Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-09-27
Correspondence Between Gov. Orr and Gen
SicAles

correspondence has passed between Gov.
Orr. of South Carolina, and Gen. Sickles,
relative to the removal of the latter.
Ececutire Department Of South Carolina,
| Columbia, Sept. 7th, l867.-Major Gener-
| al ID. E. S;ckles, Charleston. South Carroll
na-Sir have learned from the public
press, although have received no official
notice of the fact, that you have been re-
lieved from the command Of the second
military district, embracing this State and
North Carolina, and that, by order of the
President, Major Gen. Candy has succeed
ed to the Same.
desire to express to you the great re-
greet which feel personally, and officially,
at the course taken by the President and
his advisers in this matter There are many
of the orders which have been issued by
you since the passage of the reconstruction
bills in March last which did not meet nv
approval ; but it is due to you and your Of
fetal action that [ should bear voluntary
testimony to the wisdom and success of
your administration, and to express the
opinion that the almost unlimited powers
with which you were invested by the acts
of Congress Lave been exercised with mod
Grafton and forbearance. Your general or
ders, No. 10, SO far as this State isconcern-
ed, were, last spring, in my opinion abso-
lutely necessary, looking to the impoyer-
ished condition of the country, the short
ness of the provision and staple crop of
last year, to the general pecuniary distress
pervading the country, and to the necessi-
ty of protecting the small means of farmers
and planters at that time from the process
of courts. They were thereby enabled to
subsist their families and grow the present
crop.
This crop promises to be in many re-
spects and in many sections of the State
the most important and largest that has
been grown for several years, and when
harvested you could, without hazard or ap-
prehension, have executed your purpose,
as declared to me of modifying general
enforced their demands without producing
general Distress if nothing worse.
It is also due to you to say that, in my
Judgment, if general orders No. 10 had not
been issued last spring very considerable
increase in the number of troops in this
State would have been necessary to have
been stationed at many of the court houses
to have preserved the public records from
destruction, and ensure the safety Of sher-
IFS in executing civil process in their hands,
which they had been ordered to levy by
and heartless creditors. In my
opinion general orders No. 10 received the
approval of a very large majority of the Cit
lzcns of South Carolina, and your general
as commandant of the dis
trict is approved by 4 majority nearly as
great.
In all the official intercourse which we
have had l beg to render you my thanks
for the uniform kindness and courtesy with
which [ have been treated personally, and
for the disposition you have always mani
tested to make the burdens OF the military
government as light upon the people whom
represent as it were possible under the
I have not the pleasure of
/ personal acquaintance with your sue
cessor, Gen. Candy, but hope that my Off
cial relations with him may be marked
with the same harmony and kind feeling
which. have characterized our official inter
course for nearly two years past. [ have
The honor to be, General, very truly and
your friend and obedient ser
want, JAMES Z. ORR,
Governor Of South Carolina.
The following is the reply Of Gen. sSickles
TO Governor Orr:
JVashing1On, Sept. q, 1867.-Sir Your
Excellency's letter of the 7th instant was
forwarded to me st New York, and received
On the 18th. The cordial terms in which
you are pleased to refer to our official and
Carolinas, are gratefully appreciated. In
my successor, Brevet Major General
Candy, you will meet an officer whose am
pie experience and distinguished services
have justly commended him to the conf
lence of the government.
In view of the announcement already
made by General Candy, adopting and
the orders heretofore in force
u the second military district it is net |
probable that any material change i'll the
conduct of affairs will result from the |
change in command. In my retirement it |
S is source of much qualification to COM
Dare the present condition of South Caro-
ina with that which [ found in assuming
command in the autumn of 1865.
The system of free labor has been sue
:essfully inaugurated. The emancipated |
blacks have been invested with civil rights |
~ the voluntary act of your Legislature. -
Che tranquility and order which have been
attest the general desire of all |
lasses of the people to observe the obliga-
ions of all good citizens. An abundant
harvest has rewarded industry. Grain is
low exported from Charleston. Registra-
ion has proceeded almost to completion
without commotion or trImult, or any seri-
JUS interruption of the ordinary avocations
# the people. Since October, 1866, the
Courts Of the United States and of the
State have exercised nearly all their powers
Without hindrance.
The jurisdiction of the courts, although
permitted jurisdiction, has never been
estricted except n particular cases imper-
lively demanded by the exigencies of the
ituation, and the civil authorities in gen
raj have been upheld, and civil law has
zen administered with only such limita-
ions as became necessary in the execution
f the several acts of Congress. The par
ocular measure of my administration which
on are pleased to mention with special
mendation-general orders No. 10
Tas, it is said, the occasion of my dismis-
al from command. You have justly de-
cribed the order in question as intended
D enable the people to make good crop
his year, and thereby obtain the means to
Import themselves and pay their debts.
If my removal had been provoked by j
ONE act Of oppression, spoliation or cruel
=, it would have been matter OF more re-
ret to myself. AS it is [ find no reason to
eproach myself for endeavoring to restore
1 some degree the natural prosperity of an
impoverished population, and to avert the
arious disturbances thar would have fol-
,ua1 tho rrosacution of mora than thirty