Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-06
HALLECK ON THE CONDITION OF
AEEAIRS IN THE SOUTH.


The policy of the Radicals is TO misrep-
resent the condition of affairs in every
Southern State in which they have lost
the control of the Offices, and unfor-
tunately there are men connected with the
army who favor this policy and do all
hey can to aid the Radicals in this work
of misrepresentation. Gen. Terry, now
in command of the 'District of Georgia, "
is one of these officers, but Gen. Halleck,
who is bis superior, is not. Ii anything
were required to nail the falsehoods of the
Radicals about Georgia to the counter, it
will be found In the annexed extracts from
the official report of Gen. Halleck, com
manding the military Division of the
South, accompanying the annual report
of the Secretary of War. 1t will be
found in direct autagonism with that of
Gen. Terry, upon which was pretendedly
based the necessity of the expulsion of
that State. Gen. Halleek's report bears
date Nov 6, 1869. He says:
'TnspGtion and other reports, how
ever, represent it to be entirely tranquil,
except in certain districts of Georgia and
North Carolina, where there has been
some disorders requiring military inter
ference, the civil authorities heing unwil-
ling or unable to enforce the laws for the
protection of life and property.
at is not easy at the present time to
determine upon the extent and character
of these alleged disorders; but official in
vestigations have generally proved the re-
ports to be either unfOunded or greatly
exaggerated.
''After a careful examination Of all the
evidence have been able to collect from
official reports and the statements of Off
GERS and citizens, unbiased by partisan
feelings, am forced to the conclusion
that the amount of crime committed in
the several States of the division is very
little greater than before the rebellion,
and certainly no greater than was rea-
sonably 10 be expected at the close of an
embittered and prolonged civil war, when
large numbers of lawless and desperate
characters, both at the North and in the
South, We're turned loose upon society
without any legitimate means of support
Certain districts of country may, and
probably do, form exceptions 10 this gen
cral remark; but even Of these exceptional
cases very few have any partisan CharaC-
ter or political significance. Those who
murder and rob do so simply as murdcrers
and robbers, influenced by the
motives which ordinarily iucite men to
commit these crimes. One Of the worst
dcsperadoes in Kentucky served in the
Union army during the war; but he and
his band murder Rebels and loyalists
alike, as may best suit their purposes, at
one time claiming to be Ku-KluX, and at
another to be anti -Ku- kluX. Although
there may be special organizations of out
laws, in particular localities, under the
name of Ku-Kluy, | am of the opinion
that no such general organization now ex-
lists in the Southern States. 1t is proba-
bic, however, that outlaws not unfre-
quently assume this name in order TO in
timidate the weak and credulous, cspe-
cially when calculated to increase their
own importance.
In regard to the interference of military
officers in local difficulties under the pleas
of maintaining peace and good order, l
think that no such military interference
should be permitted, except on the re-
QUESTION of the Governor Of q State, and
by order of the President as provided by
law. The principal occupation of the
troops, in certain localities, has been in
revenue officers to execute the
revenue laws. 1t is very natural that
these officers should call for the assistance
of troops whenever they can &c: it, for
by this means they avoid danger and
trouble, aud increase their own emOlu
ments at the expense of military appro
DriatiOuG