The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1867-05-18
Tread Lightly.


about Is, 900 in specie.
Tread Lightly.
A correspondence appears IN the
Alabama andGeorgsa papers, between
Gen. Pope, in command Of the THIRD
Militar, District, and Gov. jenkins,
of Georgia, in which the General
warns the Governor Of the danger Of
too much freedom in the verbal or
written expressions of opinio" in OPP
position to the military plan Of re-
construction under the provisions OF
the sherman bill. The correspond
ence on both sides is couched IN
terms digui6ed and courteous Gov
jenkins responding to the inquiry
demanding to know whether or not
no xas aware Of the existence of par
.graph Ill, General Orders No. ~
At the time he gave expression to the
sentiment that the Sherman enact
ment w. palpably unconstitutional
and grievously oppressive" replies
in answer that he had " aeither seen
nor had knowledge Of it," and con
cludes his letter ~ follows
| supposed was exercising 'aeh
freedom in the public expression OF op'n
ion, relative to public natter, AS seem.
s,,ll to be accorded to the citizens OF
hi. Republic, not imagining that 1t was
abridged by the accident OF the speak
or or writer holding once.
So much for the past, General and !
will only add, that in the future l shall
do and say what may believe Ia re-
ouircd Of inc by the duty tc shich my
oath OF oeiee binds Vac, and this trust
will not involve either conelict or cootro.
rer.y between Us IN The execution 81
our respective trusts, ~ ! thinh II need
not; everything Of this character Ger
tainly desire 70 avoid
Gen. Pope, after expressing salts
faction with this explanations, so far
a. the poias was coscsrned, but
thinking from his remarks in rsla-
ton Ia the future that he felt that
his freedom Of speech had been
abridged, thus continues;
| trust that ] may be abe To disabuss
your mind OF this idea. II is scarcely
necessary to tell you tina, the late acts
IF Congress, which ] nm cent here w
execute, recognize the existing State
Government Of Georgia IA merely Fro
visional, and that the object II recogni-
ming it at All WAS only tina. the ordinary
course of business IN the civil tribunals,
aud the administration Of the laws OF the
State by the customary agencies, nigh.
not be interrupted further than was
necessary for tho strict execution OF the
laws Of tho United States, 1t is not
doubted that Congress might have legis-
lated the present State Government OF
(,eorgis, out Of existence IA easily s
they have recognised it Us Provisional,
and il Is as little u be doubted TINT Com
gress would have done 80, could it have
been forcseen thai the entire machinery
Of the Provisional Statc Government
would be used to defest tho execution 81
the very law BY whose sn0fancs alone il
has any existancc nj all, it IL very clear
that Congress did not intend to rccog.
pise or permit 10 exist, by these Recon
strucsion acts, n powerful organization
10 DO used against their execution, nor
can such use bs made by the State Gov.
srnrent of Georgia without greatly Oh
ssructing, ir not, indeed, entirely frus
trAting the performance Of the duty re-
auircd of ms BY these acta
The existing STATE Government was
permitted to stand for the convenience
Of tho people Of Georgia, in the or,iIn"'
nv administration Of the local civil laws,
and To that snd il should 10 carefully
confined.
Holding your sAcs BY permlssion
Of the United States 1ovsrnment, You
ARC debarred "a am, from expressing
opinions, or using influences to defeat
! tho xecution Of the laws o! he United
States. or 70 excite IN feelings and oppo
position 10 the General 0overnasbs
which il execusing these acts Of Con-
gr,ss.
With your personal opinions. or Aoss
Of any citizen Of Georgia, or their CT.
precision within the Limits Of the Law, ]
havc nothing N do, bat tho distinction
between personal opinion openly az
pressed il IN odIcisl capacity, and ofk-
cial opinion, ia TN nice for the COMMON
understanding.
The influences II ysas epinlsas, epss-
" avowed, mast " nsosssity b very
great with ths civil olksss of The btsss
in oil liz departments, when the tenure
II o4cs il largely dependent upon your
pleasure. YOar af,inioss ~ private
citizen, without Official station, and the
ssmc opinions whilst Governor ss Gsor.
gin, nave . very dilIsrsas Significance.
aad produce very diasrsst eject
only require dat The civil mashins.
~ Of the State Of GsnreiA b. ma pssvsr-
led 70 ~ 70 fsustrats The sxseus;on OF
the laws OF The United BlAses, aid for
thaa rsassa, szass fFoa The civil -
GERS, hat whilss they rssAia their o2css
hey ccaass themselves slsictly 10 he
Performance u lhsk oAehl dsliss, and
d MN We heir isAssnes 70 prevent The
people Of tAs 6>ass frum sshmitsing 10
4ad carrying oss The laws OF the United
staasa.
I
Tke third paragraph Of my order In.
poses 10 restrictions on yoa " which
Nm not myself sabjscs I; you hold yoas
ooss BY permission Of the United Slater
Government, ! hold Minis, ~ do thou.
sands Of othssa, both civil and military,
by substantially the sams tenure. Gus.
tom old enough to he law itsslf restricts
u in conversation and action, pessis~.
y ~ paragraph three Of ny ordss ~.
stsicts you, fflft 4fI'f.ftf1.
There 10 q very sinpls mode Of ikss4
ing ourselves from such restrict.ons
when they become too oppressive.
IN conclusion, 6overAor, h sssms
necessary fos 10 To aay in geNrral rsp)I
n the latter portion Of your letter. that
the paragraph Of ny order u which
you object, was very carefully eossid.
AIRED and that il means precisely what
II says, and that to The full extent Of my
power, il will Be strictly enforced.
Tho following eonpriss the por-
ton Of the obnoxious order which
sslis'sd the foregoing correspondence,
It the conclusion Of which il il re.
Pssl'shsd By Tie Major Gsssrsl
eo.nssding for the infsrn.tioa Of
oil concerned: !" ' -i.
PasssrepAM II h h bs sisasly
wsdsrstood however, that ths civil ~
nar. ~ vnAntnnA II 49, .A>M -