n g: f i r s t , t h eo f f i c e h el d p r i or t o t h e r e be l l i o n; a nd , a f t e r wa r d s , p ar t i c i p at i on i n t h er ebel l i on.

14 . An a c t t o f i x u po n a p er s o n t h e o f f e nc e o f e ng ag i n g i n r e be l l i o n u nd er t h i sl a w mu s t b e a n o v er t a nd v o l u nt a r y a c t , d on e wi t h t h e i n t e nt o f a i d i n g o rf ur t her i ng t he common unl awf ul pur pose.

A p er s o n f o r c e d i nt o t h e r e be l s e r v i c e b y c o ns c r i pt i on , o r u nd er a p ar a mo un ta ut h or i t y wh i c h h e c o ul d n ot s a f e l y d i s o be y , a nd wh o wo ul d n ot h av e e nt e r e d s u c hs e r v i c e i f l e f t t o t h e f r e e e x er c i s e o f h i s o wn wi l l , c an no t b e h el d t o b edi squal i f i ed f r om vot i ng.

1 5. Me r e a ct s o f c ha r i t y , wh er e t h e i n t e nt i s t o r e l i e v e * 2 0 5 t h e wa nt s o f t h eo bj e c t o f s uc h c ha r i t y , a nd n ot d on e i n a i d o f t h e c a us e i n wh i c h h e ma y h av e b ee ne ng ag ed , d o n ot d i s q ua l i f y . Bu t o r g an i z e d c o nt r i b ut i o ns o f f o od a nd c l o t h i n g, f o rt h e g en er a l r e l i e f o f p er s o ns e ng ag ed i n t h e r e be l l i o n, a nd n ot o f a me r e l ysani t ar y char act er , but cont r i but ed t o enabl e t hem t o per f or m t hei r unl awf ulobj ect , may be cl assed wi t h act s whi ch do di squal i f y.

Fo r c e d c o nt r i bu t i on s t o t h e r e be l c a us e , i n t h e f o r m of t a x es o r mi l i t a r yassessment s, whi ch a per son may be compel l ed t o pay or cont r i but e, do notd i s q ua l i f y . Bu t v o l u nt a r y c o nt r i b ut i o ns t o t h e r e be l c a us e , e v en s u c h i n di r e c tcont r i but i ons as ar i se f r om t he vol unt ar y l oan of money t o r ebel aut hor i t i es, or

p ur c h as e o f b on ds o r s e c ur i t i es c r e at e d t o a f f o r d t h e me an s o f c a r r y i ng o n t h er ebel l i on, wi l l wor k di squal i f i cat i on.

16 . Al l t h os e wh o, i n l e gi s l a t i v e o r o t h er o f f i c i al c a pa c i t y , we r e e ng ag ed i nt he f ur t her ance of t he common unl awf ul pur pose, wher e t he dut i es of t he of f i cen ec e s s ar i l y h ad r e l a t i on t o t h e s u pp or t o f t h e r e be l l i o n, s u c h a s me mb er s o f t h er ebel convent i ons, congr ess, and l egi s l at ur es, di pl omat i c agent s of t he r ebelconf eder acy, and ot her of f i c i al s whose of f i ces wer e cr eat ed f or t he pur pose of mor eef f ect ual l y car r y i ng on host i l i t i es, or whose dut i es apper t ai ned t o t he suppor t oft h e r e be l c a us e , mu s t b e h el d t o b e d i s q ua l i f i e d.

But of f i cer s who, dur i ng t he r ebel l i on, di schar ged of f i c i al dut i es not i nci dentt o wa r , b ut o nl y s u c h d ut i e s a s b el o ng t o a s t a t e o f p ea c e, a nd we r e n ec e s s ar y t ot h e p r e s er v a t i on o f o r d er a nd t h e a dmi ni s t r a t i on o f l aw, a r e n ot t o b e c o ns i de r e d

as t her eby engagi ng i n r ebel l i on or di squal i f i ed. Di sl oyal sent i ment s, opi ni ons,o r s y mp at h i e s wo ul d n ot d i s q ua l i f y ; b ut wh en a p er s o n h as , b y s p ee c h o r b y wr i t i n g,i nci t ed ot her s t o engage i n r ebel l i on, be must come under t he di squal i f i cat i on.

1 7. Th e d ut i e s o f t h e b oa r d a pp oi n t e d t o s u pe r i n t e nd t h e e l e c t i o ns . Th i s b oa r d ,h av i n g t h e c us t o dy o f t h e l i s t o f r e gi st e r e d v ot e r s i n t h e d i s t r i c t f o r wh i c h i t i sc o ns t i t u t e d, mu s t s e e t h at t h e n ame o f t h e p er s o n o f f e r i ng t o v o t e i s f o un d * 2 0 6u po n t h e r e gi s t r a t i o n l i s t , a nd i f s uc h p r o v es t o b e t h e f a ct , i t i s t h e d ut y o ft h e b oa r d t o r e c ei v e h i s v o t e . Th ey c a nn ot r e c ei v e t h e v o t e o f a ny p er s o n wh os en ame i s n ot u po n t h e l i s t , t h ou gh h e ma y b e r e ad y t o t a k e t h e r e gi s t r a t i on o at h ,


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and al t hough he may sat i sf y t hem t hat he was unabl e t o have hi s name r egi st er ed att h e p r o pe r t i me , i n c on s eq ue nc e o f a bs e nc e, s i c k ne ss , o r o t h er c au s e. Th e b o ar dc a nn ot e nt e r i nt o a ny i nq ui r y a s t o t h e q ua l i f i c at i on s o f a ny p er s o n wh os e n ame i sn ot o n t h e l i s t , o r a s t o t h e q ua l i f i c a t i o ns o f a ny p er s o n wh os e n ame i s o n t h el i st .

1 8. Th e mo de o f v o t i n g i s p r o vi d ed i n t h e a ct t o b e b y b al l o t . Th e b oa r d wi l l

k e ep a r e c or d a nd p ol l - b oo k o f t h e e l e c t i o n, s ho wi n g t h e v ot e s , l i s t o f v ot e r s , a ndt h e p er s o ns e l e c t e d b y a p l u r a l i t y o f t h e v o t e s c a s t a t t h e e l e c t i o n, a nd ma k er et ur ns of t hese t o t he commandi ng gener al of t he di st r i ct .

19. The boar d appoi nt ed f or r egi st r at i on and f or super i nt endi ng t he el ect i onsmu s t t a k e t h e o at h p r e s c r i be d b y t h e a c t o f Co ng r e s s e nt i t l ed ' An a c t t o p r e s c r i bea n o at h o f o f f i c e, ' a pp r o ve d J ul y 2 , 1 86 2.

I a m s i r , v e r y r e s pe c t f u l l y , Yo ur o be di en t s e r v a nt ,

HENRY STANBERY.

12 U. S. Op. At t y. Gen. 182

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12_U.S._Op_Atty._Gen._182_(1867). Page of 151 [ Ci t e as 12 U. S. Op At t y. Gen. 182] Uni t ed St at es At t or ney Gener alTHE RECONSTRUCTI ON ACTS.June 12, 1867