great social law, whereby an ignorant and depraved race is placed in power and influence above the virtuous, the educated and the refined. By these acts of Congress intelligence and virtue are put under foot, while ignorance and vice are lifted into power.

A Southern Radical Platform

Annual Cyclopedia, 1867, p. 460. A Radical party consisting mainly of Northern whites and negroes was organized in each Southern state after the passage of the Reconstruction acts. [1867]

WE advocate and will enforce perfect equality under the law of all men, without distinction of race or color; indorse the acts of the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses; will reconstruct Louisiana upon the Congressional basis, and send to Congress only true and loyal men. Nominations for office to be made only of those who will enforce perfect equality and the right to hold office, irrespective of race or color. We will insist on perfect equality, without distinction of race or color, in the right to vote and enter the jury-box, without any educational or property qualifications being required; also on the right to practice all professions, to buy, sell, travel, and be entertained, and to enter into any and all civil contracts. . We will also advocate immigration, and division of lands of the State, as far as practicable, into small farms, in order that the masses of our people may be enabled to become landholders. We will advocate the repeal of the cotton tax by Congress. . . We will advocate equality in schools. . . We will insist on a thorough revision of the laws of Louisiana, that they may guarantee equal justice to black and white alike. . .

The platform further condemns Johnson's amnesty proclamation, believing the disfranchisement of rebels to be the highest duty of the General Government; favors the maintenance of an adequate military force in Louisiana to see the laws enforced, and life and property protected; declares that no man is to be supported for office who will not boldly and openly pledge himself to make equal distribution among white and colored alike of all offices to which he may have the power of appointment. As the newly enfranchised citizens constitute a majority of the

party, at least one-half of the nominations for elective offices shall be taken from that class, no distinction to be made whether nominees or appointees were born free or not, provided they are loyal, capable, and honest. The party will always discountenance any attempt on the part of any race or class to assume practical control of any branch of the government to the exclusion of any other race or class.

2.

3. THE USE OF THE ARMY IN

RECONSTRUCTION

The Army Takes Control

War Department Archives, G. O. no. 1, 2nd Military District, (North Carolina and South Carolina). Gen. D. E. Sickles in command. [March 21, 1867]

In the execution of the duty of the commanding general to maintain the security of the inhabitants in their persons and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder and violence, and to punish or cause to be punished all disturbers of the public peace and criminals, the local civil tribunals will be permitted to take jurisdiction of and try offenders, excepting only such cases as may by the order of the commanding general be referred to a commission or other military tribunal for trial.

3. The civil government now existing in North Carolina and South Carolina is provisional only, and in all respects subject to the paramount authority of the United States, at any time to abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same. Local laws and municipal regulations not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, or the proclamations of the President, or with such regulations as are or may be prescribed in the orders of the commanding general, are hereby declared to be in force; and, in conformity therewith civil officers are hereby authorized to continue the exercise of their proper functions, and will be respected and obeyed by the inhabitants.

4. Whenever any civil officer, magistrate, or court neglects or refuses to perform an official act properly required of such tribunal or officer, whereby due and rightful security to person or property shall be denied, the case will be reported by the post commander to these headquarters.

5. Post commanders will cause to be arrested persons charged with the commission of crimes and offenses, when the civil authorities fail to arrest and bring such offenders to trial, and will hold the accused in custody for trial by military com

mission, provost court, or other tribunal organized pursuant to orders from these headquarters. .

6. The commanding general, desiring to preserve tranquility and order, by means and agencies most congenial to the people, solicits the zealous and cordial coöperation of civil officers in the discharge of their duties, and the aid of all good citizens in preventing conduct tending to disturb the peace; and to the end that occasion may seldom arise for the exercise of military authorities in matters of ordinary civil administration, the commanding general respectfully and earnestly commends to the people and authorities of North and South Carolina unreserved obedience to the authority now established, and the diligent, considerate, and impartial execution of the laws enacted by their government.

Status of State Officials

War Department Archives, G. O. no. 1, 3d Military District, (Georgia, Florida, Alabama). Gen. John Pope in command. [April 1, 1867]

I. The civil officers at present in office in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, will retain their offices until the expiration of their terms of service . . so long as justice is impartially and faithfully administered.

.

II. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the civil officers thus retained in office shall confine themselves strictly to the performance of their official duties, and whilst holding their office they shall not use any influence whatever to deter or dissuade the people from taking an active part in reconstructing their State governments, under the act of Congress to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States, and the act supplementary thereto. .

IV. No elections will be held in any of the States comprised in this military district, except such as provided for in the act of Congress, and in the manner therein established; but all vacancies in civil offices which now exist, or which may occur by expiration of the term of office of the present incumbents, before the prescribed registration of voters is completed, will be filled by appointment of the General commanding the district.

Registrars and Registration Districts

War Department Archives, G. O. no. 5, 3d Military District. [April 8, 1867] II. In order to execute [the Act of March 2, 1867] with as little delay as possible, the commanding officers of the districts of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, will proceed immediately to divide those States into convenient districts for registration, aided by such information as they may have or can obtain. It is suggested that the election districts in each State which in 1860 sent a member to the most numerous branch of the State Legislature, will be found a convenient division for registration.

It is desirable that in all cases the registers shall be civilians, where it is possible to obtain such as come within the provisions of the act, and are otherwise suitable persons; and that military officers shall not be used for this purpose except in case of actual necessity. The compensation for registers will be fixed hereafter, but the general rule will be observed of graduating the compensation by the number of recorded voters. To each list of voters shall be appended the oath of the register that the names have been faithfully recorded, and represent actual legal voters, and that the same man does not appear under different names. The registers are specifically instructed to see that all information concerning their political rights is given to all persons entitled to vote under the act of Congress; and they are made responsible that every such legal voter has the opportunity to record his name. .

IV. The district commanders in each of the States comprised in this military district are authorized to appoint one or more general supervisors of registration, whose business it shall be to visit the various points where registration is being carried on; to inspect the operations of the registers; and to assure themselves that every man entitled to vote has the necessary information concerning his political rights, and the opportunity to record his name.

V. A general inspector, either an officer of the Army or a civilian, will be appointed at these headquarters, to see that the provisions of this order are fully and carefully executed. . .