The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-18
WASHINGTON.
The First Military District-Re-
port of Major. General Stone
man, Commander.
Fears of Another Flood in
Baltim ore-Movements
of Pirate Semmes.
FROM WASHING TON.


Preparatory Orders
have been issued by the Secretary of the Navy
to appoint Admiral Vim. Radford, now in COM
mand of the Washington Navy Yard, TO the
command of the European squadron. The
Franklin will return to the squadron with Rear
Admiral Radford, and will be the flagship.
The First Military District.
Brevet hajor-Geueral Stoneman, commanding
the First Military District has made his report
to the General-in Chief. The system inaugu-
rated and the policy pursued by General Scho-
field having, by long experience, been found
complete and satisfactory the one was adopted
and the other followed with such modification
in the details circumstances arising from
time to time seemed to demand. The fourteenth
article of the Constitution was thought by some
to vacate every Office in the State filed by per.
sons who came within it's provisions. He says
his predecessor had made FIVE hundred aud
thirty.two appointments, very many Of them
minor positions, to fill vacancies caused by
death, resignation, or removal, and in doing so
had very nearly exhaused the available material
At his disposal. But one vacancy on the Bench
had occurred, and to fill this 1t had been deemed
necessary to resort TO the officers of the army to
find person fit for this important and respons
BILE position.
This incident is cited to show the evident
impossibiilty of carrying on the government lof
the State upon the assumption that the thou
sands of officers in the district embracing state
othcers, Judges, sherltls, commissioners, Com
monWeaith's attorneys, magistrates, etc , not to
speak of the large number of TO Rn and munich
pal officers, such as mayors, councllmen, alder
men, constables, overseers of the poof, and
others, should suddenly cease in the perform.
auce of their functions, with no possibility of
hlliug their places under the provisions of the
reconstruction laws.
In some instances it has been found abso.
lutely Impossible to find any person upon whom
an appointment could be conferred, aud the
difficulty has been overcome by deyolying the
performance OF the duties upon persons who
were not opposed 10 reconstruction nor dis
10y al 10 the Government of the United States.
General stoneman recommends the repeal OF
the 9Th section OF the act OF Congress OF July TO-
1867. While seeking for some remedy for the
evils which it was feared with reason might
ensue, the question substantially settled ITSELF
and very possible this result was promoted
by this opporune absence IRON the State
Immediately subsequent to the adjournment
OF Congress. and things moved on as before
under theiprovisious aud requirementsof of The Re-
construction laws, then aud now in full opera
tion. Since August the forces ia that district
have been reduced by sending a squa iron of
cavalry to the Plains, the battery of artillery to
Washington, the 10th Infantry to Tennessee. and
the companies which remain have been greatly
depleted by reason of a number of men dis
charged on account of the expiration of their
term Of service.
A large number will be discharged during the
next three months, and, consequently. by the
let OF Jannary next the WnOle num0Pr IN the
district will be much below one thousand IN
the aggregate. Among the more important
questions that have presented themselves for
consideration is the Methodist Church contest.
After careful investigation and an able
opinion thereon by Judge Advocate Colonel
II. B. Barrham, it has been deemed advisable
not as yet 10 make an order thereon.
The investigation shows that 1t embraces
many delicate questions of law, both statute
and ecclesiastical. and it is one, General Stone
man says, that can only be settled oy a decision
of the highest civil tribunal or by legislative
enactments Special cases, as they have arisen,
have been settled upon the principle of recog-
nizing the claims of both contestants, and
giving each the right OF occupying on alternate
weeks
Arrangements have been made with most of
the railroad companies, advantageous to them
as well as to the State, by which it is hoped
they will be able 10 pay up, in a reasonable
menls contemplate that ons-third will be paid
in currency, the other two-thirds in State bonds.
The appointment of proxies and directors for
the State, the apportonment of taxes, and
extension of the stay law, are not yet deter
mined, and are questions for further cossdera-
tion.
re report contains the correspondence be-
tween R. O. Ould, Marmaduke Johnson,
Thomas j. Evans, the Committee OF the State
Central Constitutional Committee appointed to
confer with General Stoneman in reference to
holding an election for Presidential electors.
General Stopeman in reply asks whether they
can cite him any law author zing him, az mill
tary commander, to order or authorize such an
election; ana says:-It district commanders
cannot prohibit according TO law they cannot
permit 1t in the sense of the order, or authorize
or Give official sanction.
Without in any manner expressing any opin-
ion upon the propriety the tight, or the duty OF
the people OF Virginia, or any portion OF them,
at this fine to peacea6ly meet and ballot for
any persons as elected for President aud Vice.
President, he suggested the inquiry whether or
not the intimation of such a course OF pro-
cedure. calculated to excite and disturb the
public mind, would be wise or prudent.
My duties he said are plain and marked out
by law, and confined TO protecting all persons
in their rights OF person and property to sup
press insurrection, disorder, and violence, and
punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers
Of the public peace, and obey the orders of my
properly constituted superlors.
writ of habeas corpus has been applied for,
and is bderstood to have been granted the
object being to test ihe legality of the action OF
the district commander in regard to the l4tn
article, constitutional amendment. What the
result will be remains TO be determined.
The AFFAIRS connected with the Bureau OF
Refugees aud Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
in Virginia, have been managed With ability aud
discretion, rejecting great credit upon the able
and upright Adj Utant- General, o. Brown. His
subordiuales have, as tar as General StoDeman
is informed, performed their thankless duties
to the general satisfaction of those concerned,
and have sought, far as in their po wcr, to
justice was done, and the rights of the negro
protected.
In doing this they had on the one hand igno-
rance and on the other prejudice to contend
against and overcome. Instances, though rare,
had been brought to his attention, where vio-
lence had been used towards them, but those
cases we're confined to individuals, and were
not chargeabe to communities.
The cruelty practised to wards the negroes