Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-14


dition, we have endeavored to give such
counsel as we thought would be for the III
innate good of the people.
To say that we do not think that the re-
cent order of General SIcKLEss under date
of Nav 80, and known as General Orders
No. 80, was called for, either by the necessi-
ties of the situation, or demanded by the
welfare of the citizens, is but to repeat the
almost universal sentiment of our people.
If by silence We should attempt to deceive
any one inro the belief that we approved of
it, would be dishonest, and calculated
to cause those who differ from us, and those
hostile to us land of the latter we trust
there are very few, to despise the contempt
ibe subterfuge. While we do not approve
OF this order, and do not believe it will re
suit benefcially, we have no words of fault
fuding for the person or power from which
it issued AS an eminent lawyer and sue
cessful General, we have the highest re-
spect for General SIcKLEs, and SO have our
people. Without any advice from us, which
will always be cheerfully given, this order,
| like all others from his headquarters, will
| be accepted and obeyed as the law of the
| land We have no reason to believe that
it was not intended for the general good Of
the people Of the Carolinas In fact, after
the flattcring and repeated encomiulns upon
the good conduct and admirable bearing
of the people by our District Commander,
in his recent speeches, there exist special
reasons why the difficulties and trials of
liar force 10 his sense of justice and right
And such wo believe is the case, and this
as we'll as other orders which we may regard
as harsh, are issued Ill obedience to the
construction placed upon the Reconstruc
tion Acts by General S1CkLES, and III dis
charge of the crave responsibilities resting
upon him.
We have never thought that men S NOR
ais and appetites could be improved by acts
of legislation or military orders. Our peo-
cial and moral character, and looked to a
sound public opinion to correct the ordina-
Nv vices and irregularities. The legislation
which issued from the cloud and thunders
of Sinai, has been regarded as more potent
in this respect than volumes from our
Legislatures and Governors.
The sudden abolition of the freehold
qualification for jurors, us old as the Con-
mon Law itself, we hope will not be attend
ed with the evil most fear it will, nor that
there will be such an interruption in some
branches of business affected by the order
as is supposed.
That such wide differences exist in the
views of the District Commanders in regard
to their authority under the Reconstruction
Acts is matter for regret, but the blame
rather attaches to the Administration than
to the officers themselves. The Acts have
been in force for four or five months, and
with such great and important differences
known to exist in their construction, ex-
cept an official copy OF the Acts, accompa-
| nying their original assignment to duty,
there has been no instructions issued from
the War Department for the guidance of
these officials, save their own construction
|
be made conscientiously and with proper
regard to the purposes of their passage
| the early reconstruction of the excluded
States-is all we could ask or expect, and
such we have.
We give room to the following article
from tho New York Times, upon this sub
| ject, and we do so the more readily as its
| Editor, Hon. Mr.. RAYMOND, as q member of
| Congress, voted for the Act establishing
military governments over the South
MILITARY government i'll South Carolina signi-
| ties much more than the enforcement OF law and
| the practical application of the Reconstruction
Acts. AS interpreted by Gen. Sickles, it means
all this, with additions sufficient to convey full
idea of despotic rule. Paternal government it
might have been called in days when absOlutism
was more popular for the acting head not only
undertakes to protect life and property, and to
provide the preliminaries of restoration, but of
his own sovereign will and pleasure annuls and
enacts regulations and penalties, absorbs the du-
ties of municipal government, and even essays to
control the morals and appetites of the fortunate
people under his care. In this respect, among the
| military commanders, Gen. Sickles stands alone
| aggressions by comparison of the mildest sort
| He has depOsed rebe. Mayor, corrupt and lDetti-
| cent Levee Commissioners, and obstructive
and faithless Governor ;ahe has proclaimed that
4
| construction carried out and he has intimated
| that the city must have the benefit OF sanitary
! measures. His subordinate in Texas, Gen. Grit
fin has applied the iron clad oath to persons
! ing in courts presided over by Judges who could
not take it but beyond this Sheridans District Is
| free from the follies of paternal sway.
Pope has done yet better He wisely makes
| the soldier tributary to the Statesman, and par
d. es military authority no oftener than may BIO
necessary for the performance of an obvious duty.
Sickes, alone, aspires to concentrate III his own
person the functions of lawgiver and law admin.
istrator, of moral guardian and business protec-
tor of policeman, judge and general over all.
= Only the impoverished, depressed and dis
lea rtened condition Of South Carolina afford
all explanation of the remarkable patience of the
people under some of the orders which they
have been required TO obey. In other circum-
stances the order issued on the 18th OF April,
sta ing civil process i'll certain cases, and inter
fering with penalties imposed Ivy the laws of the
State irrespective of color, would have provoked
a reasonable cutlery. 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
district commanders duties.
Now we hear of regulations promulgated by
a general order under date of May so, which car-
nv military interference to point beyond any
reached elsewhere. They are regulations which
cover ground properly belonging to the local mu-
nicipal organizations, and IN no sense, that we