Chapter LXXXIV: The Work of Restoration

Votes on the Fourteenth Constitutional Amendment.—The New
States and Reconstructed States likely to vote for it.—Action
of the Commanders of the Military Districts.—The Fifth
District.—Measures adopted by General Sheridan.—His Reasons
for them.—Further Action of General Sheridan.—Governor Wells
removed, and Governor Flanders appointed.—Incidents in
Charleston: The Railroad Cars; The Flag at the Charleston
Fire Parade.—General Sickles’ Order No. 10: Its
Provisions.—Attorney-General Stanbery’s Objections to
it.—Other Orders of General Sickles.—He asks to be relieved
of his Command.—Troubles in General Pope’s
District.—Insubordination of Governor Jenkins: General Pope
asks that he be removed; General Grant’s Indorsement.—Riot in
Mobile.—In Richmond.—Registration, and Powers of Military
Commanders.—The Interference of the Attorney-General.—His
Written Opinions.—General Grant decides that they are not
Mandatory.—General Sheridan’s Opinion of them.—Removal of
Throckmorton.—Sheridan’s Complaint of Rousseau.—The Removal
of Secretary Stanton determined upon, and of General Sheridan
also.—The President’s Letter to Stanton.—Stanton’s
Reply.—General Grant’s Private Letter to the
President.—Stanton suspended, and Grant appointed Secretary
of War ad interim.—The Order for Sheridan’s Removal.—General
Grant’s Protest.—The President’s Reply.—Thomas appointed to
the Fifth District, but declines on account of his
Health.—Hancock appointed.—General Griffin’s Death.—General
Sickles’ Removal.—Generals Canby and Mower’s Orders.—The
President’s two Proclamations.—Who are to be amnestied.—The
President’s Pardons.—General Hancock’s Special Order.—The
President’s delight with it.—He proposes that Congress shall
make a Public Recognition of the General’s
Patriotism.—Congress “don’t see it.”—Measures of General
Hancock.—General Grant revokes his Orders.—Hancock asks to be
relieved, and is appointed by the President to the Command of
the New Department of Washington.—The New
Constitutions.—Alabama: The Measures of the Rebels to prevent
the adoption of the Constitution.—The Constitutions of the
other States adopted.—Vote on Convention and Constitution. 624

CHAPTER LXXXV.—SOCIAL CONDITION.

Suffering at the South among the Freedmen and Loyal
Whites.—Causes.—The Discharge of the Freedmen by their
Employers for Voting.—Good Conduct of the
Freedmen.—Description of the Scenes at the Polls in
Montgomery, Ala.—Negro Suffrage, North and South.—Reasons why
it was indispensable that the Freedmen should have the
Ballot.—Testimony to the Good Conduct of the Negroes at the
South.—Southern White Loyalty.—The Competency of the Negro
for the exercise of Suffrage equal to that of the Poor
Whites.—Eloquence of a Negro in Arkansas, a recent Slave.—The
Destitution at the South.—Wrongs Inflicted on the
Freedmen.—Laziness of the Rebel Whites.—The Advance in
Education at the South.—Benevolent Associations.—Freedmen’s
Bureau.—Mr. Peabody’s Munificent Gift.—Higher Education.—The
Educational Provisions in the New Constitutions.—The Results
which must flow from this in the Future. 651