The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-03-21


the country and alone would entite him to the rencwn
of statesman and u benefactor.
vII.-Ruler OF Louisiana and Texas
Reconstruction ON constitutional
Prfnciples-Sub0rd the Mill.
tary to the Civil Law-General Order
Number Forty and Its Results.
It should gemembered that at this tiinc the great
question which confronted the victorious North
that of the reconstruction Of the Union. Tho South
ern armies had surrendered and the Southern States
were still unreconstructed territories under military
government. 1t was apparent to all who had In view
the welfare Of the country that the sooner these re-
volted States could their former loyal relations
to the General Government the sooner would the raw
ages he obterated and prosperity to the whole
country return. Various conflicting interests, mainly
political but some of them arising In the minds Of
dsinteested through fear of the consequences of
too sudden restoration of the Southern States to par
ticpation in the Federal power contributed to delay
and tended to u heightened probation. The South
was parceled out into ''mtary Districts" which
were ruled by military officers whom. OF course.
conferred very despotic powers. 1t was within
the power of the military commander to treat the in
habitants Of a Southern State according to the
guirements Of military code, and very many we'll
meaning people believed that such government
should DC exercised IN the states latey IN reDelOn,
during the lives OF tile present generation until
the men lately In arms against the Union, had by
long probation, brought forth fruits meet for repent
ance. On the other hand, 1t within the power Of
the military commander to give full effect to local
laws and civil regulations, only using his military
power where the reign Of law and order had not rees
tablisled ITSELF where the men, recently the own
ers Of other their freed fellow-nen dis
posed to exercise over the latter power which no
longer belonged to them. 1t was during such time
as this and the 2sth of November, 1857, that Cen
eral Hancock was ordered to assume command Of the
Fifth Military District and the Department of the
Gulf, with headquarters at New Orleans There
had been disturbances in this department which,
doubtless, exaggerated, had greatly excited the
Northern people, and General Hancocks predeces-
sor had not hestated to make the military arm
felt superior TO the civil law. and to construe the
power given him by the Act Of Reconstruction ms alb
soue and irresponsible 1t is safe to say that almost
any civil governor. not to say military man, finding
himself clothed with such authority and backed up
with ample forces would have treated the unrecon-
structed and unrepenant rebels with the rgor which
was expected OF him by the great majority OF the
Northern people. That such was not the course OF
General Hancock is the growing credit OF his life. 1t
IL no secret that he did not RELISH much less cove
this command lie had displayed the executive quail
ties which 'h'oNe NICE '"e. anu DISCRIMINATION III
Mi'souii' i'll se'thng co"pi'ca.iohs ar's'ps oe'"eeh
fe'nrhed ,ohieoe'"'e" anu tue s'e "oops' "'sre
'a'ioh Us soiuief an" patriot was unsurpassed nc
had the gra''uue o' an oaSSes W o"'oh "e" 'o h'
great services III Inc he"' a" was "e"e'e" 'n"' 'he
southern people WOMB respect anu obey MS ~
'hey "ou'' 'hoSe given W 'e" W '"o NV" WI.
nau s""uue" '"cN' Az .ne '"i"e ''"e was 0"poo'e'
''"' % s'e'h an" ""''0'"s "''''P""' ian 90 nan,
cocN' WHO always 81" Mo o'"''S e"''i'' o' w INK
greatest personal exposure oi h'se' WOMB orooh ne
disorder ont wouiu rue Louisiana anu ieAas WIN
stern anu steady hand. General Hancock obeyed ms