Loyal Citizens Quotes
The issue was the voting franchise for Negroes in the aftermath of the Civil War.
Grant was a new Brigadier General and occupied Paducah
He had no authority to do this. He just took it upon himself. This was one of the incidents which caused later Congresses to pass very strict laws limiting the authority of all Federal Military and other intelligence and police forces so that they have little or no authority within the United States. President Lincoln did not allow the order to stand, although he repudiated it very delicately and as privately as possible. Many in his own party strongly favored this proclamation as it cracked down on the Southern Rebels and emancipated slaves—both objectives of many Republicans. In addition, Fremont was very popular with the people and had strong political connections. (He would later run for President.) See {635739}.
His refusal to explain the reasons for and the circumstances of the arrests drew much criticism from Democrats and the press. This was the precedent that Presidents have used ever since to not reveal the grounds for arrest and the circumstances thereof. George W. Bush aides specifically cited this when they refused the details of many of the arrests after the 9-11 attack.