New-York tribune., 1875-01-27
4 cIvYL rUScToN sTARTEB.

and discretion of Major Merrill of the United
States Army, now In command at the military
post at Shreveport, in the province OF Lou
isiana. No doubts regarding his zeal. but
some as to bis discretion. 1t has been more
than intimated by tho Louisiana "bandtti"
who are in the enjoyment OF Major MerrilPs
benign superintendence-th ungratcful people
who live between tho cannOn's mouth ana
Merrilps chin and fail TO appreciate tho
blessings of their condtion-that Merrill IS
much too lively person to be IN
command at so important post. Ana
indeed the tone of his dispatches and
the general tenor of his military administra-
ton as described therein seem 20 give some
color to the iniimation. Major Merrill, wo
take it, il n somewhat sudden and impetuous
person. Too sudden and inipetnOus, the clti-
zens of Shreveport think, for that sedate and
serious town. We suspect that Major Merrill
bulged in upon Shreveport III such sudden
and unexpected way that many oil tho leading
citizens neglected to ask him to dinner for
lack Of time. Quite naturally the MAJOR con-
strued the neglect as symptomatio OF clsioy-
atty and rebellion, and at once made up DIS
mind that treason shOud be put down and
Shreveport should be jingled.
The present theory Of the United states
Government is that whenever colored man
fails to vote tho Administration ticket no IL
intimidated If he fails to vote for either
side il ia mild but unmistakable case; if he
votes the opposition ticket it takes the form
Of An outrage; if it happens that great
many of them vote tho Conservative teket
and elect it, then, in the language OF the
natriot Hester, intimidation regns supreme"
and it is time to proclaim the people ban
"dittr and try them by military commission
for combining against the Government.
Thi, is the present Interpretation ot the Con-
stilution. Merrill understood this, of course.
He went up 10 Shreveport as Saui went 10
Damascus, fully determined to enforce tho
Constitution. His suspicious oil the disloyalty
of the people were confirmed as soon as he
discovered that nobody invited him to dinner,
and that there was a Conservative majority an
tbe parish. He immediately observed that
there WAS intimidation in the air. Many col
ored persons were afraid TO write their names
in full and only made their marks with la
borions hand and lolling tongue. Meantime
the sweet potato crop WIS kept back by w
tmdation. There was much complaint OF
burdcns5mo taxation, and everything looked
as though the Conservatives would carry The
election.
There was but ono thing for Merrill as q
man aud Major to do and he did 1t. lie
opened an attack the town with ahdaVts
lie appeared a. public prosecutor. lie MADE
things lively in Shreveport. He enforced the
Enforcement act. lie gave tho " "bandittl' to
understand that while bo wore spurs and
commanded at Shreveport, nobody should
combine against Kellogg OF speak unfavorably
of the taxes. Shreveport was awe-struck.
good many citizens beat hasty retreat. And
Merrill had his guard mOuntings and reveilles
aud taps and dress parades and such with
military regularity, aud never tailed
to impress the citizens with the con-
yiction that behind his ailidayits was the
whole military power of the Government.
notwithstanding this vigorous admin
istration of both civil and military affairs in
tho subiusated district, there were army officers
who raised technical objections TO his thrilling
performances. Even Gen. Emory, his imme
date commsnder-an old fogy who has very
absurd notions about the distinction between
civil aud military unctions-strongly disap-
proved of Merrilrs energetic administration.
Ii was Gen. Emorys notion that the functions
of an officer of the army did not extend TO
the prosecution in the courts of offenders
against tho provisions of the Enforcement
act. Merrill differed. And so Merrill wrote
a report Oh the subject which has just been
sent to tho Senate with other documents.
Doubtless il will enlishten that body OH the
questions involved.
In this report. dated Shreveport, Oct. %,
this Military Justice Of the Peace aud Prose-
cutting Major says: "No civil authority or
"macilineTy of any kind, local, State, or
"NatonaI. has for long timo existed here,
"and the community is fast drifting into
state where any uncomfortable lunatic could
"sct match to the mine. My action was
taken to set OWL functions going, and restore
"respect for civil law, and to remind TIE
community that this was not a state of war;"
That states the case Merrill found everything
drifting into state where any uncontrOla-
"ble lunatic could set match to the mine"
He stood by with his spurs on and saw them
drift. Not having been invited anywhere to
dinner, he had plenty o. time to see them
drift. lie knew too that uncomfortable
lunatics were scouting around with matches
and liable TO touch oil the mine at any
moment. And so he just "set civil functions
"gong.r That was all. And Gen. Emory
and other army officers complain that he ex-
ceeded his duty, when all he did was to set
"civil functions going" so that no "uncon-
"trollable lunatic could set a match to the
"mne.n What more could he do Or what
less Z Well might the War Department tele-
graph to Major Merrill that his action was
justified. AS Major he may have superors;
- q civil function starter he il without