Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-19
From lie Neg York Times.
Military G government in South Caroline

From tile Neto York Times.
Military Government in South Carolina.
Military government in South Carolina zig.
ni6es much more than the enforcement oil
law and the practical application of the Re
construction acts. AS interpreted by Gene
raj Sickles, it means all this, with additions
sufficient TO convey full idea Of despohc
rule. "Paternal government" it might have
been called in days when absolutism was more
popular; for the acting head not only under'
takes to protect life and property, and to pro
vide the prehminaries Of restoration, but OF
his own sovereign will and pleasure annuls
and exacts regulations and penalties, absorbs
the duties of municipal government, and
even essays to control the morals and appc-
tites of the fortunate people under his Care.
In this respect, among the military comman'
ders, General Sickles stands alone. Sheridan
has been considered aggressive, but his az
gressions are by comparison of the mildest
sort. He has deposed IL rebel Mayor, cor
rups and inefficient Levee Commissioners,
aud an obstructive and faithcss Governor !:
he has proclaimed that the laws shall be
ubeyed. order maintained aud reconstruction
carried out and he has intimated that The
city must bave the benefit of sanitary meas
ues. His suo rdina in Texas, Gel T:
Gritfi l, has applied the iron clad oath u prr
sons serving in courts presided over by judges
who could not take it; but beyond TIL Sher-
idaa's district is free from the follies OF pater
nal sway. Pope has done yet better. He
wisely makes the soldier tributary to the
statesman, and parades military authority no
ofteaer than may be necessary for the per-
Torrance of an obvious duty. Sickles, alone,
aspires to concentrate in his own person the
functions of law w.giver and law administrator,
of moral guardian and business protector, Of
policeman, Judge and general over all.
Only the impoverished, depressed and dis
heerlcled condition of South Carolina can af
ford an explanation of the remarkable pa
tience Of the people under some of the orders
which they have been required TO obey. 10
other circumstances the order issued on the
1lta of April, staying civil processes in GER
tain cases, and interfering with penalties i'm
posed by the laws Of the State, irrespective of
color, would have provoked reasonable out
cry. The same may be said OF subsequent
orders, less sweeping in their scope, perhaps,
but interfering equally with civil matters. in
no direct manner entering into the sphere Of
distric. commanders duties.
Now We hear of regulations promulgated
by general order under date of May 80,
which carry military interference to point
beyond any reached elsewhere. They are
regulations which cover ground properly be-
longing to the local municipal organizations,
and in no sense, that we can perceive, COM
pretended within the range of the Generals
duties. Among other matters, they forbid
the granting of licenses to any but inn.keep-
crs lor the sale of liquors in quantities less
than one gallon and they declare void = all
contracts hereafter made for the manufacture,
sale or transportation, storage or insurance
OF Intoxicating liquors" No civil action" !"
declares the order, "suit or proceeding for
the enforcement of any such contract shall
be entertained in any court" The order for.
bidding the distillation of grain, although ar
bitrary, was apparently excused by the scarci
ty of food. But what can justify or paiate
this meddling with an important branch of
business in manner which the rampant pro.
hibitionsts of New England dare hardly at
tempt? In the same inexcusably harsh spirit,
General Sickles DEGREES that the propretors
of railroads, horse cars and STEAMBOATS,, shall
not establish any discrimination on account
of color or caste, on pain of being arrested
for misdemeanor, and summarily tried by a
military tribunal. We cannot but consider
this an excess of authority. The loyal Off.
cials of New Orleans, where this very qaes-
ton has been raised, have taken much more
pudent course, and one more likely to pro-
.ce harmony among the citizens.
The true principle to be acted upon by the
military commanders at the South is unques-
tionably that which recognizes the supremacy
OF civil authority, and confines the action of
the military to cases specifically pointed out
in the Reconstruction acts or arising out OF
the bad faith or bad judgment of the civil
officers. On this basis, all that is essential
for carrying out the will of Congress and Sc
curing the civil and political equality of the
freedmen, may be accomplished, without OBJ
truding the presence and power of the soldier
save in exceptional instances. General Sick.
les appears to entertain different idea of
duty. His orders reveal disposition to re-
verse the proper relations of the powers, and
make the military the ever-present master,
instead Of the ever ready assistant, of civil
authority.