The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-13
LSeall LorrN \. Elicit, Clerk
Objects Of the Mission OF Gen. Slckles
TO the Southwest.
Correspondents Of the New York Times.

Correspondence Of the New York Times
WAsHINGToS, Tuesday, March ], 1864.
The designation of Gen. Sickies to
visit the armies of the West ostensibly
for the purpose of inspecting their con
dition and reporting to the Government
here, must have much graver signif-
canoe than the terms of his appointment
would seem to indicate A military
report of the inspection Of cur forces
in the Southwest could be of but little
use here Indeed, there can exist no
necessity that such an examination
should be made by an officer Of the
rank of Gen. Sickles-for officers of a
much lower grade would perform that
duty far more expeditiously, and quite
as satisfactorily.
| shall be much astonished, therefore,
if Gen. Sickles commission shall not
be found by him TO be broad enough to
justify the application of his time to
the observation Of the political or civil
condition Of the territory over which
we have obtained jurisdiction by the
expulsion Of the rebel troops Louisi-
ana, Arkansas, Mississippi-the field of
his observation-are in that normal
condition which now eXacts more than
a mere military supervision and care
The rebellion being substantially bro
ken in those States, by the expulsion Of
the organized armies of the Confederate
Government, the citizens who remain
are manifesting a disposition, not only
TO avail themselves of the Executive
clemency, but also to re-enter the Union,
and become beneficiaries of its protec-
ton and shareTs in the political and
commercial benefits which must rapid
ly follow the re-establishment of law
and order AS it is not unfrequently
the case, those who are moving in this
matter, entertain 8 wide diversity of
opinion. They have become divided
and subdiyided to such an extent as to
threaten the defeat of any measures
which might be deemed practical for
restoring TO them the political rights
that have been suspended during the
encroaehments of the insurrectionists.
Those who have carefully criticised
the policy of Mr. Lincoln, must have
seen that the reconstruction of the in
surrectonary territory and the restora-
ton of civil authority and privileges
over the citizens of the rebellious
States, who might survive the casualties
of the contest, has been his one, steady,
consistent and earnest purpose 1t has
been the existence of this paramount
desire that at times made the President
appear to forget the objects which the
Radicals demanded should be attained
by the war Not that he has ever for a
moment been really unmindful of the
just expectations of the party which
elected him President-but that he has
hoped very, very often to work out the
problem of emancipation without the
threatened sequence of humiliation.
No fitting occasion has been omitted to
accompany force with persuasion-al-
ways some representative of the Exec
utive stood ready to urge his olemency
upon those who felt his power.
! think Gen Sickles starts tomorrow,
vested with tho most ample license to
restore order out of the chaos of rebel
lion. think he is possessed thoroughly
of the views of the President, and that
the General most cordially approves the
Executive policy, and viii give his en-,
tire energies to its practical application
l think it is expected that Gen Sickles
will succeed His executive talent, his
great political reputation. his military
experience, combined with his knowl
edge of the history of the country and
the character of the people he is tc
visit, all combine to justify anticipation.
of the happiest results-results which
must cause a speedy and satisfactory
solution of the veXed question Of re
construction