New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-01
GEN. MEADE'S REPORT.

GOV. JENKINs-THE STAY LAws-REMOvALs
| PROM OFFICE-sCARCITY OF GEORGIANs WHO
| COULD TAKE THE OATH-A CONSTITUTION
| ADOPTED-THE ASHBURN AssAssINATIOf-
| THE MILITARY POWER NOT ARBITRARILY
| ExERCIsED-THE CAMILLA MAssACREs.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THR SOUTH.
| ATLANTA Ca, Oct. 81.
Brere! General JOHN A. RAwLNs, chief Of STAT, Washing
| ton, d. o.
| GENERAL: herewith transmit, for the in
formation Of the Chief brief abstract Of the
operations under my command while in charge OF the
late Third Military District and subsequently in COM
mand Of the Department Of the South War Department.
orders No 1o Of the date December o. 1857 as
signed to the command OF the Third Military District,
and the 9Th Of January 1863 assumed the command
with headquarters in this city The Third Military Dis
rct at that time consisted Of the States Of Georgia. Ala
bama, and Florida. The condition Of affairs was simply
| as follows:
In the State of Georgia convention elected under the
Reconstruction laws In session In Atlanta, but ham
| pered and embarrassed for want Of funds
In Alabama q convention had met framed constitu
ton nominated ticket for State officers and adjourned
In Florida election had been held for members OF
Convention but the body did not meet under the orders
Of my predecessor till the 10th Of January
1t impossible in report Of this kind TO give all the
various questions their details and were
adjusted by my action; but by the provisions OF the
Reconstruction laws from whence my authority ema-
nated the OF disappearing any acts was vested IN
the Chief OF the Army, from the FIRST before
taking action in any important matter laid before that
officer my views and proposed course. have therefore
deemed 1t best to append to this report part OF It,
full file of the kilograms between the headquarters OF the
army and myself and IL is with great pride and satsfac'
ton that refer to the same, as they Will show thatn
was rarely that the GenerainChief was called on TO
override my Judgment shall conne myself in this re-
port the briees auon TO the special points TO when
wish TO invite particular attention.
acton VI wss 9 the financial dnc%y in the Georgia Conve5
ton. found my predecessor had Endorsed the reqnsl
Of the Secretary Of the Convention and directed s
payment OF the Treasury and that the Treasurer had
refused payment on the ground that money could only NC
paid of the State Treasury warrants drawn by he
Governor Finding this 10 be state OF the case apeaed
to His Exselleney Charles Jsnsns ana the Ts
Convention Of the law OF Congress authorizing this Con
a he ' would draw h the G for the
required for their immediate and pressing cxpenses
except under appropriation by law ana informed me
very distinctly that he did not acknowedge ana won
which, In his judgment, were unconstitutional nun ana
Alternative but the removal Of Jenkins which
accordingly done, and Brcyet Brig Gen lhoinas III:
mas oomped 10 The state treasurer and Con
troller assigning TO these positions CaPs hoekWe ana
wheaton OF the Army. considered jndcons policy to
avail myself of tho authority granted in the Reconstruc
ton detail officers Of the Army TO perform me
duties in this way gave evidence 20 he people o ho
state and Of country that my only object IN making
the removals the execution OF the law ana tha me
free from any pefsonal or poniNM piaS ~
affords qualification 10 say tha beeNe inc enceI vi
these most beneficial,
tation Of Gen. Kruger ana Ills associates VINO cuunucu
In Office till the state was admitted 10 represent
,he% and Satisfactory to the people Of all parties in tho
State. Soon after arrival nj my post received hu
Waning Of the effect OF the passage by the
OF Alabama and Georgia OF acts known a. relief laws
which was intended stay laws, TO afford relief TO
debtors from the immediate pressure OF their orcd9rA
IL urged that tho aeis OF these CohNenohs MOI De
ing binding having the effect o. law w ranei Dy
vote Of the people. and as would require eoho ume
before this vote would be TAKEN uint l view " VIC
ia
creditors hurryng their action ana pressing thcr
debtors, thus making these measures really acts ~ op
give 10 these acts the force OF ia" u th" people
pTnspe TO any laws interfering with the rights Of credit
ors there nevertheless 90 much force in Tue taoh
ing advanced aud tho demand o an clIhses Wa 30 !m
perative. that, after consultation and approval 81 tc
orders s ~ ssnnea y s Vote Of the
people Immediately on taking command was applied
district removal of ncumbcnts In office and tho
substitution therein of individuals dominated These APP
! plications were based various grounds some
purely personal or political; others on tho
Construction and sometimes the ground
Of neglect OF duty mafcasanoc OF Office As was I'M
posslbe for me- in my ignorance Of men. 10 form any
usent on the complaints preferred, or on the Illness
and capacity OF those asking oce' Determined 10 aO
stain from making any changes except where there Was
nroyed neg of duty mneasance ~ Office open
fusal obey the Observation-Disclosures or attempts To OBJ
charges and evidence be produced and where these
charges affected. they did IN many Instances, whole
municipal bodies directed Investigation by boards oil
officers and all those accused iul hear
ing and every opportunity to defend the,nseIves 1rm
adherence this rule aud the reports OF several boards
concurring In the charges presented relieved me al
ter awhile from the just pressure brought AT t To bear
and during whole OF my administration there
was not a removal made that the archives on tho DIS
tct Will show made for some cause alleged and
after investigation. There were necessarily many APP
pontments made TO MI vacancies caused by DEATH re-
and removals Of ncumbens from the Counties
or state they were living Another difficulty which
operated compel me To adopt the course ABOVE re-
ported was the fact that by the Reconstruction laws no
person could be appointed To office without taking tho
oath prescribed, which was OF such enaInee, .nn
limited very small number the persons hbc 20 hou
office So great was the difficulty. that when saw bill
In Congress recurring the vacation Of all tho Offices by
those able take the test oht felt my unty 10
telegraph tho that II this became law
II would be Impossible 10 MI tho offices,
there persons enough Ia either OF e states 10
mi half OF the civil Offices In the State, aud urgently
oded that authority be granted 10 appoint
Offices registered voters The bill ala not become
law and no change was made In my policy. As pre-
yionsly stated tic Convention Alabama had, under
my predece ssor assembled aud Trained IOhstlutiOh
Witch was 10 be submitted 10 the people The Convcn.
election and predecessor directed III orders tno
election TO tnue for two days with as many pre-
cncts as the managers night advisable. ON repre-
sentaon that two days were insuicent To enable
All the states 20 be received extension by my anthor
ty was made OF the time days but the precincts
were limited Ia each county to three Tho election was
held AZ the time specified but owing to violent storm
occurring the first two days, the time further cx
tended day. making I'VE days IN all special re-
port navns ooe, hr that from ali the evidence can
procure and caused the most thorough investigation
~ be made tho Constitution was finally rejected by tho
peops under the law requiring majority OF the regis
their ballots Tor or against ana mat
the reelection was based on the OF the Constitution
itself which was obnoxious largo body OF the friends
OF proved by the fact that out OF Io
hte voters Convention there were only oOoO TOT
the Constitution and partially from the fact that tho
Constitutional Convention had made nominations 10 MI
The state onIces which ticket not acceptable In all
resnects 10 the party favorng reconstruction II viii be
seen by an inspection OF the elegrans ms
report that had advised against an election ,or Stao
believing that the same WAS not only not foqureu W to
of nd