New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-01
Aleu- 0tIeails 8epMbliGatr.
From tie New Orleans Advocated
Hancock.

eAteuueu ~ Hl4l tut manu- VI HSlSOAlO
and babe him God-speed. We had
carefully watched his course during
the war and had followed his gallant
career through many well fought
battle. We knew him only as sol
der of the Republic and one who
deservrd well of his countrymen, and
as such we received and awarded to
him such a welcome as his military
genius and services demanded. We
knew that he had been appointed by
Mr.. johnson to superceed our gallant
and Republican Sheridan, and that the
dislOyal of this city hailed his appoint
ment with great ecstacy; yet we felt
bound to give General Hancock a
cordial welcome. For our course in
the matter we were denounced in our
annual conference and demonstrated
with by personal friends; yet we think
we did Eight under the circumstances,
and we sineerely wish that like cir
eRmstanees justified like course on
our art at the present time.
Buzz eneral Hancock is another IL
lustratiS ! lhat a gallant soldier is not
necessar y 8 wise statesman. With
a ponpossy ? 'orly becoming our Re-
publican Institutions, and with a
flourish Of %1umpets inconsistent with
the gravity Of the events through
which we ara passing he assumed
command His order announc-
ing that he entered upon his
duties as commander of the
fifth military district was the keynote
Of his administration, and has been the
keynote Of the dislOyal in Louisiana
ever since. Sent here as a military
commander, came here as military
officer, and came to execute a military
law; yet he announced his purpose to
give supremacy to cirit law. With
more common sense than Hancock,
General Meade announced that he
came to execute the reconstruction
laws of Congress, which are essentially
military. And such should have been
the announcement of the commander
Of this district. Yet had his course
been uniform, his administration would
have been more tolerable; but when
his Democratic views demanded it, he
disregarded the spirit and letter of
tho reconstruction laws of Congress.
and gave preference to the civil laws
Of Louisiana, as when he revoked the
Jury order, which allowed black men
to serve as jurors. On the other
hand, when he found it agreeable to
his Democratic views to ignore the
civil laws of Louisiana, and use the
power which the reconstruction laws
Of Congress gave him, he did so, as
when he removed the members of the
common council because they had
acted unde T the civil law. Urged on
by disloyal partisan leaders, he did
the same thing when he interrupted the
Baker investigation, using his mill
tary power to stop the investigation,
before a civil tribunal which was not
in sympathy with the political views
Of his friends, and turn Mr.. Baker
and others over to civil officer who
is not in sympathy with congressional
reconstruction. And we venture the
assertion that Hanoock's reputation
of the state notes is the most remark
able interference with the civil laws
ofLouisiana to be found on the military
records of this state. This is the he
ginning, and fair specimen of Demo-
cratic repudiatiOn; but we trust De-
mocracy will not be allowed another
opportunity of Reputation.
Such are some of the contradictions
of the administration Of General Han
cock in Louisiana. We could wish
that be was one thing or the other
all military or all eieiI in his admins
tration, and then we would know
where TO find him.
And it is equally true that Hancock
has steadily ignored the political
rights Of the black man extended to
him By the acts of Congress. BY a
special order the man of color is not
permitted 70 sit as juror; and it is a
remarkable fact that his order chang
ing the complexion Of the common
council appointed by Sheridan took
out EVERY BLACK MAN in that council.
In these acts he has not carried out
the spirit and letter Of the con
gressional acts Of reconstruction, and
has denied citizenship 10 class Of
men who have been made citizens by
the highest Legislative power IN the
land. And the black men Of Louisi-
ana have nothing to hope from John
sons military appointee in Louisiana.
OF course, we do not claim the right
20 diesste man Is to his social life
that is. IS "a those with whom he may
assoeiate bat We do claim that COM
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