Litchfield enquirer., 1866-12-13


 Gen. Sheridan reports thus of the condi- tion of affairs in Texas: 3a.. nj '. "The condition of civil afairs in Texas was anomalous, singular and unsatisfactory I found tion of the population, had for his standard of loyalty 'abhorrence for the rebellion and glory in it's defeat while his successor, as actual Govern belion that it was for righteous but lost cause, being overpowered by the Federal forces Both of these representatives Of the civil law, enter taining opposite standards for the loyalty of their the best of my my ability; but t has been embarrsss ing in the extreme. Gov Hamilton, the Provis- ional Governor, was clamorous for more troops, and in several communications to me asserted that the civil law could not be carried out; that freed- men would be killed and Union men driven from the State without military support, which gave whenever it was possible. Gov; Throckmorton,
 
 that the civil law was all right; that justice would be done to freedmen, Union men, and our soldiers in the Courts. il But justice is not done To give you an instance of this; two soldiers were shot at unarmed, and offered no provocation. The Grand Jury could find no bill against their would-be as- sassins, but found bill against Brevet Major smith, Seventeenth Infantry, for burglary, because he broke into the house of some citizen in his at- tempt to arrest these men. F s.,o5s tI aI
 "srATus or THE FREEDMEN. r.,
 "Ny o,on opinion is that the tSal of trhite man for the n,isder of J,eedsnan in 7exas, scould be farce, and in making this statement make 1t be; cause truth compels me, and for no other reason
 "Itis strange that over white man killed by Indians on an extensive frontier the greatest ex. citement will take Psos but oyer the killing o cannot help but see this, and cannot help but tell it to my superiors, no matter how unpleasant 1t may be to tho authorities of Texas"
 Of the behavior of the' people of Fori. da he speaks more favorably: , a
 "In Florida there were no political issues in. annoyance occasionally came from arrests of off: cers and soldiers for acts alleged to have been com mitted during tho rebellion: The people of Flor: ida appeared to realize the fact that it would not power and that their best interest was to take of their coats and go to work to repair the disasters o
 Gen. Sickles reports, on the whole, more favorably of the conduct of the people of South Carolina. The following statements, however, show the imperative necessity of the continued presence of a military force, and of the Freedman's Bureau:
 "The superior courts, the loccal magistracy and the town ana munlclpal autnorltles nave generally shown ., proper disposition to do justice between man and man, and to afford protection to all good citizens. Unfortunately, however, there are excep- tions to be made to this statement. In some parts rens and Richland Districts, tCounties,) in South Carolina, freedman has little security for life, limb, or property, apart trom the presence and protection of . garrison ot United States troops. There are other districts in the western part oi South Carolina where the same insecurity exists. The truth is, that in certain localities of these States, personal encounters, assaults and difficult ies between citizens, oftepe resulting in serious out the serious notice or action of the civil author ities; and in those neighhorhoods where it has heretofore seemed to the population oficious to other, they can hardly be expected to yield with any grace to arrests for assaults and outrages negroes. It Is precisely in these localities that the most impatience is displayed at the presence of civil law with impunity, dislike martial law or any other law that ia enforced. ss "A
 "tt has already been intmated that justice is administered by theSuperior Courts in these States with aconscientious respect for law and degree of independence of popular sentiment not generally foInd among the inferior magistrates or ministe- as s Gncers Tne magistrates arc often dilstory in if public opinion incline toward the accused. Nor are the sherifs and constabes likely in such cases on sass ssaen Asvs ss1 Sssn ea Sese sdo sy s pointed Co ae guslty pasty In an instance report cd by the post commander at Hilton Head, that occurred in Beaufort District the perpetrators of tae homicide were on the Coroners Jury and joined in the verdict that the victims to their death by means to the Jury unknoMn.l Such also was the verdict in Wesleys case at Newberry, although the murderers were recognized on the spot and were well known to the neighb0rhood! ss 1 "It sometimes happens, indeed, that arrests are made of the worst 4class of offenders, and occa. siorally they are tried and pnnished 1nstances of much gravity are too frequent, however, of the most reprehensible neglect to arrest and prose.