New-York tribune., 1874-10-19
LOUISIANA'S GUARDIANS.

TIE ARMY AND NAVY IN THE SOUTH.
EMBARRASSING POSITION OF THE oFFICERs-MisRkf-
REsENTArIoN OF THEIR MOTIVES AND ACTS
THEIR FREEDOM FROM PARTISAN BIAs-GEN'
EMoRY's COURSE IN THE LOUISIANA TROUBLES
INCONSISTENCY OF THE ADMINIsTRATIoN-KEL-
LoGG's MILITARY POLICY.
,ypox THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
NEw-ORLEANs, Oct lS-In the recent and still ex-
listing anomalous condition of affairs in the South
the position of the officers of the army and navy,
who alone of all the prominent actors are not rush.
ing into print with statements is very liable TO be
misunderstood or misrepresehted. 1t is creditabie
to the service that these gentlemen as class studi
ously hold aloof from politics; but with all their
circumspection they cannot escape unjust CRITICISM
If they appear in public with an ohce-h0ldlng car
pet bagger or scaawag there are those who at once
doubt their impartiaty even if they do not suspect
them of completely IN the crimes Of tie men whose
company official duty sometimes obliges them TO
seek On the other hand if they mingle freely with
the citizens generally and accept their hospitality
the charge is freely made that they sympathize with
the Conservatives OF the opposition to Radicalism
by whatever name it may be called. few days
ago Federal ofice-hOlder complained that an army
officer who had been sent to of the rural parishes
TO keep the peace was affiliating with the Wmte
Leaguers and sympathizing with their cause when
the proof was demanded he could only say that the
accused officer had received calls from promheh.
citizens and returned them, instead of conhnng MS
pursuit of society to the contemplate gang VINO
hold offices under the Kellogg usurpation. 1t may
be natural for the class to dread the effect upon
the officers of Misrepresentation from unscrupuous
partisans and for the other to fear the seductive
influence of refined hospitality; but imagine the
embarrassment of the honest soldier under such cir
cumstances As to the carpet-baggers and their set
hich ha 10 cd tn rf
the usurpation make it necessary for him to know
them. consult them and to further their plans. As
te the other class 1t comprises in the country all,
and in the cities nearly all of the intelligent and
cultivated people, and TO shun this class would be
not only 10 be discOurteOus, but to abandon
that position society which the rank and attain
ments of an officer enable him to command, and
which constitutes one of the few amenities OF mill
tary or naval life. The officer to whom the COM
plant above referred TO was informally made ex-
pressed the idea fully when he said to the complain
ing carpet bagger in defense of his brother officer,
"Well, what in the name of God would you have
him dot If he depends on your set for society he
would starve. 1t is bad enough to have TO keep you
fellows in office that we do without word OF OBJ
lection; but when you begin to dictate what COM
panv we shall keep when wer re off duty. by George,
Sir think that S going little too far"
GEN. EMORY's RECORD.
If there is any officer in the United States Army
who seems above all others without partisan bias 1t
is Col W. H. Emory, the Brevet Maior-General who
commands the Department of the South. In all the
mAny and unaccountable changes of the political
Kaleidoscope of Louisiana, be alone seems to have
remained model of consistency-a consistency the
more conspicuous because it has alternately pro-
veked and offended every faction, but which makes
him to-day the recipient of the good will and respect
of all My acquaintance with the General is slight,
bat am led 10 these remarks by perusal of the
published testimony in the various Congressional
Investigations of Louisiana affairs, and inquiries
70 his course during the late revolutionary move
ment. That he has supported the Kellogg usurpa-
ton by the bayonets at his command is true, but he
did it by express orders from Washington and the
following overlooked order which find in official
publication OF Congress was his authority:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, ID. Co. April 19, 1873
To Gen. W. II. EMORY. Commanding Department, Neo-
Orleans La: The following communication OF Secre-
tary Robson tins moment received and is transmitted
10 you by telegraph and by mail for your information
and government W. I. SHERMAN, General.
WAR DEPARTMENT April l9. 1873.
To ne General Of the Army-Generat Referring to the
dispatches OF Gen. Mcdowell and Col Emory of the 18th
lust by you referred to me- beg 10 say that the order
Of the President conveyed in the telegram Of the
General OF the Army OF March g. made under the then
existing circumstances of the particular case, refers
only TO the Government proper Of the state Of louisiana
represented by Gov. Kellogg, which Government at
Ste seat the Colonel Commanding is by said order di
reeted TO protect from being overthrow nerfered
with in lie direct functions by violence.
In regard local disturbances OF the peace in the
eate not direct violent attacks the central oreanza
tiOn Of the State Government, the officer IN command
must be governed by the limitations of the order OF the
inst. of of him
10 aid the United States authorities when legally
quired except that his action need not be confined to
any particular parish. II the State Government needs
and desires the aid of the Cned States troops
tain the public peace prevent rebellion, the Legsa-
t1re the Governor be not in session. should apply
20 the President himself in the regular for such
cid. Very respectfully your obedient servant,
GEO. NJ. robson, Acting Secretary OF War.
Bnt Gen. Butler complains that Gen. Emory was
not prompt enough in rushing TO kellOggs assist
Ance and the Washington authorities gave to the
press an order from the Adjutant-General, mildly
censuring him for appointing Col. Brooke to the
command of New Orleans instead of at once e-seat
ing Kellogg. Now the fact is that If there was any
fardiness it must be laid at the door of the President
or the War Department, and that the government
st Washington created the interregnum which made
the appointment of Col Brooke necessity. For, il
reply 10 an INQUIRY as to whether the order of April
19, 1873 to be enforced, il replied from
Washington that it was not; that is that the gov
eminent of Kellogg was not TO be supported
for the time being. Emory seems, therefore
10 have been in this situation: ordered
not 10 carry out the order for the support of Kellogg
ordered not 10 recognize the McEnery Government
ordered 10 Put down the rebellion and report
afterwards" What then was he do but place mil
itary officer incommandi For this he was reprovet
and the reproof given to the world; afterward hi