... I have said, and say again, that if a new State
government, acting in harmony with this government and consistently with
general freedom, shall think best to adopt a reasonable temporary
arrangement in relation to the landless and houseless freed people, I do
not object; but my word is out to be for and not against them on the
question of their permanent freedom."

General Banks in reply excused his inaction by explaining that the
military governor and others had given him to understand that they were
exclusively charged with the work of reconstruction in Louisiana. To
this the President rejoined under date of December 24, 1863:

"I have all the while intended you to be master, as well in regard to
reorganizing a State government for Louisiana as in regard to the
military matters of the department, and hence my letters on
reconstruction have nearly, if not quite, all been addressed to you. My
error has been that it did not occur to me that Governor Shepley or any
one else would set up a claim to act independently of you.... I now
distinctly tell you that you are master of all, and that I wish you to
take the case as you find it, and give us a free-State reorganization of
Louisiana in the shortest possible time."

Under this explicit direction of the President, and basing his action
on martial law as the fundamental law of the State, the general caused a
governor and State officials to be elected on February 22, 1864. To
override the jealousy and quarrels of both the conservative and
free-State parties, he set out in his proclamation that the officials to
be chosen should--

"Until others are appointed by competent authority, constitute the civil
government of the State, under the constitution and laws of Louisiana,
except so much of the said constitution and laws as recognize, regulate,
or relate to slavery; which, being inconsistent with the present
condition of public affairs, and plainly inapplicable to any class of
persons now existing within its limits, must be suspended, and they are
therefore and hereby declared to be inoperative and void."

The newly elected governor was inaugurated on March 4, with imposing
public ceremonies, and the President also invested him "with the powers
exercised hitherto by the military governor of Louisiana." General Banks
further caused delegates to a State convention to be chosen, who, in a
session extending from April 6 to July 25, perfected and adopted a new
constitution,