I take this occasion to assure your excellency of my hearty co-operation in your efforts to re-establish civil government, and in any measures that may be undertaken for the benefit of the State or people of Louisiana. I shall be happy at all times to confer with you upon any of these subjects, and to give you, whenever necessary, any assistance that you may require. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E.R.S. CANBY, _Major General, Commanding_. His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA, _New Orleans, La_. Official copy: R. DES ANGES, _Major, A.A.G._ STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, _New Orleans, June_ 23, 1865. General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 16th instant, in answer to mine of the 13th, relating to the expediency of your revoking the appointment of all civil officers in the State made by military or semi-military authority. I desire to state that your views and suggestions, as regards your duty and proper course of action in the premises, are entirely satisfactory to me. For the care you have bestowed on the subject, and the earnest disposition you evince to do all in your power to promote the interests of civil government in this unfortunate State, by co-operating with and sustaining me in all legitimate measures to that end, I beg to return you, not only my own thanks, but I feel authorized to speak for the great mass of our fellow-citizens, and to include them in the same category. With high respect, I subscribe myself, your obedient servant, J. MADISON WELLS, _Governor of Louisiana_. Major General E.R.S. CANBY, _Commanding Department of the Gulf_. Official copy: R. DES ANGES, _Major, A.A.G._ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF LOUISIANA, _New Orleans, September_ 8, 1865. Sir: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit some remarks upon the civil government of Louisiana, and its relation to the military administration of this department. These relations are more anomalous and complicated, probably, than in any other insurrectionary State, and it will be useful in considering these questions to bear in mind the changes that have occurred since the occupation of this city by the Union forces. These are, briefly-- 1. The military administration of the commander of the department of the Gulf, Major General Butler. 2. The military government, of which Brigadier General Shepley was the executive, by appointment of the President. 3. The provisional government, of which the Hon. M. Hahn was the executive, by appointment of the President, upon nomination by the people at an election held under military authority. 4. The constitutional government, organized under the constitution adopted by the convention in July, 1864, and ratified by the people at an election held in September of that year. Of this government the Hon. J.M. Wells is the present executive.