New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-01

speca report the evidence would TO show that the
authors OF the outrage were civil omcers VINO unaer @
guse of enforcing law and suppressng disorder mao
permitted want0n sacrifice of life and blood Az the
same time the report stated that the Opposing
Judgment and their nsstance abstract rights IN the
face of the remOnstrances of the law cce gwen rnose
officers the opportunity Of acting as they did Immedi-
atey outrage being reported an officer was as
patched to the scene who made M
but day, and that there was no occasion 20 opoy
troops for the Of order or tne Ses
the detection and punishment OF the cTim
mails concerned should continue to be In tue nanas Vi
the civil authorities. transmitted the report OF the IN
vestgaon together with the evidence Collected 10 DIS
the Of e bo EnF 81 the
Second and Third Military Districts were abolished anu
% INTO '1e wsa ass~ned This added
command the States of North and South Carolina,
ea GuS tho aron military authority
during reconstruction, almost entirely snpersedea th
evil soon after sakng 81 fS the
Of North and South Carolina. urging the use OK the
snS ppons
OF armed bodies being organized for the purpose OF
Somewhat similar communications from the Of
Georgia. Florida and Alabama The sum and substance OF
ernments were to enforce the laws with
out tho aid and cooperation Of the military replied 70
these several applications that could ind nothing IN
the existing laws the instructions from superior an
thority, which would justify my answering their call,
Goycrnments employing the civil officers as agents of
the military that my sole and exclusive duty was 70
preserve peaoe and that alone after was evident
that the civil power unable to do and had called
In the manner prescribed by the law These app
day. BY the act Of Congress approved March IN
employ the military forces to preserve the peace ana 70
calm the approximations OF the anxous ana MAKE onnS
order distributing the troops In the severa osates III
the department and In the order not only lnstuc
,ion ~ fha nflcera and me
make appeal to the people or the several
camness and abstinence from those polca
careful to require all Intervention OF tne troops 70 De
ordinate to- aud In aid Of and In cooperation WITH he
civil authorities, this order was msc0nstrued ana SUD
jec.ed to the most vruent criticism l am grained,
however in being able to state that the effects OF inc
and the movements made by virtue OF IL were IN
the highest degree satisfactory At the same time take
this occasion 90 call the attention OF the
and through HIM having the power TO act TO the
anomalous condition OF affairs existing ID TINS Depart
ment, and the necessity m be deemed proper iop inc
given Department Communicative existing laws cor,
fer beg leave refer 10 the reports OF the sevefa
heads staff Department at these headquarters lor
the necessary information in relation TO the position con-
dton, and discipline OF the troops SO soon as the a
troops and 10 require the stieest attention
to be paid TO the drli and discipline oi inc
my several District Commanders, and 10 the ocers OF
~ saf Department and 10 the officers and Of the
several commands my thanks for the prompt and eni
cien cooperation have ever received at their hands
No army i'm pre yions history was every called to dis
charge sueh delicate and responsible duties involving
powers that abused might have led 10 the most serious
consequences; aud yet the transition from military TO
civil power was 50 imperceptible IA TO have
PASSED unnotced but for the special means
by way OF procamatons orders, etc. to make 1t public
do not mean deny but that there were individual ex
eptons aud that bad Judgment. political
bs or personal feelings may have Influenced the course
OF some individual officer soldier This Is no more
maj h 10 be xpeced from nature but do main
tan that taking the large force extending over such an
extcnt of territory and vested with supreme powers,
that instead of the few instances where perhaps ert
cism might be appropriate, the wonder wasand u Is 70
be said to the credit Of the armythat so little abuse was
made of a puwer by those who might very readily be
suppoeed dfcut TO be restrained and controlled am
$500 " G.. MEADE,
Major-G General, u. 3. A, Commanding.