"
He urged that such reconstruction should have in view a new free-State
constitution, for, said he:
"If a few professedly loyal men shall draw the disloyal about them, and
colorably set up a State government repudiating the emancipation
proclamation and reestablishing slavery, I cannot recognize or sustain
their work.... 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.
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