The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 297
434 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, 1868-1865 297
to above and other sources, as has been shown, it does not seem
that Congress considered granting any civil functions to the com-
mander in the west. However, April 9, 1864, Davis explained to
Governor Allen of Louisiana, with respect to the protection of
citizens from unjust seizures by impressment officers, that Gen-
eral Smith had power to do everything in his department that he,
Davis, could do. "He has power to execute the laws and that is
the only authority I have."32 In writing to General Smith con-
"As far as the constitution permits, full authority has been
given you to administer to the wants of your department, civil as
well as military."33
However, the context here does not make clear the exact mean-
ing of the term "civil." In his annual report, dated April 28,
1864, Seddon said:
"The legislation of the late Congress for the Trans-Mississippi
Department was both liberal and provident. Provision was made
for the peculiar needs incident to its comparative isolation from
the supervision of the central government, and all the agencies of
a partially independent government were authorized. In the same
spirit has been the action of the executive. Added rank and dig-
nity have been bestowed on the able commander and administrator
at its head, and to him have been entrusted the full measure of
executive powers, which, under our constitutional system, could be
exercised by others than the president."3
In another letter to Smith shortly afterwards the president de-
clared that it had been his endeavor to extend the general's powers
to the utmost limit consistent with law and the nature of the
government; and that to meet the extraordinary circumstances in
which the department was placed laws had been passed granting
the commander fuller powers.3, Seddon also wrote that he thought
General Smith, besides his position as military commander of
the department, should combine with his strictly military duties
somewhat of the relation of the secretary of war to the department
and the president."3
"2Davis to Allen, April 9, 1864. Off,. Recs., LIII, 98.1-982.
cerning the work of Congress, he said:
88April 28, 1864. Off. Recs., LIIT, 986.
"Off. Recs., Series IV, Vol. III, 341.
"Davis to Smith, June 14, 1864. Off. Recs., XXXIV, iv, 671.
8"Seddon to Smith, June 15, 1864. Off. Recs., XXXIX, iv, 672.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918, periodical, 1918; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101073/m1/303/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.