The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-02

oDe - EB91& 4DeEs9o1 Nnleh o0ninonteo
ths vtnGo<p& NDskh ~ that Of tha ~
conseus<iont q the Union. The S1atk
srn armies had surrendered and the
6tates we're unreconstructed territories
under military government It wa ap-
parent 70 al who had in view the welfare
Of the country that the sooner these re-
VOTED States could resume their former
loyal relations to the general government,
the sooner would the ravages of war be
oblitarzted and prosperity to the whole
country return. Various conflicting in
terests, mainly political, but some OF
them arising In the minds Of disinterested
men through the fear of the consequences
Of TOO sadden restoration of the Southern
States 70 participate in the Federal power,
contributed to delay and tended to q
Heightened probation. The South was
parceled out into military districts, y
which were ruled by military officers on
whom, of course, were conferred very des-
potic powers 1t was within the power
Of the military commander to treat the
inhabitants Of Southern State according
20 the requirements of a military code,
and very many well-meaning people be-
heTed that such a government should be
exercised in the States lately in rebellion
during the lives of the present generation,
or until the men lately in arms against
the Union had by a long probation
brought forth fruits meet for repentance.
On the other hand, it was within the
power Of the military commander to give
full effect 20 local laws and civil regula-
tons, only using his military power
where the reign of law and order had not
re-established itself, or where the men,
recently the owners of other of their now
freed fellow-men, were disposed to exer-
else over the latter a power which no
longer belonged to them. 1t was during
such time as this, and on the 29th of
November, 1867, that General Hancock
was ordered to assume command of the
Fifth Military District and the Depart
meBt Of the Gulf, with headquarters at
New Orleans. There had been disturb
zDces in this department which, doubt
less exaggerated, had greatly excited the
Northern people, and General Hancock's
predecessor had not hesitated to make
the military arm felt superior to the civil
law, and TO construe the power given him
BIZ the act Of reconstruction as absolute
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 un-
reconstructed and unrepentant rebels
Eith the rigor which was expected of him
by the great majority Of the Northern
people.
That such was not the course of Gen
ersl Hancock is the browning credit OF
his life. II is no secret that he did not rel
ssh, much less covet, this command. He
had displayed the executive qualities
which involve nice tact and discrimina-
ton, IN Missouri, in settling compiled
lions arising between returned Confeder-
ates and the State troops. His reputa-
ton As a soldier and patriot was unsur-
passed. He had the gratitude of all
classes Of Union men for his great ser
vices in the field, and it was believed that
the Southern people would respect and
obey his order as they would those given
BIZ few others Of the men who had sub
dued them. At the same time it was ex.
pected that so stern and unyieldfng dis
ciplinarisn a. Hancock, who always saw
bis orders carried out at the greatest per
sonal exposure of himself, would brook
no disorder, but would rule Louisiana and
Texas with a stern and steady hand
General Hancock obeyed his orders, and
assumed command of the Fifth Military
District His first official act was to in
fOrm the people of Louisiana and Texas
that be had come to be their Governor
under the reconstruction act, and to LEI
them know how he proposed to rule over
them He issued his celebrated " Gen
erzl Orders, Number 4O,' dated the 29th
day Of November, 1867. Probably nc
more astOnished and delighted people
could be found than the people of Lou
Isians and Texas when the purport Of
that order came to be understood They
expected 20 have, what they had had be
fore, = military dictator They expected
70 be governed by orders instead o.
laws, and 70 live under a military des
pOtism, instead of governing themselves
by their OWE civil regulations. Genera
Hancock informed them that he tool
command IN accordance with the orders
he bad received from the headquarters o
the army, but that he did not propose K
rule them By military orders at all HI
congratulated the people of the South
vest that peace and quiet reigned among
them To best preserve that state o
things he proposed to let the civil author
ties execute the laws. War he regarded
a. only necessary to destroy opposition
20 lawful authority, but when peace wa
established, and when the civil author
ties were ready and willing to perform
their duties, the military power should
cease 20 lead, and the civil administration
should resume its natural and rightfu
conditions. He declared himself solemnly
impressed with the belief that the grea
principles Of American liberty were thu
lawful inheritance Of the whole people
and should forever continue to be- Fl,
declared that the right of trial by jury
habsas corpus, liberty of the press, free
dom Of speech, the natural rights of pei
son and Of property should be preserved
He believed that free institutions, bein,
essential 70 the prosperity and happines
Of the people, were themselves the strong
eat Inducements TO peace and order. HI
declared that the civil authorities and tri
bun2ls should have the consideration o
and jurisdiction over crimes and offences
and should be supported in the exercise o
that Jurisdiction. But while thus recog
ni1ng the rights of the people, he an
D0unced, with soldier-like directness ant
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