Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-12-14
Military Reports.
GEORGIA.

The annual report of the Secretary Of War
is accompanied by numerous sub-reports, some
| of which are of the first Importance. That
of Major General Alfred II. Terry, command
ing the District of Georgia, is long winded
complaint of alleged outrages upon freedmen
by 'srebels" and "Ku Klux," whom he says
are countenanced by the citizens generally,
which closes with, as indeed it rciterates
throughout, the following valuable sugges-
tioD
In conclusion, | desire to express my con-
viction that the only way to restore good order
| in the State is to resume military control over
| it for the time being, aud ultimately to provide
| by law that the Legislature shall re assemble
as Provisional Legislature, from which all
! ineligible persons shall be excluded, and to
which all eligible persons elected to it, whether
white or black, shall be admitted. Such Leg
islature would, l believe, enact such laws, and
invest their Executive with such powers as
would enable him to keep the peace, protect
life and property, and punish crime. The
process Of resumiug military control would, it
appears to me, be very simple one. All
that would be required is an order from the
President countermanding General Orders
No. 55, Adjutant Generals Office July 80
1868, aud orders No. 103, Headquarters Third
Military District, July %. 1868, and assign>
ing an officer to the command of the district );
excepting the States Of Florida and Alabama
This action respectfully recommend.
General IIalleck, commanding Military Di-
vision of the South, endorses this report of
General Terry's as follows:
1 cannot concur entirely in the views Of
q
leng a time of the State Government of
authorities, for these officers to retrace their
steps and declare their own acts illegal and
void, would not only seem inconsistent, but
might produce much harm.
Should Congress, however, decide to return
the State to the condition ola military district,
under the Reconstruction laws, on the ground
that it had not been fully reconstructed, the
case would be very different l therefore re-
spectiully recommend that the matter be left
for action Of Congress
VIRGINIA.
General E. R. l. Canby's report for Vir-
cent elections, asks the additional appropriate
ton, for reconstruction purposes, of s65, 600,
and has the following of general interest:
One ofthe most important duties deyovins
on the District Commander. after l assumed
the command on April 20, 1869. was that Of
making appointments to fill the vacancies in
the civil offices created by the operation Of the
joint resolution of Congress of February 10,
1869. The total number Of civil officers in
the State affected by that resolution was 6U61,
and of this number only S65 were found in
office who could qualify under the law of July
2, 1862. leaving SIG appointments to be
made. To the first of October, instant, ,070
appointments have been made, and OF these
70G have declined, resigned, been removed,
or have failed to qualify, leaving 2 1862 now in
Office, and 2,Sl4 vacancies
From the first it was found very difficult to
find suitable persons who were willing to ac-
cept Offices, the duties of which interfcred with
their ordinary business, or occasioned good
deal of trouble, aud yielded little compensa-
ton. Another EN- barresme nt resulted from the |
social and political pressure that was brought |
to bear upon nearly all native Virginians who
were suggested or recommended for an Office |
that involved the necessity of taking the oath !
of Office prescribed by the law of j uly 2, 1862
AT this time, however, it is believed that ev
cry country has sufficient number of quail
lied magistrates to organize and hold list reg
nlar Courts, and with few exceptions county
is so far completed as to be in I
working condition.
- Somebody recommends laoer heer no n