New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-20
S1urt 1alarStn's l0utit,.
STATE OF NEw-YoRK,
GEN. sHERIDANS REPORT.

The report Of Major Gen. Sheridan of the
operations in his command, has just been published.
The following is that portion of the report which refers
to his administration of affairs under the Reconstruction
act In the Fifth Military District;
Assuming command OF the Fifth Military District on
the 10Th day of March, 1861 found, upon examining tho
law that was required to protect all persons in their
rights OF person and property; To suppress surrectOn
disorder and violence, and to punish or cause TO be
punished all dlsturbers OF the public peace and crim
these two States as loyal to the Government had
small military force and the authority vested N me 0y
the law found, upon close examination OF the EXIST
ing civil governments OF those two states that nearly
every civil functonary from the Governor down. had
been soldiers or aders and abetors IN the keDeo ana
that IN nearly all they had been elected on CON
federae grounds and solely for services rendered IN
their attempts destroy the General Government In
fact, many If all. had advertised when they were
candidates their services in this respect as merlto
nous appeal for votes. found also, that they were
nearly all DISTINGUISHED by the law, and were suDstan
TALLY aliens II Is scarcely necessary to state that from
TINS condition OF affairs, nearly every CIV. oueei Nlh
my command was either openly secretly opposed TO
the law, and TO myself the authority held responsible
By the order OF the Executive Of the nation for IT'S faith
fil execution 1t difficult situation in which to DO
placed rendered still more so by me apparently open
sympathy Of the President with the functonaes above
alluded to- make this remark, not rs charge, Dn'
tect all persons il their rights Of person and property q
suppress nsurrectiOn, disorder and violence ana 70
punish to be punished all dlstrberS OF he PUBIC
peace and criminals and reorganze these states against
all this power and influence In accordance with the In
tenons OF the trainers Of the law without exercising the
right OF removal, was simply absurd
at would have takenyears for military 70
have tried those OF violation OF the law alone that
would have occurred I'm registration OF the legal
voters Of the States There only sensible course TO
pursue and that was 70 remove every civil oneer wac
did not faithfully execute the law or who put any lmped
ineut IN the way OF its eXccutiOnand this course was
adopted In pursuance OF the same decided to use tne
authority vested IN lenieny as possble 10 almost
allow myself be forced TO the wall by open overt acts
before action was taken and IN every order issued the
cause OF removal specified. had no desire to OPP
press and did not Cypress only wished TO give security
70 all good citizens. and did and Insecurity 70 All
olceholders who failed carry out the law, or who
put mpedimens in the way Of Reconstruction; A.,
have been charged by the highest authority IN tne
nation with being tyrannical and partzan, and ans
NOT afraid to say when such charges made againt
me, feel In my heart they are nnruthfg In az
my dealings with the people Of Louisiana ana Texas
governed by honor justice and truth no political
Influences or interests were allowed 10 control my
actions carried out the law with satisfaction TO All
except those whom it disfraDchised and set OF dis
honest political trcksters whom had previously de-
nounced aud who sought to make use OF the law to
obtain place and position and the whole system OF recon-
sructiOn faithfully aud successfully pushed FORWARD
10 near its completion, with energy aud economy until
the lst OF September, 1867 when received General
orders No ST. dated Headquarters OF the Army Adju-
tantGenerals Office, Washington August 81 1851 re-
lleving me from the command Of the Fuh Military DIS
trlct and assigning 70 the Department OF the MIS-
souri,"