had been fought upon the theory that the old Union must be preserved; but the
basic theory of the reconstruction was that a new Union was to be created.



CHAPTER VI. THE RULE OF THE MAJOR GENERALS

From the passage of the reconstruction acts to the close of Johnson's
Administration, Congress, working the will of the radical majority, was in
supreme control. The army carried out the will of Congress and to that body,
not to the President, the commanding general and his subordinates looked for
direction.

The official opposition of the President to the policy of Congress ceased when
that policy was enacted into law. He believed this legislation to be
unconstitutional, but he considered it his duty to execute the laws. He at
once set about the appointment of generals to command the military districts
created in the South,* a task calling for no little discretion, since much
depended upon the character of these military governors, or "satraps," as they
were frequently called by the opposition. The commanding general in a district
was charged with many duties, military, political, and administrative. It was
his duty to carry on a government satisfactory to the radicals and not too
irritating to the Southern whites; at the same time he must execute the
reconstruction acts by putting old leaders out of power and Negroes in.
Violent opposition to this policy on the part of the South was not looked for.
Notwithstanding the "Southern outrage" campaign, it was generally recognized
in government circles that conditions in the seceded states had gradually been
growing better since the close of the war. There was in many regions, to be
sure, a general laxity in enforcing laws, but that had always been
characteristic of the newer parts of the South. The Civil Rights Act was