Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-19

2 ''sf n y y
bg, ~" =. =, EurOpeano squadron.sz ~ vi
Preparatory orders have been issued by
the Secretary of the NavyZto Rear Aami-
raj Radtord, now in command of Wash
iHgton Navy Yard, to command the Euro-
pean squadron. The Franklin will return
Ito the squadron with Rear Admiral Rad
ford. Ta-. "a s4si.ra- .srdrnris5 10 rff, 30
sF Report of Gen. Stoneman. ke
zS Brevet Major, General Stoneman, com
manding the First military district, has
made his report to the Generalein Chief
The system inaugurated and policy 7pur-
sued by uGep. Schotield having by long
experience been found complete and salts
factory, the one was adopted and the
other followed with such modification in
detail as circumstances arising from time
of the Constitution was thought by
some to vacate every office in the State
filled by persons who come within its pro-
visions He says his predecessor had made
five hundred and thirty-two appointments,
very many of them minor positions, to va
cancies caused by death. resignation or re-
rnoval, and in doing so had very nearly ex-
hausteG the available material at his dis
posal. But one vacancy on the bench had
occurred. and to fill this it had been neces-
sary to resort to officers of the army to find
a person fit for this important and res pon-
si5le position. This instance is cited to
show the evident impossibility of carrying
on the Government of the State upon the
assumption; that the thousands of officers
In the district, embracing State officers,
Judges, sheriffs, commissioners. common-
wealth attorneys, magistrates, &C., not to
speak of the large numbers of town
or municipal officers, such as mayors,
councilmen, aldermen, constables, over
seers of the poor aud others, should sud-
denly cease in the. performance of their
functions, with mo possibility Of filling
their places under the provisions OF. the
reconstruction laws. In nsOme instances it
has been found impossible to find any per-
son upon whom an appointments could be
conferred, and the difficulty has been over
come b n sdevolving the performance of the
duties on persons who were not opposed to
reconstruction nor .disloyal to the Govern
ncnt of the United States.
General Stoneman recommends the re-
peal OF the 9th section of the act of Con-
gress July 10Th, 1867. While some rene
dy for evils which it was feared with rea-
son might not ensue, the question substan-
TALLY settled itself and possibly this resu t
was promoted by his opportune ab-
senee from the State Immediately 1subse-
quently to adjourn ment of Congress. and
things moved on as before under the pro-
visions and requirements of the recon-
ton. .r- -. ~.
a Since August the forces in that district
have been reduced by sending a squadron
of cavalry to the plains, the battery of ar
tillery to Washington and the 29th in fantry
to Tennessee, and the companies which re-
main have been greatly depleted by reason
of the number of men Discharged on ac-
count of expiration of their term of SER
vice. A large number will be discharged
In a rh rnnnfhs anA
quently by the first of January next the
whole number in the district will be much
below 1000.- 81 az . $500 - - -
In the aggregate, among the more inn
portant questions that have presented
themselves, is the Methodist Church con-
test. After careful Investigation and an
able opinion thereon. by Judge Advocate
Col. B. 81. Burrban, it has been deemed
advisable not as yet, to make any order
thereon. The investigation shows that it
embraces many delicate questions OF law,
both statute and ecclesiaftical, and then
the one, General Stoneman says, that eau
only be settled by the decision of the high
est civil tribunal or by Legislative enact.
ment. Special cases, as they have arisen,
have been settled on the principle of recog-
nizing the claims of both contestants, and
giving each the right of occupying alter
nate weeks. q i' .'7
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 to pay in reason
able time dues to the treasury. This ar
rangement contemplates that one-thirG
will be paid in currency, and the balance
in State bonds.
The appointment of officers and directors
for the apportionmento of taxes. and extern
sion of the stay law is not yet determined,
and are questions for further consideration.
The report contains correspondence
between Messrs. Robert Ould, Marmaduke
johnson and Thomas A. Evans, commit
tee of the State Central Conservative COM
mittee, appointed to confer with the Gen.
eral in reference to holding an election tor
Presidential electors. General Stoneman,
in reply as to whether they can site any
law authorizing him as military command
erdto order or authorize such election, says
it the district commanders cannot
prohibit s. according to law they
cannot permit in the sense of the
order, or authorize or give official
sanction, without in any manner express
ing auy opinion on the propriety, right or
duty Of the people Of Virginia or any por-