The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-02-15

General Thomas appears to have
ponderedr the Southern question long
and deeply He alone of the Cen
erals, so far as [ can learn, has def
mite and comprehensive plan of action
for the crisis. Everything is man.
aged, he says, in the interests of the
ex-rebels, Unionists live merely by
suferance, and must content hem-
Selves as best they can, perforce.s with
the crumbs from the table. 1t has,
been stated in some quarters that, he
advises the exercise. OF, al supervisory
military control This, phrase is de-
ceptive, or, at least it less than
half expresses his idea.5 His plan
Is briefly as follows Let. civil
officers, styled Commissioners, be .ap-
pointed BY the President and the
Senate, for each of the Southern
States they should be, of sound iudg-
ment, large knowledge of law. and of
unquestionabl9 loyalty and sympathy
with the Uni99nists and freedmen;
give, them Jurisdiction in all eases be-
teWen Iex-rebels and Unionists, OF ex-
rebels and freedmen; make their de-
cisions final in all matters less than
IL, dollars; in more important con-
Germs let there be an appeal olUnited
States courts; establish it as the par
amount duty Of the, military to sus-
tain these quasi7judicial Commission
ers and enforce their decisions; keep
the military from any direct inter-
ference with civil affairs, except as
they are a posse under control of the
Commissioners !, allow every man, to
bring his case before these Senatorial |
appointees; continue this mixed super
vision of all affairs till the State makes
all men equal before the law, and
ceases to know race or color in the
administration Of justice. This, as |
understand: is, in the rough, the plan
of General Thomas. You will OBJ
serve. that it contemplates a partial re-
turn to the condition existing under
Grants famous General Order No. 8 /
of last year, before the issuance oflthe
the Presidents Peace Proclamation,
except that the word for interference
must come from civil gappoiltee ms
stead of from the Commanding Gen,
eral of a Department. The, first diff
fculty in. the way. of its, execution is
that the President would never APP
point Commissioners offhe right Sort.
/ shall only put into print what
everybody says in private converse
ton, if |. state that cucry one of the
great officers nor here suStGtns Congress
Gndtke country IN demanding guaraR-,
tees from the. South before retdpisstom
10 Congresstoa,dl pritpileges;7 and, so
far as. I can learn, not one of them
will be satisfied with the CONSTITUTE
tional Amendment proposed by the !
President and the rebel Governors,
General Sickles speaks in very strong
terms of the necessity for thorough
work; General Sheridan says it would
be madness to restore the leaders in |
Texas and. Louisiana to- authority /
Sehofeld expresses himself
cautiously and moderately; to the I.
effect that Virginia is not yet
reconstructed on a loyal basis;
General Thomas admits grave
fears that loyalty will be entirely ex-
unless Congress steps in
and gives it succor: Gen. Grant him
self, reticent as he is, no longer con- +
,eals his feeling of pain and appre- i.
lension in view of the situation. / l.
must not be understood as intimating
hat these gentlemen indulge in de-
of the President, OF, de- Il
mean themselves unworthily of their
,reat Offices; but that they are not on E
he Presidents side in this contest is,
.vident enough to anybody who
hooses to see-if by no other reason Ia
han by the fact that they have no II
with the President 5 friendsd )
nd take strong Republicans for their i
ssociates. This rule is thus farlwith-d !
ut an exception q.y9e g;lSRAEL. BID