New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-01
WASHINGTON.

The Message-PrematurO Publication
OF Bureau Reperts-H0w They arc
Obtained-Big Offer for Report Of Sec.
retary of the sTreasury-New Route
Agent Between New Orleans and
Brashenr.
WASHINGTON, November 3O.-McKensie
announces that it is his intention to contest
BraxtOn's. Conservative scat in Congress,
from the seventh Virginia district.
Tho Presidents message will not be de-
livered to the press until its delivery to
Congress.
There has been great c0nmotion in the
departments on account Of the premature
publication of Bureau reports. They are
bought from loose people connected with
the departments directly or indirectly, at
prices varying from SO to $500. Three
thousand dollars was offered for an advance
report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury's
report.
Bernard Meyer has been appoited route
agent between New Orleans and Brashear
City, vice Thomas N. Conklin, resigned.
WASHINGTON. November 80. Governor
Warmoth and General George A. Sheridan
arrived here to-day, and were clOseted with
the President several hours this evening.
Major General Halleck, commanding the
military division of the South, has submitted
his annual report. The division of the South
is composed Of two military departments,
viz: The South and Texas. 1t contains the
following troops Four detachments of ord
nance, the fourth sixth and ninth cavalry;
third artillery, ten companies Of the second,
tenth, eleventh, sixteenth, eighteenth, nine
teenth, twenty-fourth and twenty-ffth in
fantry.
The Department of the South is COM
| manded by General Terry, who is COM
mander. of the District of Georgia, under
special orders from the War Department
In General Terry's department frequent
changes of stations have added to the eX-
penditures, but they were unavoidable
Yellow fever caused the removal of the
garrisOns from Mobile and New Orleans.
The Department Of Texas, embracing
also Louisiana, is commanded by Colonel j.
j. Reynolds.
With the exception of the Indian troubles
on the northern frontier, that State has
been remarkably quiet and prosperous.
General Halleck calls particular attention
to that part Of Colonel Reynolds report
concerning the depredatiOns of the Indians
from Fort Sill reservation, and recommends
that measures be taken to confine the In
dians to this reservation, or to prevent them
from leaving, except under a military es-
cOrt.
In the general remarks concerning the di-
vision, General Halleck reports that dis
cipline has improved during the year, and
supplies have been abundant and satisfac-
terry. except clothing, which is almost uni
versally complained of.
The expenses OF several of the supply
departments have been greatly diminished,
and the report points out way of further
reduction. But a few instances have oc-
Cured where military interference in civil
matters have been required except to assist
revenue officers in the performance Of their
duties. In the present practice, the revenue
officer is the sole judge of his need OF mill
tary assistance, and it is recommended that
their requisitions be required to be accom-
panied by affidavits to prove that the case
comes within the law authorizing military
Interference
This and other restrictions pointed ont ON
the use of military force in civil matters
would, in the opinion of the General, effect
a saving in military expenditures and also
relieve army officers from much of the re-
sponsibility which they are now obliged to
incur in the performance of disagreeable
duties, which can hardly be said to legiti-
timately belong to the military service.
Where United States Marshals and assist
ant marshals call for military aid to execute
the process Of the courts there should be
an order of the court authorizing such requi-
sitions, on the ground that no proper civil
posse cOn,it0tus could be obtained. 1t may
be proper to remark in this place, that 1
have been assured by federal and civil
officers that the use OF troops in executing
judicial process and enforcing the revenue
and other civil laws, seems to increase
rather than diminish the apparent ne
cessity of resOrting to such force in
civil matters. The ill-dispOsed become
NOR. and more exasperated at being coerced
by a force which they think has been un-
constitutionally employed against them,
while the better disposed relax their efforts
to punish local crimes ON the plea that the
duty now devolves on the military: hence,
in the case Of a robbery or murder there
is call for federal troops to arrest and
guard the criminals. 1t is, therefore,
question well worthy Of consideration,
whether the military, in civil matters.
should not be limited to few we'll defined
cases, such as riots and instructions, which
can not be suppressed by local and State
authorities.
Although no very important military
operations have been carried on in the di-
vision during the past year, the industry
and capacity of the department command
ers have been severely taxed in executing
the laws Of Congress, and in settling
apparent conflicts Of authority between the
civil authorities. 1t is very creditable to
them to be able to say that they have per-
formed these embarrassing duties In such
manner as to receive the approval of their
superiors, and to give general satisfaction
to the people of the States in their respective
commando Nearly, all the subordinate
bureau reports have been published prema-
Of their authors to prevent It. Several ex-
reach the public before presentation to-