Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-03


The President removed General Curtis
from the command Of the Department Of
Missouri, and appointed General schOfeld
in his place-alleging as 3 reason for re-
moving General Curtis, that he had be-
came the head OF faction, and warned
schOfeld to avoid being complicated by
fctious, and above all TO be careful and |
not harrass and persecute loyal people,
But schOfeld, a fungus OffshOOt from
West Point, turns out to be a sopperhead
Of the type malignant, and does harrass and
persecute loyal people. Among his other
hsrrassing military moves was that of
arresting the editor of the St. Louis Demo
orat, one of the most loyal and able papers
of the country. The President promptly
ordered his released
scbofeld displaces loyal, Union, anti
slavery officers, and gives the places to
intensely pro-slavery, semi-secesh crea-
lures of his own. Under his administra-
ton slave-catching again hOurishes-and
the effort to recruit colored regiment in
st. Louis is nearly defeated, as slave
chalmers are allowed to visit the regiment,
and seize soldiers in the United States uni
forms, claimed as slaves, and drag them
into slavery.
Governor Gamble, the copperhead, and
General Curtis, were in antagOnism with
each other. schofeld and Gamble are
"hale fellows well met" Thus, in disre-
gard of the Presidents injunction, does he
affiliate with faction" and receives the
warm commendatiOn Of the prO-slavery,
copperhead press. Thus is the cause Of
freedom and emancipation in Missouri sci
backward If the President had good
cause for removing General Curtis, on the
same ground he has far greater cause for
removing General Schofeld. VIII he do
it2 The interests of the Union cause in
Missouri manifestly demand it.
Furfher-Schofeld has issued "Order
"a crafty, Jesuitical order, which is
in contraventiOn of Congressional law and
the Proclamation of Emancipation, mas
much as, under it, the employment of mill
tary forces may be resorted to, to restore
fleeing slaves to their claimants who may
come within our lines.
The following is an extract from "Order
68:"
"Any interference with civil officers or
suspension of civil law must be by the or
ders of the highest commander present.
and on his own responsibility. Any such
interference by subordinate officers or
soldiers will be regarded and punished as
high crime on the part Of those who COM
nit such an act, and of the commanding
officer who toler Ites or fails to prevent it.
"AlI civil officers having process to
serve in any pest or camp will present it
TO the commanding officer and obtain his
assent to the execution. If he assent, he
win protect the civil officer in the dis
charge of his duty, if need be, by all the
force under his command. If the com
manding officer refuses his assent, he will
without delay report the fact, with the
reasons for his refusal, to Department
Headquarters"
Commenting on this order, the St. Louis
Democrat says:
"The above extract, as every one will at
once see, has relation to the surrendering
of slaves when claimed under civil pro-
cess, or at least this is the principal re-
ference. Il is a most crafty prepared
document The first thing noticeable is
the fact if the officer in command con-
cludes to let the civil process be executed
be is to make no report of his action-there
the matter is to end. If on the contrary
lie declines allowing its execution within
his lines he must report the case to the de-
partment headquarters. If, therefore, a
military commander concludes to sssist a
slave hunter, with a writ in his hand, in
the recovery of his negro, nothing is ever
to be heard Of it. If he refuses, his action
is liable to be reversed and himself punish
ed. The distinction is every way worthy
of attention.
And then comes the remaining notice
able feature in the order-nsmely, that if
tue military officer thinks the civil pro-
cess such as should be enforced he must
protect the civil officer in the discharge
of his duty, if need be, by all the force
under his command which means sim
, ply that if civil officer comes with ci il
process for a negro, and the military COM
mander is prot slavery, he can use the
troops under him, although in Government
service aud pay, and for the sole purpose
Of suppressing the rebellion, 10 hunt down
the fugitive and deliver him over TO his
pursuer, and he is not at liberty to de-
cline.
Pro-slavery commanders will use the
, Order as license, and not only for sur
rendering fugitive slaves, but for using
Federal troops to hunt them down."
Is it not about time for the President to
enquire if this General schofeld is keep
ing himself alOof from "factions in
Missouri?
How much the Union cause has been,
andis cursed and crippled BY slave hounds
in military positiolsl