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I annulled that part of the State law fixing the five years'
residence restriction； and restored the two years' qualification；
thus enabling Mayor Heath； who by my appointment had succeeded
Monroe； to organize the force anew； and take about one…half of its
members from ex…Union soldiers who when discharged had settled in New
Orleans。 This action put an end to intimidation in the parish of
Orleans； and now were put in operation in all sections the processes
provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the summoning of
a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the readmission of
the State； and I was full of hope that there would now be much less
difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress。
During the two years previous great damage had been done the
agricultural interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the
Mississippi； the levees being so badly broken as to require extensive
repairs； and the Legislature of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose
4；000；000； to be raised by an issue of bonds。 This money was to be
disbursed by a Board of Levee Commissioners then in existence； but
the term of service of these commissioners； and the law creating the
board； would expire in the spring of 1867。 In order to overcome this
difficulty the Legislature passed a bill continuing the commissioners
in office but as the act was passed inside of ten days before the
adjournment of the Legislature； Governor Wells pocketed the bill； and
it failed to become a law。 The Governor then appointed a board of
his own； without any warrant of law whatever。 The old commissioners
refused to recognize this new board； and of course a conflict of
authority ensued； which； it was clear； would lead to vicious results
if allowed to continue； so； as the people of the State had no
confidence in either of the boards； I decided to end the contention
summarily by appointing an entirely new commission； which would
disburse the money honestly； and further the real purpose for which
it had been appropriated。 When I took this course the legislative
board acquiesced； but Governor Wells immediately requested the
President to revoke my order； which； however； was not done； but
meanwhile the Secretary of War directed me to suspend all proceedings
in the matter； and make a report of the facts。 I complied in the
following telegram：
〃HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT；
〃NEW ORLEANS； La。； June 3； 1867。
〃SIR： I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of
this date in reference to the Levee Commissioners in this State。
〃The following were my reasons for abolishing the two former boards；
although I intended that my order should be sufficiently explanatory：
〃Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed
an act continuing the old Levee board in office； so that the four
millions of dollars （4；000；000） in bonds appropriated by the
Legislature might be disbursed by a board of rebellious antecedents。
〃After its adjournment the Governor of the State appointed a board of
his own； in violation of this act； and made the acknowledgment to me
in person that his object was to disburse the money in the interest
of his own party by securing for it the vote of the employees at the
time of election。
〃The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn
over to the Governor's board； and each side appealed to me to sustain
it； which I would not do。 The question must then have gone to the
courts； which； according to the Governor's judgment when he was
appealing to me to be sustained； would require one year for decision。
Meantime the State was overflowed； the Levee boards tied up by
political chicanery； and nothing done to relieve the poor people； now
fed by the charity of the Government and charitable associations of
the North。
〃To obviate this trouble； and to secure to the overflowed districts
of the State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of
the four millions （4；000；000） would give； my order dissolving both
boards was issued。
〃I say now； unequivocally； that Governor Wells is a political
trickster and a dishonest man。 I have seen him myself； when I first
came to this command； turn out all the Union men who had supported
the Government； and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had not yet
doffed their gray uniform。 I have seen him again； during the July
riot of 1866； skulk away where I could not find him to give him a
guard； instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State
and joining those who were preserving the peace。 I have watched him
since； and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the
dust by the movement of a snake。
〃I say again that he is dishonest； and that dishonesty is more than
must be expected of me。
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN；
〃Major…General； U。 S。 A。
〃Hon。 E。 M。 STANTON；
〃Secretary of War； Washington； D。 C。〃
The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed
from office Governor Wells himself； being determined to bear no
longer with the many obstructions he had placed in the way of
reorganizing the civil affairs of the State。 I was also satisfied
that he was unfit to retain the place； since he was availing himself
of every opportunity to work political ends beneficial to himself。
In this instance Wells protested to me against his removal； and also
appealed to the President for an opinion of the Attorney…General as
to my power in the case； and doubtless he would have succeeded in
retaining his office； but for the fact that the President had been
informed by General James B。 Steadman and others placed to watch me
that Wells was wholly unworthy。
〃NEW ORLEANS； June 19； 1867。
〃ANDREW JOHNSON； President United States；
〃Washington City：
〃Lewis D。 Campbell leaves New Orleans for home this evening。 Want
of respect for Governor Wells personally； alone represses the
expression of indignation felt by all honest and sensible men at the
unwarranted usurpation of General Sheridan in removing the civil
officers of Louisiana。 It is believed here that you will reinstate
Wells。 He is a bad man； and has no influence。
〃I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass you； believing the
feeling at the North would sustain him。 My conviction is that on
account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe； you ought not to
reinstate any who have been removed； because you cannot reinstate any
without reinstating all； but you ought to prohibit the exercise of
this power in the future。
〃Respectfully yours；
〃JAMES B。 STEADMAN。〃
I appointed Mr。 Thomas J。 Durant as Wells's successor； but he
declining； I then appointed Mr。 Benjamin F。 Flanders； who； after I
had sent a staff…officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of
necessity； took possession of the Governor's office。 Wells having
vacated； Governor Flanders began immediately the exercise of his
duties in sympathy with the views of Congress； and I then notified
General Grant that I thought he need have no further apprehension
about the condition of affairs in Louisiana； as my appointee was a
man of such integrity and ability that I already felt relieved of
half my labor。 I also stated in the same despatch that nothing would
answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course； and that in taking
such a one I felt that I was strongly supported； a statement that was
then correct； for up to this period the better classes were disposed
to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction。
During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners； and the
correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells； registration
had gone on under the rules laid down for the boards。 The date set
for closing the books was the 3oth of June； but in the parish of
Orleans the time was extended till the 15th of July。 This the
President considered too short a period； and therefore directed the
registry lists not to be closed before the 1st of August； unless
there was some good reason to the contrary。 This was plainly
designed to keep the books open in order that under the Attorney…
General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws； published June
20； many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards
could yet be registered； so I decided to close the registration；
unless required by the President unconditionally； and in specific
orders； to extend the time。 My motives were manifold； but the main
reasons were that as two and a half months had been given already；
the number of persons who； under the law； were qualified for registry
was about exhausted； and because of the expense I did not feel
warranted in keeping up the boards longer； as I said； 〃to suit new
issues coming in at the eleventh hour；〃 which would but open a 〃broad
macadamized road for perjury and fraud。〃
When I thus stated what I intended to do； the opinion of the
Attorne