The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES l6, 1867.
Extracts from Masor-Gencrnl Soho.
fields Annual Report on Recon
.tructEon in the First Military nis-

Extracts from Mator-Gencrnl Scno
fields Annual Report on Recon.
,,ruetlon im the First Military Dis.
tric;.
THIS report is dated October 2.
On INC l%th OF March, lSG7, | assumed
command Of the First Military District.
tho State Of Virginia, under the act q,
Congress Of March 2, 1867, and announced
as the principle to be followed in the mill.
isrv government that the power conferrc 4
nv,hc act OF Congress would be exercised
OILY 50 far as might be necessary to accom-.
ra,A TIC purposes for which that power
wa> conferred. Believing the principle
inns caunciated to he in exact accordance
o..u the spirit Of the &C: Of Congress. and
iha, .hc power conferred, or intended to be
conferred, by the act were ample for the
ra-yo>c contemplated, have strictly adj
a.rai 20 that principle in the DISCHARGE Of
..y duties. The civil government has
been i",cy.c.cd with only when it was be-
#.ycd 10 he necessary while have not
le,ita:tG to exercise any of the functions
d. local government when the necessity of
s.rh exercise was believed TO exist.
The extent to which military supcryi
saa o. The civil government, would he
necessary conid only be learned by expc-
-.saer. aad it was deemed important no,
o.,luyc IN" civil officers in any degree
.a4 ;hc responsibility of a faithful dis
charge Of their duties, but rather to en-
courage thereby a liberal confidence and
>Ho...
The wisdom Of this policy was fuIlv
demonstrated by the result. Ny appeal
To The civil officers, as well as that TO the
people a, large, met with q very general
aat gratifying rcSponSe-S0 much 50 that
,a instances OF complaints from any
source Of the action Of the civil officers of
tie STATE became exceedingly rare. Ne
veg,Ae.eSS, the evil which existed pre-
y.ous to The passage OF the act Of March
, 1861, was 70. removed, though some
what a.tisated, by the increased efficiency
81 the magistrates and other civil officers.
Iaa'cyil was inherent in our venerable
system, ~ evil more or less apparent in
a.I times, and fully developed by the
.a.Gral antagoniSm between loyalist and
nobel, or tho prejudice between white
and black, existing throughout the South
sgcc the rebellion. This evil and
Us appropriate remedy demanded nv
early and most careful consideration.
Ulr Of the first and most natural PROPOSE
lions WAS 10 remodel the Jury system Of
Il" State SO as 10 admit blacks as well as
"atcs 10 the iury-boX also to prescribe
s test, more or less stringent, as to past
a@d present loyalty. But after full CON
,icratlon | became satisfied that any SyS-
TEN OF organization OF iurieS, under laws
which required Il unanimous verdict to
convict, or 10 decide any civil cause, must
4.nrd very inadequate protection for life
and property in 4 society where strong
,rolGGiCc or class Of caste exists. This
Consideration added to the facts that any
system established by military authority
would be but temporary in its character
determined me to leave the remodelipg of
ao jury system to the State Convention,
ore long 10 assemble, and to be content
fox the present with the temporary system
@. military commissions authorized by the
aaro; Congress.
MpU"suauce Of this plan issued an or
disappointing military commissioners, Of
G.oTS Of the army and OF the FrGcdmen'S
D.reaG, FOR the various counties and cities
nt Tie State, with the powers OF justices
Il. TIE peace, and divided the States into
sru-tl>tricts, under commanders, whose
"crs have from time to time been en-
.s--rd rs circumstances seemed to require,
saul they have now the power and juriS-
0.o,i1n Of county judges while il is re-
sacgei t. the commanding general OF the
military district, or to military commits
s.1as appointed h. him for the trial Of Spe-
Gin. causes, - exercise the judicial au-
,.r o1 the circuit or higher courts.
e military commissions take iuriSdic
.. .H.r in cases where the civil authori-
g., .a,, from whatever cause, TO do JUS
.sn. The system thus organized and dc
Ee.pca has afforded a large measure of
EHrclion to all classes Of citizens, with
yu slight interference with the judicial
Proceedings 0! the civil courts.
THIS action OF the &ct cf Congress of
March %, requiring q registration of
voters, rendered necessary 4 suspension Of
az. -lec:ious until the registration should
d. completed. This uspansion was there
l.g ordered. The existing State, couaty,
a., municipal officers were directed to
aoaliuuc in office, and provision was made
.ar l,!iug by appointments all vacancies in
o"ctiyc Offices which might occur by or
alIry casualties or suspension, Or reno
y4l ior diSloyalty or other causes.
The act OF july - prescribed as q quail
a.4,on for Office the oath prescribed for
u.!-rrS Of the United States, test which
uva!d not, in many portions OF the State,
compiled with by any considerable num-
,grs OF persons Of Intelligence. This rem
,red general elections for county and city
Ulcers impracticabIc, Willie for otter and
Obvious reasons ii was deemed advisable to
avoid all minor elections until after The
uug,ion OF the State Convention, soon to
he called. For the above reasons the
.1ar >u>pcnding all elections has been
e....uIcU III force, and with view TO a
U1..1l execution Of the provisions OF
a.a .o. Oh; iuiy 10 relating 10 the remo"al OF
.a.r.s and qualifications Of persons TO he
appointed, az order was issued directing
..rsub-G!strcts cOmnduderS 10 report the
ge>es Of all officers who We're dlsloyal TO
lie Government Of the United Staters, or
N,1 used their official influence in any
~aaacr TO hinder, delay, OF obstruct due
~G. pgoic. administration OF the act OF
Congress-, aud announcing that ali vacan-
urs N Offices usually filed by appoint
@cD,, as we'll as in elective Offices, would
~arcat,cr be filed by appointment Of the
commanding general.
Under the operation Of this order oiii-
a-rs have been removed, GnG the cases OF
>.yerai others are under investigation.
u-ecrS Lave been appointed TO fill Vacan-
'!cs, aad in one case, that OF the Judge OF
sae Hastings Court Of the city of Rich-
~ond, an officer Of my staff has been de-