New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-16
GEN. sICKLEs's WORK IN THE SECOND MILITARY
DISTRICT

On the 4th instant, Col f. w. Dennis, Judge
Advocate Of the Second Military District delivered an
address Charleston, S. C., in which he paid glowing
tribute TO Gen sckles for what he had done in that Dis
rct to advance the work Of reconstruction. Col Dennis
said that Cen Sches assumed command Of the Depart
ment OF South Carolina on the 18th OF November, 1865
that he afterWard announced the policy ne WOud
pursue and that on the first Of January, following more
than four months prior TO the passage OF the civil Rights
bill, he promulgated general order substantially en-
bodyng the cardinal principles subsequently incorpor
ated in that measure In this order he provided that all
laws should be applicable alike to all lnhaDtats tat
no person should BE- held incompetent to to testify
because Of color caste; that the vagran laws Tor
whites should be the vagrant laws for the blacks that
concealed weapons should not be carred ana that cor
pOral punishment should not be inflicted upon any per
other than minor aud then only by the parent
guardian, teacher, or one TO whom said minor was law
fully bound by ndentures Or apprenticeship On the ih
Of March, 1867 he prohibited all prosecutions ana SUITS m
the courts OF South Carolina against officers or soldiers o.
tho United States, or persons anywlse thereto DC
longing subject to military authority CHARGED WIN 9cIs
done IN their military capacity, or pursuant 10 orders
from proper military authority and against loyal citizens
or persons charged with acts done against the Rebel
tOrfes' directly or indirectly curing Ine heDelioh' III
April he established a military quarantine, when eX
I'm September his command having been extended 10 iu
cude North Carolina under the designation OF the De
tary organizations aud declared that armed bands Of
outlaws known Regulators" would be treated as
tered and expelled them by the force Of arms
extended North Carolina the provisions respect
prosecutions OF loyal men for done during the war
and he provided that no person should be sold to service
for any cause or by any authority.
OF tGs work done by Gen. sckes under the Recon
structiOn act Col Dennis says lie aDOshed lhpFlnoh-
ment for debt lie suspended all demands Tor purchase
money for slaves lie Instituted homestead exemption
He forbade the carrying Of deadly weapons lie pro,
hbed all punishments by plOry stocks branding, and
whipping He established the true distinction between
grand aud petit larceny and fixed graduated scale OF
penalties for other crimes, in harmony with the most ap
proved modern codes. He reformed the organization ol
iurcs IN accordance with the spirit OF the doctrine OF
equality before the law He abolished distress for rent
lie Instituted liens for labor He required common car
rers ignore distinctions Of color or race IN treatment
OF passengers He abrOgated oppressive provisions con
corning the process attachment He diminished wee
and crime saluary restriction upon the manufacture
and sale of Intoxicating liquors He organized and nau
guracd plan Of registration which furnished the broad
and solid basis whereOn has been built the whole super
structure OF the political fabric now matund IN design
and perfected IN pTOpOrt0nsthe grand edlhce or new
state constitutional liberty
The conclusion Of Col Dcnnis's address was "a follows
With almost unlimited power the persons and prop
ry of the people of two States with al the functions OF
government concentrated I'm himself aud the unalsWera
bic authority OF the sword to enforce his WILL let II he re
corded that he embarked from this shore on the TN oil
September 1867 with no fruit Of eNtoron nor corruption
ia his hand and that "a he sailed away there was among
those from whom he parted not even whispered HINT
that the slightest act I'm nearly two years OF absolute RUE
bad for instant been ascrbod by his worst enemy 10
AN unrghteOus motive.
Let me make prediction. Those Of US who have wit
messed what has taken place IN Charleston within year
or two whether spectators merely or as active agents
have observed with hopeful interest the dusky sons aud
daughters OF cnranCsed race trudgng their way not
uuwtuugly To the long foi hidden school believe that
when the children these little pupils, whose condition
tvpical Of the pupagc OF their race. SNAIL TWO genera
tons hence recount the events Of cay they VIII con-
mcmorate among the most cherished names when trust
worthy tradition shall have embalmed that OF tho Gu
lghteued, beuenCcut, and intrepid olckles.