The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-04
THE NEW GOVERNOR.

While Gen. Sheridan was in command of
the fifth military district, there was no func-
tional individuality or distinctive reality in
The incumbent of the gubernatorial Office of
| this State. He was nothing, unless the mere
shadow and echo of the district commander.
Under Gen. Sheridan's theory of the relation
of the military authority to the civil affairs of
the State, the governor became an expensive
superhuity; and if either convenience or
economy had been consulted, they would
have suggested the relegation of the guber-
material functions to an intelligent orderly
with a fair amount of clerical experience and
experiences. But altogether different are the
requirements for this position at the present
time, because altogether different are Gen.
Hancock's views Of the relation between the
district commander and the civil administra-
ton of the State from those which were en-
tertained by his predecessor. He holds that
the only legitimate mission of the military
power in the several districts, even under the
provisions of the reconstruction law, is to
sustain and assist the civil authorities within
their proper sphere not to create civil anar-
tude of civil liberty. This theory requires
that the governor of Louisiana shall be quail
fed for something more than to make himself
superfluous appendage, pale shadow, an
attenuated echo of the power and the within of
the district commander. 1t calls for an incum-
bent of the gubernatorial Office who would
respect the Constitution and the laws of the
of ul,o how h., l.
dignity, and whose character, antecedents and
associations would be in harmony with her
multiplied interests one, in short, who
would not, and could not, be the servile and
supple creature of an exotic despotism which
partisan iniquity and fanatical maiguity have
been contriying for our people. These con-
ditions are all fulfilled in the appointment
of Judge Baker General Hancock could
scarcely have found man more thoroughly
identified with the State, in all respects, than
this distinguished and estimable citizen. A
planter of great wealth in former times, he |
was never seduced by affluence into life of |
ease and insouciance. His public spirit was |
unfagging, and his usefulness was attested |
in every branch Of his varied activity. Liv- |
ing in what was one of the most largely slave |
holding districts of the State, no |
one understands better the true dis |
position towards each other of both |
the white and black populations. and no one,
placed in high and influential position, would |
be more likely to promote kindly sentiments
and mutually advantageous relations between
them. He was among the first, after the
close Of the war, 10 undertake to utilize freed
man labor for agricultural purposes and it
cannot be doubted that, but for the interfer-
ences of the freedmen's bureau with the labor
question, aggravated by incendiary agItations,
his success would have been proportionate to
his intelligence and energy. We might conf
lently expect Judge Baker, as our chief
executive, to evince practically keen So
icitude for whatever should tend to NELL
'rate the agricultural condition and forward
he material recuperation of the State. For
he rest, he is no partisan bigot, and should
he accept the Office of governor, the fact will
hlow at least CLEAN of brightness-one
ct us hope, not transitory or delusive-
across the gloom of our impending future