The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-03
NOTHING BUT A SOLDIER.

city. lie is soldier, and nothing hut sol
dier. He has no experience in any civil lie,
and, whatever his natural qualification. has no
training which would familiarize him with
civil matters, or with the administration OF
the government-Aur0rd Beacon.
The Republican party, we beg to suggest,
after supporting Gen. Grant through two
terms and nearly majority of the party hav-
ing earnestly desired him tor even third
term, are estopped from Directing 70 presi-
dental candidate on the ground of his being
a military man. The education of our SOL
diers at West Point involves a thorough study
of the constitution and the general structure
of our government, It's laws and institutions,
as well as a course in political economy, imam
cial science, &c. Few mere civilians and pol
iticlans, therefore, are really better prepared
by education and training for the duties that
devolve upon the federal executive. Besides,
| is not the President the commander in chief
of the army? The only two military men
among the Presidents of the United States be-
sides General Grant were Washington and
Jackson, and we imagine there are few at this
day who Will stand up and maintain that eth
er showed any lack OF competency as com
pared with any Of our purely civilian presi-
dents.
| That Gen. Hancock, however, possesses ad-
minstratlve qualities of civilian cast even
above the average of military men, let the
reader examine the following really statesman
like documents that proceeded from his pen
when he took command, in 1868, Of louisiana
and Texas, a peculiar and delicate responsible
ity at a very critical time in the country's his
tory Upon assuming command of the dis
trict, pending the contamination of the re
construction laws Gen. Hancock issued the
following order:
The general commanding is gratified to
learn that peace and quiet reign in this depart.
ment. 1t will be his purpose to preserve this
condition of things. AS q means to this great
end, he regards the maintenance OF the civil
authorities in the faithful execution OF the
laws as the most efficient under existing cir
cums.unces. In war it is indispensable t" re.
pei force by force, and overthrow and destroy
opposition to lawful authority. But when in
surfectonary force has been overlhrown and
peace established, and the civil authorities are
ready and willing to perform their duties, the
military power should cease to lead, and the
civil administration resume its natural and
rightful dominion. Solemnly impressed with
these views, the general announces that the
great principles of American liberty still are
the lawful inheritance of this people and ever
should be. The right of trial by jury, the ha.
beas corpus, the liberty of the press, the free
dom of speech, the natural rights OF persons
and the rights of property must be preserved.
Free institutions, while they are essential to
the happiness and prosperity of the people, al
ways furnish the strongest inducements to
peace and order. Crimes and otlenses com
mitted in this district must be referred to the
consideration and judgment of the regular CIV
il tribunals, and those tribunals Will be sup
ported IN their lawful jurisdiction.
Should there be violations of existing laws
which are not inquired into by the civil mag
strates, or should failures in the admlnisra
ton of justice by the courts be complained of,
the cases Will he reported to these hcadquart-
ers, when such orders will be made as may be
deemed necessary.
While the general thus indicates his pur.
pose to respect the Liberties of the people, he
wishes all to understand that armed insurrec-
tons or torcible resistance TO the law will DE
instantly suppressed by arms.
BY command of Maj. Gen. w. s. Hancock.
w. G.. MITCHELL,
Brevet Lieut.. Col Acting Asst. Adj. General.
THE FAMOUS JURY ORDER.
Shortly after the foregoing was issued, the
following order was issued by Gen. Hancock
The true and proper use of military power,
besides defending the national honor against
foreign nations is to uphold the laws and civ
| il government AND to secuEe to every person
residing among Il. the enjoyment of life, lib
erty and property.
1t Is accordingly made, by act of congress,
the duty of the commander of this district to
protect all persons in these rights, to suppress
disorder and violence, and to punish or cause
to be punished all dlsturber5 of the public
peace and criminals.
The commanding general has been officially
informed that the administration of justice,
and especially Of criminal justice, in the courts
is clogged, If not entirely frustrated, by the en-,
forcement Of paragraph No. 2 of the military
order numbered Special Orders 125," current
series, from these headquarters, issued on the
oath of August 1868, relative to the qualifca-
ton Of persons to be placed on the jury list OF
| Louisiana.
To determine who shall and who shall not
be jurors, appertains to the legislative power
and until the laws in existence regulating this
subject shall he amended or changed by that
department Of the civil government which
the constitutions Of all the states under our
republican system vest with power, it is
deemed best to carry out the will Of the poo.
pie as expressed IN the last legislative act up.
on this subject.
The qualification Of a juror under the law
is a proper subject for the decision of the
courts The commanding general, in dis
charge of the trust reposed in HIM, will main.
tain the inst mower of the Judiciary and is nm.
willing to permit the civil authorities and
laws to be embarrassed by military interfer.
enCe, and as 1t is an established fact that the
administration of justice IN the ordinary trl
bunals is greatly embarrassed by the operations
of paragraph No. 2. special orders No. 1875
current series from these headquarters it is or
ldered that said paragraph. which relates to the