New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-18

THE POsr-OFFICE--SU SUPERVISORS CONFIRMED
WASHINGTON D. c., Tuesday, Nov. II, 1873.
Gen. George III. Thomas has made his annual report
70 Gen Grant regarding affairs in the.Department OF
the Cumberland. 1t opens with the disposition Vi
the troops and an account of assistance rendered 10
Gov. Foreman of West Virginia in preventing
trouble at PHILIPPE The condition Of the troops III
the Department has greatly improved in all respects
The General thinks that suffers should be aoWeo az
all military posts. The duties OF the troops are "oo'
the last year. aud the necessity for theil 10
the same. The state of society in those regions
where the law has been held in contempt ana "heIe
life has been insecure has not at all improved anu l"
some sections it is much worse. OOou crops A"u ~
creased prosperity seem to have encouraged more
active exhibition of the spirit OF lawieSsheSs Inc
report contains very exhaustive history
af tho operatious of the Ku-klux HAN
from their first appearance in Giles County
Tenn Ii details first the reports which were sent TO
Washington and allowed by the President to be pub
ksbed-a publication which had a damaging effect
MOON Union men in the South The General severely
censures those Northern men In Nashville who joined
with the Rebels in denying the existence of the Khan
He styles them few amiable persons of Northern
birth, who we're living in Nashville under the pro-
lection of well organized police force. The various
acts of the force in helping Gov. Brownlow to pre-
serve the peace are given in very interesting FORM
These movements and their canse help to complete
the history of the Ku-Klux Khan. The difficulties
arising from resistance to revenue officers have given
considerable employment to the troops. Formidable
difficulty exists throughout the Department IN OBJ
tanning justice for UmOnists even III the
United States Courts. The number OF
troops in the Department has at no
time been so great as required 10 preserve the
peace In one the General ordered the arrest OF
an ex-Rebel soldier for violating his parole by as
mission was ordered; but the case referred TO
the Attorney General of the United States and that
official held that the prisoner had violated no mill
tary law. After that the report continues, no fur
Their attempt was made TO afford protection TO Union
citizens by enforcing obligations ,Of paroles as the
latter seemed Of little value except TO the paroled
The General does not mlnce his language IN speak
ing of the delay of several of the railroads in his de-
parment in paying their debts. He thinks that they
do this in hope that their claims for use during the
war may yet be allowed. He recommends that they
be compelled to pay up promptly 1t is notifying,
he says to acknowledge that the State and local
laws, and the powerful force of
public opinion do not protect citizens of the Depart
nent from violence Indeed, crime is committed be-
cause public opinion favOrs it, A criminal who is
popular with the mob set law at Defiance but if
is only suspected of crime who is inmimical to
the community. he is likely to be hanged to the
nearest tree or shot down at his own door. The re-
port closes as follows:
1.-THE of this lawlessness different in different
Btates, and apply particularly TO Kentucky and
Tennessee than TO West Virginia. From the latter
there have been complaints received other than that
OF the Governor In his application for troops before men
toned the sending OF which accomplished the object for
Of the late Rebels are disfranohised they and tho
Ympathzers with them have hatred of the state ap-
ties where the DISTINGUISHED element Is strong spirit OF
persecution toward those in sympathy with the author
lies o IA
francised negroes, and the negroes themselves espe
is openly talked Of The editorial articles Of the public
press such to create the most nents hatred In the
breasts OF the exReoels and thelr synpahlers ne
effect Of this 70 cause disturbance throughout the state
by melting the rufhanly portion Of thls class OF
citizens 10 murder, riot and malreat the white
Unionists ana coored people IN LOCALITIES Whese
there United States troops stationed The
local authorities often have not the WILL and moreover
often have not the power to suppress or prevent these
alleged as reason for the disturbance Here the mas
Of the people in sympathy with the State authorities
them The coored people quiet and peaceable They
have no political nights, not being enirsnonlseo yet
OF punishment. The testimony Of negroes is rejected 81
The State Courts and United states Courts are dncu OF
access TO ignorant people without friends or influence
districts some Union soldiers are prosecuted
by their Rebel neghbors, until they
forced into resistance which sometimes ends with loss
of their lives, they are compelled In seHdefeuse
but little hope for redress, as the magistrates
and juries too often decide in accordance with their
pTejudiees without regard TO justice Inc cOntrOlng
cause Of unsettled condition Of affairs in the Depart
that, the greatest efforts made by the defeated
insurgents the close OF the have been 10 pro-
mulgate the idea that the cause of liberty justice, hu.
mainly, equality, and al the caander OF virtues Of freed
suffered violence ana WI0ng when the en0rt lot
BOutben Ddependenc failed This OF course intended
rs q species Of political can't whereby tho crime OF trea
son might be covered with counterfeit VarDlsh OF
patrOtisi1 so that the precpators OF Rebellion might
Tenders of the Government, thus wipng out
with their hands their stains This
species Of selfforgiyeness Is amazing in It's ell
erty justly forfeited by the laws OF she county Of
war, and Of nations Under this inspiration the educa
ton of great many people, moral and religious, and
unite in common. The mpOvershment OF the South, re-
sutng from war and its concomtants the emancipation
OF the slaves and consequent substance the
biguy and uncertainty OF political rights, and financial
values as well personal ryarles, have all combined
10 strengthen the efforts Of the perncous teachers The
evil done has been great and Is not dscernabe that
immediate improvement may be expected.
Brig Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, Chief Engineer
of the Army has submitted TO the Secretary Of War
his report for the year ending June 80 1865 at which
time the number Of officers in the corps OF Engineers
was ia on the active list and five retired The Board
of Engineers of which Lieut-COl. Barton s. Alexan-
der is President considering the subject OF the
Pacific Coast defenses, and have selected sites for
works and directed their survey. Material progress
has been made upon those parts of the Atlantic sea-
coast and lake frontier defenses which are not
affected by questions respecting the increased use TO
be made of iron in covering and protecting guns,
gunners and scarps against the action Of heavy pro-
jectiles fired from armOred batteries. The General
thinks that this special question OF armor requires
deliberate and prolonged examination. The reStoIa-
ton Of the forts the Southern seacoast has been
continued; aud some Of the defenses of New-OTleans
Mobile, and Pensacola have again been placed ia
condition for use The engineers are making expert
mens with enlarged artillery for seacoast batteries