The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-07
Our Southern Military Commanders and
Their Military Biundcr--

Oar seuthern Bfnisary Cemwanders and
Their Military Blenders.
II Superintendent Kennedy, Of our Metro
politan Police, were 10 issue vermilion edict
warning, under the pains and penalties Of the ,
calsboose, Professor Hans Won Stoppelhei1ner
against promised lecture In some bar gar
den on the virtues Of lager and To abomina-
lions of the EXCISE law, Mr.. K sanody would be
apt to raise hornets nest about bis ears.
Some Of our military commanders in the South,
however, seem 20 think that they may indulge
In suoh &bsurdities without limit Thus We
find General Sickles repeating in Charleston,
with the national flag, the ungracious and often
sive trick Of Gesler with his cap on long
pole, and General SchoReld, at Richmond, play
ing the rSIe OF Louis Napoleon on small
scale, in bis Instructions and warnings 10 cor
tain unreconstructed newspaper editors in bis
district. We also lind one Of his subordinate
post commanders, General Wilcox, at Lynch
burg, peremptorily suspending lecture on
"The Chivalry Of the South" announced to be
delivered by certain II. Rives Pollard, an
irrepressible fre-,ater; and when the General
is oourteously asked to resoind his order. with
the assurance that the lecture Is to be simply
narrative Of historical events the privilege is
still denied. In the name Of common sense,
we ask, what was the reason Of this prohibit
tions What possible harm could Pollard do
now in Lynchburg in reciting all the exploits
Of Southern ohivalry, from Lea and Stonewall
Ia 60 Ma Ia
good, on the other hand, Is to be gained by
denying to the late followers Of JEFF Davis the
consultations which they may find in the "Chiv-
airy of the Southw Is 1t not enough that they
have been Oh lstised into absolute submission
by the chivalry Of the North!
Not only, in our judgment, are such restric-
tons and exactious as those recited needless,
cruel and preposterous, but In violation Of 'the
true intont and meaning" of the laws Of Con-
gress under which these military officers are
acting. According 70 President yqhpsen'e veto
Of the Reconstruction bill, there Is no limit to
the despotic powers ofthese Southern military
commanders. The third section, upon his
overstrained construction, will bear out these
officers in almost anything they may do at their
own good will and pleasure for this section
provides that it shall be the duty Of said COM
manders to protect all persons In their rights
Of person and property. 10 suppress insurrec-
ton, disorder and violence, to punish all dis
tarbers of the peace, either by turning them
over to the local civil tribunals or to military
commissions; and it Is declared that ell interfer-
ence with the military under the color of State
authority shall be null, and void. This Is
pretty strong; but TIE sixth section of the bill
provides that until the paople Of the said
rebel States shall BY iaw be admitted to repre-
sentation IN Congress any civil governments
that may exist therein shall be deemed pro-
visional onlE;" 90 that TO this extent they have
been adopted and authorised 10. act by Con-
gress.
The supplemental Reconstruction bill pro-
yides, under tho direction Of the military COM
manders Of the Eve districts among which the
ten outside States are divided, for the registra.
ton Of voters and the elections Of conventions,
legislatures, &C.; from which it appears that all
the way through the civil authorities are SUBJ
ject to the military. But still, in continuing in
force President Johnsons civil governments,
II was manifestly the intention of Congress that
the military commanders placed over them
should exercise their authority only 80 far as
may be necessary to maintain law and order
and to carry out the programme Of RECONSTRUCT
tom laid down. In other words, each of these
Southern military commanders may be consid-
cred Q sort Of Superintendent Kennedy with
his Metropolitan Police force, whose duty it ID
to keep the peace and to enforce the laws. In
removing the unreconstructed Mayor Monroe,
Of New Orleans, General Sheridan removed an
official who was an obstruction to the law; and
General Pope. In his warning to Governor
Jenkins, Of Georgia, is justified on the same
ground. But In assuming to instruct and warn
newspaper editors as to what they shall or
shall not say; In assuming the power 10 stop
itinerant lecturers from lecturing on Southern
chivalry, or any thing else in assuming the
right to make people take OF their hats 10
pair Of trowsers, hoop skirt, or even to the
"Stars and Stripes" these military commanders
are assuming too much. We would submit to
the President the Secretary Of War and Gen.
eral Grant the propriety Of a general order
embracing certain specific instructions to the
FIVE military district commanders in the South
and their subordinates, to the end that uni
form, liberal and conciliatory course Of action
on their part may prevail from Virginia to
Texas The rigop of martial law are out Of
place in the midst Of peace and upon people
who are not only disarmed, submissive, and
unable to help themselves, but who are
anxious and doing all they can TO fulfil the
conditions Of Congress.
Clear weather Ahead. Financially and Gem
merciaiiy.
Now that the Luxembourg question has been
virtually settled, and no other cause Of political