The New York herald., 1876-08-17
A Political War for the General
Of the Army.
SHERlDAN'S DESPATCH EXPLAINED
One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Companies
Of Troops in Southern States
WASHINGTON. Angus, l6. 1875.


by Mr.. Lord, adopted by nearly unanimous
the 10th of August conccrnng Southern political
RACES, order the General Of the Army hold tho
troops In readiness for action in all parts the South
Tho effect Of this order will undoubtedly be
to encourage the republican leaders in the
South TO strenuous exertions and to facilitate
their efforts in organizing and massing the negro
1t has been known for some time past that Southern
republicans like Governor KELLOGG wore very we'll
pleased with what they heard tho White House and
Is known that tho President has said tho republicans
ought carry at least four Southern Statcsnamcly,
North and South Carolina. Louisiana and Mississippi.
What he thinks thoy ought to carry he evidently
means to help them carry.
The principal effect of this order when II becomes
known the South will be to drive the negroes back
into the republican party and to cnablo tho managers
10 vote them The colored voters like to be with tho
majority This year great many OF them would have
taken but little interest IN the election such State
Louisiana, where they have become wearied OF the
turmoil Of politics and doirg well in their
cangs. Reports from there of recent date show
that great many colored men inclined support
the democratic ticket. and many others taking
interest in politics, having confidence that their
rights not IN danger. But under tho slmusus Of
such order this they will all be organized and
marched TO the polls to vote the straight republican
ticket There at this time about 1000 troops sta
toned in different parts of tho South very consider
able force II 1t is precariously scattered.
The following is the letter Secretary Cameron has
written to General Sherman:-
WAR DEPARTMENT !
WASHINGTON August Is 1870.
To General W. T. SuERMAN, commanding United States
sIn-Tne House of Representatives of tho United
States the 10Th inst. passed the following preamble
ana resolution. VIZ. -
stituiion Of the several States s subject TO tho ht-
tcenth amendment OF the constitution of tho United
States. which Is as follows
ARTICLE To- Section The right of citizens OF tho United
States shall be denied abridged by the United
states by state on account OF color previous
SIC The Congress shall have to enforce this
article by appropriate legislation.
And whereas the right of suffrage so prescribed and
regulated should be faithfully observed
by the United States and the several States the
Whereas asserted that the exercise of the righ,
Of suffrage Is in some OF the States notwithstanding
tho efforts all good citizens the contrary resist
and controlled by fraud, intimidation and violence.
SO that in such cases the object Of the amendment
Whereas all citizens without distinction of race or
class color entitled the protection conferred
by such article; therefore be 1t
Resolved by the House of Representatives. That all
attempts by forcc, iraud terror intimidation or other
wise, to prevent the Tree o tho right of sui.
ffage in any State should meet with CERTAIN condign
and efcctual punishment; and that 10 any which
has heretofore occurred, or that may hereafter
in which violence murder has bcen shall be com
mltted by class upon the other the prompt
prosecution and punishment OF the criminal or crln
nails III any court having jurisdiction is imperatvcly
demanded, whether tho crime be one Punishable bv
fine imprisonment one demanding the penalty OF
DEATH
The President directs that IN accordance with tho
spirit OF the above you hold oil the available
force under your command, not now engaged in sub
DUNG the savages The Western frontier in readiness
to be used upon the call requstion of the proper
legal authorities for protecting all citizens, without
distinction of race, color political opinion the
exercise Of the right TO vote, as guaranteed by tho
fifteenth amendment and TO assist in the enforcement
of 'certaD, condign and enectual punishment" upon
all persons who shall "attempt by force fraud terror
intrn datou otherwise, to prevent the exercise
Of the right of suffrage" provided by the law OF tho
United states aud have such force distributed and
stationed be able render prompt assistance IN
the enforcement Of the law Such additional orders
be necessary to carry out the purpose of these
instructions will be gwen to you, from time to time,
after consultation with the law officers of the govern
menL
very respectfully, your obedient servant
J. d. CAMERON, c-etary Of War
TIKI DISTRIBUTION OF SOLDIERS IN TIE BE-
CONSTRUCTED sTATEs-ELEvEN STATES GAR
n1soNED By ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY
xIcKr COMPANIES DOZEN REGI.
MENTs THAT MIoHr BE SPARED TO y1GHr
rHR INDIANS.
WASHINGTON, August IS. 1870
The Presidents Message asking Congress allow the
special enlistment of 5000 volunteers serve against
the Indians for ''sx months tho war;" has directed
public attention not only to what President Grant,
General sherman and General Sheridan have united IN
calling he possible needs OF the army in consequence OF
xsting hostites" but to the distribution and num-
bers OF the army In the Southern States. General
Sheridan, in his appeal TO General sherman for
forccmcnts to DO secured by application Congress
wrote. II have stripped every post from the line oi
Manitoba to rexas' and General Sherman in forward
81 invite your attention the fact after stripping
nearly every post in hts military division except those
in Texas and tho South he has only been able rcn
force General Crook TO tho extent Of "a and Gncra
Terry l,s73 men for offensive operations
rnE IMPRESSION CREATED
by reading these words casually Is that in the desire to
reinforce tho columns operating against the Sioux
heavy draft been made the garisons aud posts
in the Southern States and that the army Of occups-
uon" which, alleged has been maintained there In
the interest OF radical politicians has been depleted to
merely nominal proportions An inspection, however,
Of the rolls at the Adjutant Generals Office In Wash
ington shows quite a different state of affairs
and thar, despite the urgency OF tho crisis in
tho Sioux country and on the frontier gcnray. Tho
rarrisons and military posts IN the eleven recon.
structcd Southern States have been practically undis
turbcd 1t is not intended in this connection to make
any reflection upon TO attribute any design OF ms.
representation TO either General sherman or General
Sheridan or what they have said about stripping mill
tary posts to strengthen Generals Crook and Terry.
on tho contrary General sheridan quito explicit
saying that has confined the stripping process to
the region between Manitoba aud Texas But
the pubic gathered their impression from their
letters to tho President, and from the newspaper
counts of the occasional passage OF battalion Of troops
through the Western and Southwestern cities to tho