The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-25
THE MISSISSIPPI MILITIA.
WHAT OUR TROOPS THINK or 1T.
Withdrawal OF the u. s. Forces.
SLOW PROGRESS OF GOV. SHARKEY.
Only Three Companies Organized.

JACKSON, September G, 1866,

JACKSON, September G, 1865.
The newsboys are running through the
streets with The Mississippi Extra containing
an extrac. from dispatch lately received By
Governor Sharkey from President johnson.
This dispatch plainly states that the Pres-
dents policy will be to remove. as soon rs
possible, the troops now here, and substitute
the State militia.
What the consequences of this step will
be, none can foretel. | only wish they NAV
be good. The news Of the reception Of this
dispatch produced an effect upon the army
which is unmistakable. The more thought
full accept II more in sorrow than in anger !:
but those less discreet or less well informed.
give vent to open dissatisfaction. All alike.
both soldiers and officers, express the sent-
ment that Mississippi should be controlled by
one force or the other-either State militia or
Federal troops, There can be little eo-oper.
alton, little harmony of action, between men
so lately arrayed in hostile ranks They do
not say that Mississippi is lost to the Union
and given over anew to rebellion if they are
replaced by the militia on the contrary,
they are willing and anxious 10 be mustered
ont and return home. They are willing TO
leave Mississippi in the hands of Mississip.
plans, but they are utterly unwilling to enter
tain any other relations of alliance or co-on-
Grafton with men whom they have SO lately
defeated and disarmed. They are too good
soldiers to think for one moment of disobev.
ing orders from the commander-in-ch chief. I
will not here argue the propriety of removing
all the troops, white and black. from this
State, at present will leave that question
for events to decide. since the president had
so ordered. But | believe the army is not
generally, even the officers, sufficiently dis
posed to consider the greatness of the change
which must OF necessity take place in re
placing military by civil government All
the civil institutions of this State have been
broken to shreds by the surrender. and. for a
period OF nearly five months, the bayonet has
been the only law of the State. The INNER.
Gus demand of the country now, is for a
speedy reduction of expenses, and the Presi-
dent, In order to meet the demand, decides to
remove the troops. The whole vast fabric of
civil Government has now to be restored and
that IS not the work of a day, or of mo-
ment While tins Is going on, the army is
slowly Withdrawing; while one advances the
other recedes. 1t must of necessity be So
and there must inevitably arise occasional
clashing and confusion. The army cannot
be lifted mp, as with a strong hand, and
transported at once from the State. neither
can the courts be organized in like haste
Patience, then, and forbearance should be
the order of the hour. If the highest am
thorities decree that Mississippi should be left
III her own keeping, let not the army sud
denly and violently dash the CHARGE from
their hands, but fall back from the post of
accomplished duty in good temper and in good
order.
The work of withdrawal has already begu,
Orders have been issued to bring in the oar
rsons from several of the most remote into
rior counties, and all the black troons who
had been at work on the various railroads in
the district commanded by General Oster.
haus have been orderd in.
do not apprehend any serious collision
between Federal and State troops. believe
the latter will not rally in sufficient numbers
TO elect any considerable results. If any
people are tired OF war, ii is the defeated and
demoralized people of the South. The Gov
ernor proclamation has now been ont tbraa
weeks, and only three companies have re.
ported to him-one in Yazoo county. ono i,
Holmes, and one in Bolivar. The Governor
II fully alive to the extreme imnortanca Of
selecting proper men to command These com
panies. tie has not yet issued any commits.
sion, nor will he until he receives most salts.
factory evidence, through parties known IN
himself, and the proposed officers are sober.
minded, discreet and reliable men, He will
use special diligence 10 exclude all who might
be inclined to pervert such organization into
negro hunters. and if they use their engereies
soieiy Tor the purpose OF oyertaking white
rooers and layhawkers, no one at the North,
surely, VIII utter any complaint