The Civil Record of MajorGeneral Winfield S Hancock, During His Administration in Louisiana and Texas Classic Reprint

Excerpt from The Civil Record of Major-General Winfield S. Hancock, During His Administration in Louisiana and Texas

Military District he became under the Reconstruction Laws of Congress, the absolute ruler of two States - Louisiana and Texas. He had the power to remove civil magistrate, to suppress the local tribunals, to establish military commissions and to suspend the civil laws. He continued in this responsible position, with his headquarters at New Orleans, from November, 1867, until March 16th, 1868, when, consequence of General Grant's interference with his administration, he was relieved at his own request. What he did during these eventful months, was not as a leader of troops, but almost wholly in the exercise of his duties and authority as the supreme governor of the two States included within his jurisdiction. He has, therefore, not only a civil record, but such a civil record as is best calculated to illustrate his character as a citizen and his qualifications as a statesman. Because, being invested with powers which subjected him to scarcely any other restraint than his own discretion, his administration must be considered in more than an ordinary degree characteristic of the mental and moral qualities of the man.

It will be remembered that at the time General Hancock was appointed to this position, Congress had parcelled out the South into a number of military despotisms, based upon the assumption that the people of that section of the Union had forfeited their constitutional liberties, and had no longer any civil rights which a military commander was bound to respect. But when General Hancock assumed personal command of his military province, his first act was to issue an official order from his headquarters at New Orleans, proclaiming that the Constitution had survived the war, and was still the rightful inheritance of all the people.

This noble document is in the following words:

I. In accordance with general orders No 81, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D. C., August 27th, 1867, Major-General W. S. Hancock hereby assumes command of the Fifth Military District and of the Department composed of the States of Louisiana and Texas.

II. The General Commanding is gratified to learn that peace and quiet reign in this Department. It will be his purpose to preserve this condition of things. As a means to this great end he regards the maintenance of the civil authorities in the faithful execution of the laws as the most efficient under existing circumstances.

In war it is indispensable to repel force by force, and overthrow and destroy opposition to lawful authority.

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