US Presidency
1867

As those relations stood before the declaratory act, these governments, it is true, were made subject to absolute military authority in many important respects, but not in all, the language of the act being subject to the military authority of the United States, as hereinafter prescribed. By the sixth section of the original act these governments were made in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States. Now by this declaratory act it appears that Congress did not by the original act intend to limit the military authority to any particulars or subjects therein prescribed, but meant to make it universal. Thus over all of these ten States this military government is now declared to have unlimited authority. It is no longer confined to the preservation of the public peace, the administration of criminal law, the registration of voters, and the superintendence of elections, but in all respects is asserted to be paramount to the existing civil governments.