He was content to control by means of Federal troops and thousands of deputy marshals.

For this policy the Ku Klux activities gave sufficient excuse for a time, and the continued story of "rebel outrages" was always available to justify a call for soldiers or deputies.

The enforcement legislation gave the color of law to any interference which was deemed necessary.
Federal troops served other ends than the mere preservation of order and the support of the radical state governments.

They were used on occasion to decide between opposing factions and to oust conservatives who had forced their way into office.

The army officers purged the Legislature of Georgia in 1870, that of Alabama in 1872, and that of Louisiana in 1875.