The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-11-07

practice doubtless existed to some extent,
and it was a real additional evil, that it
could be and was plausibly charged to ex-
list in greater extent than it did.
When Gen. Curtis took command of the
Department, Mr.. Dick, against whom I
never knew anything to allege, had general
charge of this systems A controversy in
regard to it rapidly grew-into almost I'M
manageable proportions One side ignored
the necessity, and msgnifed the evils of the
system, while the other ignored the evils
and magniGed the necessity, and each bit
lterly assaiIed the motives Of the other /
could not fail to see that the controversy
enlarged In the same proportion as the pro-.
fessed Union men there distinctly took sides
in too opposing political parties. Iexhaust-
ed my wits, and very nearly my patience
also, in efforts to convince both that the
evils they charged on each others were in
herent in the case, and could not be cured
by giving either party victory over the
other. -t
Plainly, the irritating system was not to
be perpetual; and it was plausibly urged
that it could be modified at once with ad-
vantage. The case could scarcely be worse,
and whether it could be made better could
only be determined By trial. In this view,
and not to ban or brand Gen. Curtis, or to
give victory to any party, made the
change of Commander for the Department.
I now learn that soon after this change Mr..
Dick was removed, and that Mr.. Broadhead,
a gentleman of no less good character, was
put in the place. The mere fact of this
change is more distinctly complained of
than is any conduct of the new officer, or
other consequence of the change.
Il l gave the new Commander no instruc-
tons as to the administration of the system
mentioned, beyond what is contained in the
private letter, afterward surreptitiously
published, in which I directed him to act
solely for the public good, and independent
" of both parties. Neither anything you
have presented me, nor anything have 9TH
: erwise learned, has convinced me that he
has been unfaithful to this charge.
Imbecility is urged as one cause for re-
moving Gen. Schofeld, and the late massa-
ere at Lawrence Kansas, is pressed as evil
dence Of that imbecility. To my mind,
that fact scarcely tends to prove the propo
sition. That massacre is only an example
of what Grierson, John Morgan, and many
others might have repeatedly done nm their
respective raids, had they chose to incur the
personal hazard and possessed the fendish
hearts to do it.
The charge is made that Gen. Schofeld,
on purpose to protect the Lawrence muir
derers, would not allow them to be pursued
into Missouri While no punishment could
be too sudden or too severe for these MUIR
derers, am well satisfied that the prevent
ing of the threatened remedial raid into
} Missouri, was the only safe way ITO avoid an
indiscrimInate massacre there, including
. probably more innocent than guilty. In
stead OF condemning, [ therefore approve
what I understand Gen. Schofeld did in
that respect
The charge that Gen. Sohofeld had pur-
posely withheld protection from loyal peo-
pie, and purposely facilitated the objects of
the disloyal, are altogether beyond my pow
er of belief. do net arraign the veracity
of gentlemen as to the facts complained of,
but l do more than question the judgment
which would infer that these facts occurred
in accordance with the purposes of General
Schofeld.
With my present views 1 must decline to
remove Gen. Schofeld. In this I decide
nothing against Gen. Butler I sincerely
wish it were convenient to assign him a
suitable command.
In order to meet some existing evils
have addressed letter of instructions to
Gen. Scho6eld, copy of which inclose to
you.
AS to the '.Enrolled Mill Tia I shall en-
deavor to ascertain, better than 1 now know,
what is its exact value. Let me say now,
however, that your proposal to substitute
national force for the Enrolled Militia"
implies that, in your judgment, the latter
is doing something which needs TO be done;
and if so, the proposition to throw that
force away, and to supply its place by
bringing other forces from the field where
they are urgently needed seems to be very
extraordinary. Whence shall they come?
Shall they be withdrawn from Banks, or
Grant, Or Steele, or Rosecrans?
Few things have been go grateful to my
anxious feelings as when, in June last, the
local force in Missouri aided Gen. Schofeld
to so promptly send large general force to
the relief of Gen. Grant, then investing
Vicksburg. and menaced from without by
Gen. Johnson. Was this all wrong? Should
the Enrolled Militia then have been broken
up, and Gen. Heron kept from Grant to po-
lice Missouri? So far from finding cause to
object, confess to a sympathy for what
ever relieves our general force in Missouri,
and which allows it to serve elsewhere.
l, therefore, as at present advised, cannot
attempt the destruction of the Enrolled Nj
litia Of Missouri slq
| may add, that the force being under the
national military control, 1t is also within
the proclamation with regard to the habeas
corpus
/ l concur in the propriety of your request
in regard to elections, and have, as you see,
directed Gen. Schofeld accordingly. do
not feel justified to enter upon the broad
field you present in regard to the political
difference between radicals and conserya-
tives.
From time to. time I have done and said