Year: 1865

From the Syracuse, my. y Courier K Union.


The war is over. Peace has come
1t was supposed that with the advent of
peace, the country would lay aside all the
trappings and paraphernalia of war, and
be rid of the incubus of military rule
What. then, means the order by which
the whole country is divided up and par
cclled out into five great military divisions,
each with its commander-n- chief subor-
dinatc to the President, and with other
commanders subordinate to the first, who
are to rule minor tracts called depart
ments.


The country everywhere, save. perhaps,
in the Indian country, and in its wilder
ness borders is at peace. In those wild
regions we might realize the need of mill
tary commanders, military departments
and soldiers But the Pacific coast has
never even been disturbed, and the civil
laws and civil courts have there been al
ways in full operation. OF what use is a
military commander there, and what is
the function of Halleck in those calm
and Pacific regions? Sherman 5 military
division--the once pcrturbid but now
peaceful States of Arkansas and Missouri
includes TIE States of Minnesota


Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
Michigan. What are the possible func.
tiVns of Sherman within or over those
States in these piping times of peace p
The State of New York, with all the
States Of the Atlantic SLOPE as we under
5 and this order, are placed under the com
mand of Cen Meade. as one division and
our own State is probably destined to
constitute a department of that division.
under the Subordinate command of the
rcdoubtablc Dix. Why should New York
or any State of TIE Atlantic slope be
placed under any General or military COM
mander or in any military department?


1t is k lown that every General is
trained to the theory that implicit obcdi-
ence to the Federal Executive is his most
imperative duty, and that States have no
rights which the federal power is bound
to respect, and over which its DEGREES are
not supreme Even if military command
crs hold different private opinion, they
are compelled to silence and subordination
to this theory under penalty of vilifcation
and decapitation. Is this the beginning
of a new era, in which all the once SOW
ereign and independent States of the
Federal Union are to be reduced. under
the name of military divisions and depart
ments, to mere provinces and satrapies
ruled by the commander in-chief of our
armies in Washington and bis subordi-
mates Is the military rule and function
of the President henceforward to assume
perpetual supremacy over all the civil
functions and rights, to the annihilation
of all real liberty in the very midst of all
her living forms Are some thirty OF
forty different commanders Of different
grades, with their several stats, thus to
have all the States and the people thereof
Cor the first time in our history, parcelled
out to them for their supervision and mill
tary control at an annual cost of nearly a
million of dollars for the high officers
alone, to say nothing Of the regiments at
their command? ? Is the prestige of title
and military regulations thus to be made
to prop the partizan oligarchy or despot-
ism, and t. dazzle ard impress and attract
! and subduc the lion-hunting and idol
adoring multitude? Now and hcncefor-
ward We protest against any organized
soldiery, military commanders or military
rule and supremacy within or over any
State, either of the North or the South


that is really disarmcd or substantially
and practically peaceful. We want no
military provinces or satrapics, under
whatsoever name or term Of division" or
department they may be disguised
Even though We should be finally crushed
as the South has been, we regard it as the
duty of every freeman in private life, in
civil Office, on courts or juries, to combat
and resist by all legal and moral means,
and if that be the last aud only resource,
by needful force, all military supremacy
over laws, rights, liberties, individuals
and States. But we know not whether
or not there is left enough of manhood,
honor, integrity and courage in either TIM
| al loa1erc or a bce1loc- poonlo or ,hioo,