New-York tribune., 1874-09-12
THE SOUTHERN TROUBLES.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.
GENERAL SHERMAN OF THE OPINION THAT The
SHOULD NOT BE USED EXCEPT IN i'H
EVENT OF ARMED HosTILITY-THE MilLfAhf
AUTHORITIES PowERIEss TO TRY OR PUNISH
PRISONERS.
IBX TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUEEl
WASHINGTON, Sept 1.-THE uneasness reported
to exist in some sections of the SouthernStaes is a'
present a subject of considerable discussion IN army
circles here. Gen. Sherman in conversation mas OK
pressed the opinion that it would be far better 10
leave the preservation of order under the dlrecuoh
of the civil authorities of those States II they ao
willing to use it, and to employ the army merely as
subsidiary. He says that in time OF peace, ana
under the laws as they now stand, the army coulu 10
nothing toward the coercing or pacihcatlon Oh ING
disturbing elements. The army, he says can arrest
but can neither try criminal nor punish nun,
After bis arrest he must be turned over to the cV
authorities and if it should happen that the tria'
which would have to be by jury. was before jury
of persons sympathizing with the moVemeh'
which prompted the act of the party accuseo'
it would be folly to expect punishmeht'
The only condition of things under which the army
could arrest try and punish, would be the deciara
ton of martial law in the disturbed localities Inc
General was under the impression that congress
had deprived the President of the power 10 declare
martial law and that being so he could not see how
effective work could be done if the population per
sisted in opposing it, OF course, if the troubles
broke out into armed hostility the necessities of the
case would soon bring the remedy Congress could
be convened and grant the necessary money, men,
and material. The General does not anticipate any
acts of hostility toward the army. II the people
were driven to this the forces now in the South
could not take part in an aggressive movement and
1t is doubtful whether they could even main-
tain the defensive. Nothing more is anticipated,
however than the employment of troops In making
arrests.
At this date the whole cavalry force OF the
army is in the Indian country at or near the Mexi-
can frontier. The artillery, numbering trlile
above 5000 men, is the seaboard, garrsoning the
principal forts; and of the 25 regiments OF
infantry, eight are in the South. distributed
as follows: the I'd in Georgia, Alabama,
and Tennessee; the Sd in the Department
of the Gulf; the 10th in Texas; the 11th In Iexas
and the Indian country; the 10th In tennessee
Kentucky, Mississippi and Arkansas; the 18TH IN
South Carolina and Georgia; the 2ith in Texas and
the 25th in Texas and the Indian country. 1he
aggregate of this force is about 5000 The Gen
eral of the army is now making such disposition
of this force as to secure the most efficient service
in making arrests The strongest force will be con-
centrated in proximity to the sections in which the
civil authorities are least disposed to enforce the
laws and preserve quiet. In Tennessee, where the
Governor and the county officers have shown an in
clination to arrest and punish offenders, fewer
troops will be stationed. The General is ardent
believer in the effectiveness of the posse comidtus
and an honest jury for civil disturbances in times of
peace, holding the military power only as dernier
resort.
TWO COMPANIES SENT FROM COLUMBIA, s. c., TO
EDGEFIELD AND ABBEvILLE-PEACE PREVAIL
ING THROUGHOUT THE STATE
COLUMBIA, s. c., Sept. 11.-In accordance with
orders from Gen. Mcdowell, Capt. Ogden, command
ing at Columbia, dispatched to-day Company d.
18th Infantry. to Edgefeld County, and will send
Company of the same regiment to Abbeville to-
morrow. These movements of troops are merely to
carry ont the Attorney Generals instructions to
their distribution in the South, and not account
of any existing or threatened disturbance. Reports
from every Congressional district show that peace
prevails throughout the State and there is appre
bension of necessity for military protection for
negroes. When Company ID left to-day Gen. Nj. G.
Butler, an ex-Confederate General and prominent
Conservative, accompanied it to Edgefeld, and ex-
tended to the commander cordial welcome to that
county, promising to see that the soldiers main
tanned properly, even though money is at present
forthcoming from the Government to pay for their
supplies.