THE REMINISCENCES OF CARL SCHURZ
Army of the Constitution or the Army of the United States and as soon as it is practicable the original design of the Government must be resumed and the Government administered upon the principles of the great chart of freedom handed down to the people by the founders of the Republic. The people must be trusted with their Government and if trusted, my opinion is they will act in good faith and restore their former Constitutional relations with all the States composing the Union. The main object of Major General Carl Schurz's mission to the South was to aid as far as practicable in carrying out the policy adopted by the Government for restoring the States to their former relations with the Federal Government. It is hoped such aid has been given. The proclamation authorizing restoration of State Governments requires the military to aid the Provisional Governor in the performance of his duties as prescribed in the proclamation, and in no manner to interfere or throw impediments in the way of consummating the object of his appointment, at least without advising the Government of the intended interference.
As soon as I reached New Orleans I telegraphed my reply.
The President having apparently supposed that I had
induced General Slocum to issue his order, I thought it due to
myself to inform the President that the order had been out
before I saw the General, but that I decidedly approved it.
In some localities county patrols had already been organized,
but had to be suppressed on account of their open hostility to
Union men and freed people. A number of Union men at
Vicksburg had declared that unless General Slocum's policy
be upheld, they would at once prepare for leaving the State.
One of the reasons given by Governor Sharkey for organizing
[ 193 ]
