Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-06-14
Friday, June II, 1867.
MILITARY 1NTERFERERcE WITH THE
CIVIL AUTHORITY,

mentiug very freely upon the exercise ofjursdic
tion assumed by the military commanders of
the South and express surprise at the remarka-
bic patience with which the military rule is
submitted to, by the Southern people. The
military governors have assumed and exercised
the rightto suspend various State laws, and
to remove the highest State fuuctIonare.
According to the New York Tribune, the mill
tary government of the South is the very es-
sence of despotism is not sustained by any
proper construction of the military acts. aud
could only be tolerated by an impoverished,
depressed and disheartened people. In this
State, however. there is no doubt, but that the
various orders Of the Commanding General,
suspending the enforcement Of legal process,
and interfering with the State laws in other
particulars, have been prompted by desire
TO relieve the public distress, and however un-
'. I'D, have been generally regarded as be.
2'.','': n their operation as humane in their
intention. The more recent orders seem, how.
ever. not to be sustained by tho same policy,
which could alone excuse the exercise of unau-
thorized military authority, and seem entirely
amenable to the following censure from the
Tribune:
"Now we hear of regulations promulgated by
a general order under date Of May 80 which
carry military interference to a point beyond
any reached elsewhere They are regulations
which cover ground properly belonging to the
local municipal organizations. and III no sense,
that we can perceive, comprehended within
the range Of the Generals duties. Among
other matters. they forbid tho granting of Ii
ce1ses to any but inn-keepers for tic sale of
liquors in Quantities less than one gallon; and
they declare void "all contracts hereafter
made for the manufacture, sale, or tran.porta
"on' storage or insurance Of intoxicating lio.
nors. :" No civil action" declares the order.
suit or proceeding for the enforcement OF
any such contract shall be entertained in spv
eoIft." The order forbdding the distills.ion
Of grain, although arbitrary, was apparently
e9eused by the scarcity Of food. But what
can justify or palliate this meddling with Nh
important branch of business in a manner
which rampant prohibitonists Of New ngland
dare hardly attempti In the same nexcusa-
bly, harsh spirit General Sickles DEGREES that
The proprietors of railroads, horse-cars. and
steamboats, shall not establish any discrirnina--
t'on on account of color or caste, Oh pain of
Peing arrested for misdemeanor, aud summari.
~ tried by military tribunal. We cannot
but consider this aq excess Of authority. The
loyal officials Of New Orleans, where this very
question has been raisetl, have taken a much
moro prudent course, and ono more likely 10
produce harmony among the citizens"
ihe various arbitrary acls of General sher.
ldan IN removing the civil authorities in Louisi.
apa' l'age been annulled by the President, and
II 'S supposed will lead to bis early removal. !
WIN regard to tho excess of authority sssum
ca mere and elsewhere, the Intelligencer makes
the Following remarks. and urges strong plea
IN oshaif OF the supremacy of the law:
lie habit Of removing civil officers is be-
coming chronic throughout the South. Gene
raj Sheridan. not satisfied with his previous
performances in that way. has Just removed
the ievee commissioners and Governor We'll.
himself We have small reas on to reGret the
'aster on his own account. He has borne him !
self unworthy in his high Office, and in repeat.
Gu instances has arrnycd himself against the
lnterests and wishes Of his people. His con-
duct al the hour of the riot was cowardlv and
UNJUST: But il he were the meanest Executive
that.eyer disgraced the Executive chair. va
Wepia still protest against his removal. He
vas elected by tho people of Louisiana after
F'iitary resistance in that State was overcome
and at time when i: was recognized by Presi.
oent Lincoln as in the Union. According 10
our view of the Constitution General Sheri-
oan had no more right to deposs him than he
lad 70 depose the Governor of New York.
Inc personal or official character Of tbe Execu.
tive has nothing TO do with sheridau's assumn.
tion of authority. L is gross assumption Of
power which ought to be s,ernly rebuked
"c-s"c, too, that General Sickles has removed
tie mayor aud civil authorities of Favet,evi,s
-.''." C'roi nh This is another arbitrary exsr.
e.se OF power. II these gentlemen have abused
their offices, let them be held answerable 70
the law. We have had enough of military
misrule. and i public opinion was in a healthy
normal condition, these arbitrary acts would
not be tolerated for day, and the President
would be compelled to correct them. But a
nation that's satisfied will, the arr est and two
years imprisonment, without trial, even of an
unpopular and rebellious citizen, is no. as sen.
sll've to IN dividual rights as it ought to be.
fhe Ltw should bo paramount, and every good
citizen shoald steadily and persisten,ly demand
l!s enforcement as we'll whom it is abused on
'ne person Of the,unpopular, and obnoxious as
s"eq II 's transeended on the person Of those
s"'nsnt s9d lslpved- Tor their virtues. We
trust that the people will spsak out It i.
.'ms that the nation was,recoy.rpg from u.
msdns"s sugsudsrsd by the war, and the inv;o.
'Ao'A'y Of personal and Official liberty shouid
% maintained in the broadsst and most uncon,.