Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-08-19

country, if not plunged into rev.
olution, would become poorer day
by day, business would langnish,
and our bonds would come home
to find deprecated market.
| was not in favor of the military
action in South Carolina recently,
and it General Ruger had tele-
graphed to me or asked tor advice
L would have advised him MOI. un-
der the circumstances, TO allow
himself or his troops to determine
who were she law ful menber or a
State Legislature. / could not
have given heiter advice han 10 re-
fer him TO the special message Of
the President in the case of Loui-
slana, some time before. Bat in
Sonth Carolina he had the question
settled bv u decision Of the Su-
preme Court of the State, the
highest tribunal which had acted
on the question, so ih;.t his line OF
duty seemed even 10 be clearer
So
case, Ii Federal court had in
tcrtercd and overruled The dccisio ION
OF the State Court there must have
been doubt certainly, bat the
/ Federal Court only intei fcrcL to
complicate, not to decide OF over
rule. Any how, it is To business
OF the army 10 enter upon such
questions and even ii it might be
| 50, III amy event, ii the civil au-
lhorlty Is snprene, as the Cousti-
tuition declares it to be, the South
/ Carolina case was in which the
army had a plain dusv. Had Gen.
Kruger asked NE for advice, aad |
had given it, | shonld Of course
have notified yon Of nv action I'M
mediately, So that it could have
bee promptly ovcFruled il it should
have been deemed advisable by
YOU or Others superior in anllrority.
Gen. lslycr had no! asked my ad--
vice, and inferred from bat and
other facts that he did not desire
it, or hat beng in direct cominu-
nicalion with my military superiors
at the seat of government, who
were nearer to him in time and
distance than l was, he deemed it
unnecessary. As Gen. Ringer had
the responsibility of action, ard
had really the greater dar.ger to
confront IN the final action IN the
matter, did not venture to en-
barass him by suggestions. He
was Il department commander, and
the lawful head of the military aG-
ninistration withil the limits OF
the department. But besides,
knew that he had been called to
Washington for consultation be
fore taking command, and was
probably aware OF the views Of the
administration as to affairs in his
command. | knew that he WAS in
direct communication with nv SUI
periors in authority in refer ence TO
the delicate SUI b,jects presented for
his consideration, or had ideas OF
his own which he had blicvcd to
be sufficiently in accord with the
views of our common snperiors to
enable him to act intelliyently, ac-
cording to his judgment, and with>
out suggestions from those not on
the spot, and not as fully acquaint-
ed with the facts as he himself
He desired, too, to be tree 70 act,
as he had the eventually greater re-
sponsibiiity. And SO the matter
has governed as between him and
myself.
As I have been writing thus
freely to you I may still further
unbosom myself bv stating that |
had not held it lawful or wise TO
use Federal troups in such matters
as have tianspi, ed east ol the Mis-
sissippi within the last few ni>ntilS,
save so far as they may b. llon9hs
into action under the a,ticle of The
Constitution which contrmplatee
State more than the State authorl-
ties can subdue by ordinary PRO
cesses, and then only when ,eques,
ted by the Legislature, or if it cood
not be convened in session by HE
Governor, Aud when The Prositsen,
of the United States iuteiveues in
that mai ner it is IA state OF war, not
peace.
The army is laboring under dis
advantages, and has been used M
lawfully y at times in the Judgment
of the people Certainly IN lniue)
| and We have lost IL great deal of
the kindly feelings which the com
mnnity at large fet for us. II is
time to stop and unload Officers
In mand OF troops often fiuI 1t
di fficult 10 actl wisely aud safely
when supeiiors IN authority nave
different views of law from theirs,
and when legislation has sane
tioued ac ion seemingly III con
h.ct with the fundamental law, and