The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-04-15
The New Commander Of the Fifth
District, q
(From the New York World,1


General Hancock will remain North
Ue viii command the Fifth Military Dis
trict no longer. But the Radical raid
AGAINST him.. with Grant as head hound,
has failed in half of the double object it
had. That object was the retirement OF
Hancock and the exposure Of the people of
Louisiana and Texas to the most exquisite
horrors of ayonet-reeonstruction Sheri-
dau's carnivel of iobbery and cruelty was
to be reinaugurated. This fraction OF the
programme has failed. The liberation,
humanity, and soldierly honor of Hancock.
who subordinated opportunity to Justice,
nlagSifcd The gentle possibilities even OF
military law, and let slip the chance to
crush with one hand and rob with the
other, will, we have reason to believe, be
continued by his successor. That sncces-
sor is BreVet Major General Robert G..
Buchanan, Colonel of the First Infantry
An officer of the cold school," graduating
in June, 1880, he unites to military SER
vices as distinguished as extended the ac-
complishments, as well as the opinions, of
Conservative Maryland ancestry. The
wisdom of his long experience is reinforced
by tho executive vigor of years not yet be-
yond the middle term. A soldier, q gen.
tleman and Democrat, single instance
in his career viii afford scope for prophecy
and ground for conviction as to what kind
Of rule he will give the Fifth District.
During the second canvass to make the
late Lincoln President, Colonel Buchanan
commanded the District of New Jersey in
the Department of the East His duties
were to superiDtend recruiting and to exc
cute conscriptions. By his energy in the
former work, the necessity of the latter
was happily avoided. Winding his own
business with an energy and fidelity only
equal to the energy and fidelity with
which he did not mind other peoples busi-
ness, Colonel Buchanan won the regard
and respect of every high-minded man in
the State of both parties. Indeed his at
tention to the interests OF the Government
and his squelching of the games of bounty
brokers were so persistent that the party
Of moral ideas could detect nothing less
than Democracy in devotion so direct
and intifnl. Plainly, twas fat disloyalty
which in war time acknowledged the bind
ing obligations of civil law and honorable
economy in the province of New Jersey.
The Radical Executive Committee of the
State, if they did not aspire to command
the army of the Potomac, were certainly
resolved to run the military machine in
New Jersey. Accordingly that committee
requested the active cooperation OF Colo
mel Buchanan in their schemes to carry
New Jersey for Lincoln and johnson. The
exact form the demand took was never de-
tinitely ascertained.. 1t was, however, I'M.
derstood thatit comprised a levy OF money
for election purposes, and the emphasis oil
consumption in strong Democratic dis.
triets. 1t was even asserted that it was
proposed to mnlct each volunteer and sub
stitute out of q portion of the bounty paid
by the State and General Governments, as
we'll as by municipal authorities, and thus
create Radical fund, whereby to secure
a Radical triumph in the State The pro-
positions of the Committee were more than
declined. They weresspurned with an in
dignation that resulted In the darkening
Of Colonel Buchanan's doors by the pre-
ei0ns Radical set never thereafter. The
petty revenge was taken of telegraphing
to Lincoln and Stanton, that Colonel
Buchanan was obstructing the Republican
cause in New jersey" and requesting his
removal He was removed. The authors
Of that telegram, however, covered them
selves with SO much obloquy that to es-
cape the storm they published that their
signatures were forged to the message.
Colonel Buchanan took the field, and at
tanned his Major Generalship about the
date of Lincoln's reelection. The evils OF
military law win find no upholder in this
officer He will take Congress at its de-
ceitful word, and so execute the acts as to
effect their hypocritical titular design,
Union" To this end, civil law will be re-
cognized whenever possible. Under him
force will be the encourager of tranquility,
not the fomenter of strife. The white rem
egades and the black Stun will not be al
lowed to override the culture and the hon
esty Of the States in his charge. Full
registrations, fair elections, upright ap.
pointees, will be the rule The equity Of
Hancock will be perpetuated That
these benefits are assured under General
Buchanan, his selection to succeed General
Hancock, made by President johnson al
the latter's earnest request, Sabundantly
proves, So, too, prove the facts of his ca
reer Itremains to be seen how Grant vii
effect his own degradation in the tactics
probable for the displacement of this off
Ger, too large in refinement and honor fol
the infamous laws committed to his invol
untary discharge. 5