The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-08-14


pass the well known black codes
President johnson had given them en-
couragement, but after reviewal b.
Congress they were declared illega
and system of reorganization wa
adopted by which all citizens of eacl
} State, with few exceptions, should
be permitted to exercise the franchise
The military commanders were made
.he agents of Congress to carry gu
its plan of reconstruction. Presiden,
johnson, az commander-in-c chief, fe.
moved Gen. Sheridan, a faithful and
efficient officer, after protest by Gen
Grant, and assigned Gen. Hancock tc
command the Department of the Gulf
Hancock proceeded to Washington te
receive orders from the President
and remained there three months be-
fore going to his post, during which
time he was serenaded by pronounced
opponents of the laws of Congress,
and his subsequent policy was fore
shadowed. The celebrated order No.
40, issued by Hancock on taking com
mand, recognized those State govern
ments, which Congress declared
should be set aside. His friends would
have the country believe that this act
of military subordinate, in disregard
of the will of the people expressed
through Congress, was patriotic ex-
preston of Hancock's loyalty to civil
rule! 1t is more probable that its
aid and comfort to Democratic aspira-
tions has blinded their judgment. 1t
reads to this day like the pronuncia-
mento of a dictator, OF an act of mill
tary insubordination calling for court
martial and if it was regarded other
wise at the time, it seems due to le-
nieEcy to a superb" soldier, aud
pity for his first mistake as a states
man.
If we should admit that Order No.
40 was strictly in obedience to law
and duty, good and wise act, it
would be pleasing to the friends of
Gen. Hancock to know that it was
executed with impa,tiality and firm
ness, ingredients Of true statesman
ship. Yet it is ON record that in Feb
ruary 1868, vacancy occurred in the
Office of Register of the Second Dis
trict of New Orleans, and the City
Council proceeded to elect an officer
for that position. Gen. Hancock, re-
garding this action as in contempt of
his authority as military commander,
removed three Aldermen and six AS
sistant Aldermen concerned in the
election, and appointed nine citizens
to ill their places. The soldier got
the best of the "statesman that
time, and the declaration to uphold the
civil power did not restrain him. This
arbitrary abuse of military authority
resulted in the deposed members of
the City Council joining in memori-
al reciting the facts of the case, Gen.
Grant called upon Gen. Hancock for
an explanation, and the response he
ing unsatisfactory he ordered the
Councilman to be reinstated, and the
appointees of Gen. Hancock to be re-
moved. Gen. Grant, in communicating
with Gen. Hancock on this subject.
reminded him that the City Council
after order No. 40 had been issued,
might reasonably have presumed it
was their duty to ill the vacant office
of Register, and the printed proceed
mgs preclude the presumption Of any
intended contempt Of military au-
thority. Gen. Hancock was hoisted
by his own petard he obeyed, sent
letter Of protest, asked to be relieved,
and Gen. Grant promptly complied
with that request. Our Democratic
friends have made mistake. TWAS
Gen. Grant, not Gen. Hancock who
befriended civil rule! 1t should be
casually mentioned, however, in seek
ing an explanation Of the inconsis-
tency Of Gen. Hancock in the City
Council matter, that the men he re-
moved were all c0lored men, and the |
only representatives of their race up
on the boards; and this was in keep
ing with another order by which col
ored men were prohibited from sitting
on juries in the United States Courts.
Gen. Buchanan succeeded him in COM
mand of the department. Congress
passed resolution con- !
demning the removal of Gen. Sheridan
by Andrew johnson, and implicitly
the career of Gen. Hancock and O1der |
No. 40. The Union people of the |
country denounced Hancock. What |
is now claimed as statesmanshipn y |
was then asserted to be sorry fail
ure. On what ground can any Demo-
crat say that a mere soldier, who by |
persistent pleadings of more astute |
politicians was persuaded to disre-
gard the expressed will of Congress,
and to violate his own platform of
civil polity, possesses those requisites
of craftsmanship which will honor the
Office OF President of the United
States? What guarantee eau be Of /
fered that lie will not swerye again
from given line of conducts After