The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-03-21
Uhe Uribulle.
For associate Justice Of the Supreme Court.
ORSAMUS COLE,
THE FIVE GENERALS.


The 39th Congress left us with Mil
itary Bill for the government Of the
Southern States. It was the result of
much study, and we believe, was brought
into existence through sincere desire to
bring peace and harmony to our entire
land. We are anxious now to see if it
viii be executed The Milwaukee Sen
tinel says the best law may be rendered
in operative or bad by executive incom-
potency or perversity.
In the present case, the reconstruction
law may fail either through the inefficien-
cy or hostility of district commanders.
There are multitude of devices by
which they can temporarily nulify the
law. They may conspire with. the rebels
so as to defeat It's provis. .ons, atleast tempor-
arlly, or by extreme severity in the exer-
else OF their powers as commanders, they
may render the law itself odious. Wheth-
er the practical workings Of the law will
prove salutary or the reverse must there
fore depend upon the character Of the
commanders. FfA 9zEs2 1=seB Is
Those wishing to form correct judge
ment as to the probability of the case, or
to watch the progress of events under the
law, will, for the reasons indicated, wish
to know who the commanders are, what.
districts they command: and what views
they entertain We therefore repeat the
names and districts. In form convenient
for reference, from the telegraphic report
of yesterday morning. 81
First District, consisting of Virginia
Brevet Major General j. VI. Schofeid,
headquarters at Richmond, Va,
Second District, consisting of North
and South Carollna-lIaj. Gen. D. +.
sickles. Headquarters at Columbia, s. c.
Third District, consiSing of Georgia,
Florida and Alabaula-Maj. Gen. G. H.
Thomas, headquarters at Montgomery,
Ala.
Fourth District, consisting of Missis-
sippi and Arkansas -Brevet Major Gen
eral E. O.-C. Ord, headquarters at
Vicksburg, Miss.
Fifth District, consisting of Louisiana
and Texas-Major General p Fl. Sheri-
dan, headquarters at New Orleans.
The titles given to these commanders
express their rank in the volunteer ser
vice. In the regular army Sickles is a
Colonel, slchofeld and Orb are BDligadier
Generals, and Thomas and Sheridan Ma
.jor Generals.
No one will, We presume. be disposed
to question the executive ability of any
Of these commanders. except Ord, who
is reputed to be a better drill master than
general. With this exception. we doubt
whether more capable men could have
been selected from the list to which the
Presidents choice was confined. IF the
law shall not be executed in letter and in
spirit, it will not be on account of any
want OF executive ability in the district
commanders but solely because oil their
own Discrimination, or the failure of the
President to give them a sufficient num-
Der of troops, or to sustain them in carry
ing their orders into effect. 1t is hardly
probable that the President will counter
mand any order not obviously improper,
or neglect applications for troops As
we view the matter, therefore, the faith
ful execution OF the law will depend
mainly upon the disposition Of the com
manders Upon this point we must
await developments. So far as We are
able to conjecture, all, except perhaps
Ord. may be confidently relied upon.
Sekefeld was understood to be conser-
satiNe up to the time he took command
at hiehmond, but his experience in Vir-
ginia is said te have wrought a complete
revolution il i3is sentiments, So that he
,.iay be ceapted radical
Sickles, though Tanmany democrat
before the war. mended his ways during
Its progress, and is ROM understood to be
a staunch Republican. Ous readers viii
remember that he issued an order last
summer, which was promptly counter
manded by Andrew Joknses, forbidding
the civil authorities of South Carolina to
punish by whipping. 1t is fair to infer
from this circumstance tisat he wifi not
hesitate to use his authority as command
er In the interest of justice and humanity
1t is hardly necessary to speak of Gen
Thomas. At one time, indeed, he was
supposed to lean towards my policy; but
mis- noble orders, issued 20 put a stop to
the persecution of legal whites and freed
men In Tennessee, and the fact that he
has been much talked of as the Republi-
can candidate for the Presidency, abun-
dainty assure us that he will not suffer
rebel authorities either to encourage or
countenance outrages upon the unionists
of his district
About General Sheridan we can tell
our readers nothing new. They all re-
member his testimony before the COM
mittee of fifteen, and they have all read
his dispatches from New Orleans at the
time of the massacre, from which Mr..
johnson tried in vain to eliminate the ex-
pressions Of fiery indignation Phil.
Sheridan may not advocate giving the
ballot to the negro, but he will not suffer
Mayor Munroe and his assassin policy to
re-enact with impunity the bloody drama