Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-12-09
Department of the South.

GEN. MEADE's REPoRT-CoSDIrIoN OF GEoR-
GA, ALABAMA AND FLORIDA.
General Meade, commanding the Depart
ment OF the South, has submitted his annual
report to the General-in-Chief. In regard
to the financial troubles in Georgia, Genera
Meade saws that he was compelled to remove
the Governor, Comptroller aud State
Treasurer, and to supply their places with
officers detailed from his command. lie en-
forced the relief laws in Georgia and Ala
hama at the earnest solicitation Of the mos
influential citizens in those states, until
these laws could be revised and confirmed by
Z popular vote.
General Meade gives the history Of the
elections in Georgia, Alabama and Florida
and speaks as follows with regard to the
exercise of military power:
"Soon after assuming command, | issued
an order both to the civil and military Off
GERS, informing the first that they would not
be interfered with so long as they faithfully
executed their duties, and enJoining on the
latter to abstain from Interfering with the
civil powers, and in all cases to report II
me and receive my decision before taxing
any ACtiON. as On my CODelIuNt4OAp y lie
law, in the military commander, and IN
him alone, rested the authority to supersede
the civil power. l beg leave 10 call atten-
ton to the report Of the acting Judge-Advo-
cate Of the department, herewith appended,
from which it will be seen that, during the
whole period of ms civil administration
extending over n space OF eight months,
there were tried by military commission, in
the three States of Georgia, Alabama. and
Florida. only thirty-two persons. OF these
but fifteen were convicted and OF these fifteen
the sentences of four were ~disapproved, OF
eight Others RENTED, of two referred 70
the President Of the United States and
still awaiting action, leaving but one person
convicted and in confinement for violation
Of a civil law, and tried by 4 military com
mission on the cessation Of military authori-
t.. This simple statement of facts [ deem 4
complete REPUTATION of the charges that mill
tary power was so despotically and arbitrt-
rilv exercised. As with the rights OF per-
sons, 50 with those Of properly. 1t was
my study and effort 70 zealousiy guard the
rights Of individuals, without reference to
any consideration bat that of justice and
law, so far as / could comprehend It. The
adoption of the relief laws in the several
states, the loose manner IL which these
laws were drawn by the several Iegis,a-
lures. ilFOIheu IN llilllitllSt IiipUtlA o.
business in receiving and examining into
and deciding on the lnnumerabie Cases which
were presented-one side always claiming
military Intervention for their protection.
=. The amount Of labor performed in
carrying ON the civil and military admins
tration Of my command, independent ot what
specially related 70 the Civil Bureau during
the period covered 10y the reDort-from
January | to November /. lSGS-WIl he
seen BIZ referring to the accompanying
statement Of my Assistant Adiutant Gene
raj. wherein is shown shat there were
5,432 letters received, and l,os3 letters and
6,0St endorsements, covering ORDERS, IN
structions and decisions sent from my head
quarters
Of the Camilla ou5ras e, General Meade
says
"Tne evidence would seem to show that
tine authors Of the outrage were civil officers,
who, under the guioe of enforcing the law
and suppressing disorder. had permitted a
wanton sacrifice of life and blood. AZ the
same time the opposite parties (for the affair
was Z political one) had by their want Of
Judgment and their inslstance on abstract
rights, in the face OF the reInonstranccS Of
the law officers, given those officers the OPP
portunity ofacting as they did
Finally, General Ee20c recommends lhdt
more power be given to him as department
commander, in order that he may intervene
authoritatively. if it becomes necessary, in
the civil affairs of the department. He also
says
No army in previous history was ever
called on 10 discharge such delicate and
responsible duties, involving powers that If
! abused might have led 10 the most serious
consequences and yet transition from mill
tary to civil power was SO imperceptible as
TO have passed unnoticed, but for the special
means by way of proclamation. orders, &C.,
to make it public. | do not mean to deny
but that there were individual exceptions,
and that in some cases bad Judgment. politi-
cal bias or personal feelings may have inau-
enced the course of some individual officer
or soldier. This is no more than is to be
expected from our nature but | do maintain
that, taking the large force extending oveI
such an extent OF territory and vested
with supreme power, instead of the few
instances where, perhaps, criticism might
be appropriate, the wonder was-an1 it is
to be said TO the credit Of the arIny-that 81
little abuse was made of a power by those
who might very readily be supposed dilicul'
to be restrained and controlled.