The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-30
Althu}ond 1ispatth.
The Last of the State OF virginia.


The following order speaks for itself. 1t
is another proof that we have no rights
which our conquerors are bound to re-
spect. The record must be made up for
the Judgment of mankind now, and of pos.
terity; and $50 we commit this order to
print. 1t ought to have at least one good
eflect-namely, that of convincing the
most obdurate paSsivist that reconstruc-
tion upon the terms of the Sherman-Shel-
labarger acts is imperatively demanded
by the circumstances in which we are
placed
HEADo'Rs FIRST MILITARY District, J.
STATE OF VIRGINIA,
RICHMOND, Va, May 2S, 1867.
General Orders No. 81.
For the purpose of giving adequate pro-
lection to all persons in their rights of
person and property, IN cases where the
civil authorities may fail, from whatever
cause, TO give such protection, and to in
sure the prompt suppression Of insurrec-
tion, disorder, and violence, military COM
missoncrs, to be selected from the officers
of the army and OF the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, will be appointed and given iurisdc-
tion over snb- districts, to be defined in the
orders appointing them, with sufficient
military force to execute or secure the
execution of their orders.
For the purpose of suppressing insurrec-
tion, disorder, or violence, the military
commissioners are given command Of the
police of cities and the power of counties,
in addition to the troops that may be placed
at their disposal; and all police officers,
sheritfs, conStabes, and other persons, are
required, in such cases, to obey and exc
cute the orders Of the military commits
sioners.
For thepurpose Of protecting individuals
in their rights of person and property, and
of bringing offenders TO Justice, the mill
tary commissioners are clothed with all
the powers of justices of a county or police
magistrates of a city, and will be governed
in the discharge Of their duties by the laws
of Virginia, so far as the same are not in
conflict with the laws of the United States
or orders issued from these headquarters.
The military commissioners will make
prompt report to these headquarters of
each case of which they may take jurisdic-
ton, and the disposition made of such case.
Where parties are held for trial, either in
confinement or under bail, such full state
ment will be made of the facts in each
case as will enable the commanding gene
raj to decide whether the case shall be
tried by a military commission or be
brought before a civil court.
Trial by the civil courts will be preferred
in all cases where there is satisfactory reason
to believe that justice will be done. But
until the orders Of the commanding gene
raj are made known in any case, the para
mount jurisdiction assumed by the mill
tarv commissioners will be exclusive.
All persons, civil officers and others, are
to obey and execute the lawful
orders Of the military commissioners to the
same extent as they are required by law
to obey and execute writS issued by civil
Any person who shall DISC
bey or resist the lawful orders or authority
of a military commissioner shall be tried
by a military commission, and upon con-
viction shall be punished by fine and i'm
priSonment, according to the nature and
degree of the offence.
This order will not be construed to eX-
cuse civil officers in any degree from the
faithful discharge of their duties. 1t is
intended to aid the civil authorities, and
not to supersede them except in cases Of
necessity.
By command of Brigadier and Brevet
Major General j. NJ. Schofc!d, United
States army. b r. CHALFIN,
Assistant bdiutant General