New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-01

tnousand nine hundred and ten dollars was paid at
different times, under the provisions OF said act By
reference to the Both section Of sais act Won win ney
ceve that u is made the duty Of the State Treasurer
10 demand Of the city Of New Orleans the payment
OF the oneha OF the expenses incurred under said act
am, very respectfully, y0ur obedient servant
y. w.ROBBRTsoE Audit.r
SUPRRETEsDnT's OFPrcE.
New Orleans, Dec. TO- 1857.
e h, e. E &c GererIor r. G. WieHfe:
intendent OF Elections for the Parish Of Orleans On
the LIST day Of June following, appointed Can't
James L. Powers my first chief deputy, Albert FabFe
second chief deputy, William Tenbrlnk third chief
deputy, and Joseph Mona fourth chief deputy. We
immediately went to work In assisting the Central
Board OF Commissioners in selecting the respective
places Tor holding the polls and thoroughly organizing
nnoer the act OF the Legislature approved March TO-
1857, entitled Gan act relative to elections in the
Parish OF Orleans when, the 25th July 1857, an
injunction was sued out by the city Of New Orleans
and Charles NJ. Waterman Mayor against the MEM
bers Of the Central Board OF Commissioner myself
end chief deputies before the Fifth District Co1rt al
New Orleans, the Hon. H. B. Eggleston presiding
commanding US not TO act or attempt 70 act under the
provisions OF the law Matters stood thus up to the
10th October, 1857, when, by reason Of counter in
junction having been previously obtained by the Cen
trail Board OF Commissioners against the Mayor and
Common Council OF the city OF New Orleans prohibit
ing them from designating the polls and appointing
commissioners for election to take place on the I'd
day OF November following, by the Hon. p. H. Nor
gan, Judge OF the Second District Court Of New Or
WlhOQffW
injunction against us, which left us free to act under
the law. Immediately went 10 work to organize my
department for the election which was held on the I'd
day OF November last. Owing to the fact that the
organization was new, every form, rule and procama-
ton was to be adopted without precedence met
with much difficulty and labor in making the neces-
sary arrangements.
On the 18th day Of October. and INV IDENTITIES
commenced our labor CT soliciting men to come for
ward and act as ordinary deputies. We continued
our work up to the oath Of October with but little or
no success, our volunteer force not numbering more
than ten or fifteen men. Finding it utterly impossi-
bic to get the citizens TO come 70 nv assistance we
resolved to exhaust the powers Of the law in endeay
orng to obtain an adequate force for the protection
OF the citizen in bis legal rights To that end, we
selected two thousand and fftyone names, from
among the citizens, irrespective OF party. issued
summons, ordering them to appear at their respect
i've polling booths at the hour OF o'clock A. NJ on
the day Of election, I'd November, 1887 These sum.
monses were served on (sO5) eight hundred and five
men; ont OF this number (3s0) three hundred and
eighty men reported themselves at the polls; but
very few, however, OF this number-not exceeding
one-fourth-remained on duty during the day. In
fact can safely say that there was not one precinct
or poll in the city organized in pursuance OF my YER
bal instructions nor required by the rules adopted
by myseli, and approved OF by your Excellency,
owing to the absence of the extraordinary deputies
In my opinion it Is impossible for any person to
summon the citizens promscuously and in few
hours convert them into regular and active police
force. Admittngkkhey were present in full numbers
it is perfectly idleb think Of bringing them under
strict discipline as the law contemplated or even COM
polling them to remain at the polls during the day. as
on I'd OF November last, the day of election, they
came, reported themselves and soon after went away
am convinced, however, that the summonses issued
to the extraordinary deputies had quite salutary
effect In so far as actuating to take the Office OF
ordinary deputies By means Of this appliance and
great moral suasion, we succeeded in getting one
hundred and fifteen men to qualify as ordinary depu-
ties thirtytwo OF this number being for the Third
District This number had to be divided and stationed
at oryeght polls scattered throughout the CITY and
parish OF Orleans, which allowed two men to each
poll, and nineteen over Under these circumstances
my only dependence was on the extraordinary depu
ties, who signally failed to respond to the summons
Out OF the number of extraordinary deputies sum-
moned, and OF ordinary deputies appointed, l ex
pected to be able to get force ranging from ten to
twenty 1--WE men at each poll which would have made
force quite sufficient to execute the law.
In addition to this force thought it advisable to
raise reserved force of hundred to two hundred
men, and have them stationed at the central part OF
the CITY, so that in case Of an extreme emergency
they could be thrown into any part Of the city in
very short time, to accomplish which solicited in
person number of citizens to volunteer their servi
ces. also had inserted in several newspapers in this
city notice soliciting to come to my office and
enroll themseyes for duty succeeded in getting
thirtyone names, all told. Out OF this number ten
reported themselves for duty the day of election
Thinking that out of the entire reputation Of New
Orleans would be able to get one hundred to two
hundred men to act as a reserved force inquired |
INTO the condition OF the arsenal, and to the num-
Der OF arms therein and, to my utter surprise, |
learned that there between forty and sixty old
rifles without bayonets. did not feel disposed to
place such guns in the hands of men on such an occa-
sion. After this spped to two stores in this CITY |
fer them to furnish me with two hundred double |
barreed shot guns offering them ample security for
their safe return and pay for their but they de.
clined letting me have them. So having failed in |
this undertaking, thought it prudent at least to pre-
pare for calling out the military and with that |
view addressed you the letter dated 9th of October
1907 and your answer to the same was received in
due time-in the conclrsion of which myself and |
deputies differed.
report this because, judging from what appeared |
in public print-from reports coming to me from diff
ierent quarters, OF the most reliable kind-from the
nightly scenes Of boOdshed intimjdations murders
and assassinations, by band of lawless in dis.
gdise, for week before the eleetion-and from the
wrongs, injuries and outrages inflicted upon the help
less citizens OF New Orleans for the last three years.
did have every reason to believe that there would
be conflict between the officers of the law and the
lawess: and why did the collision not occur? In
my conviction, simply because il was apparent that
there existed no necessity for it none whatever
OWING to the causes above mentioned, and 10 the
threats OF violence made against the officers of the
law, the open hostility Of some men to its execution,
the pacards posted in every part of the city, the
nlght before the election, OF significant and threat
ening character, led many timd minds to conclude
that they would be eopardizng their lives TO approach
the polls and, may also add, that the power of an
address, by the Legislature, might have had little
III preventing ulstufUdHCe Inc active |
parties were on the ground, ready at moments no
tce for the outbreak, but seeing that the opposition
party did not vote in any very great numbers, why
everything quiet as could be expected on cleo
ton days in the city Of New Orleans as reported TO
me by my deputies However, had that party come
out in its full strength in former years no doubt
we would have seen different aspect of Affairs. As
an evidence that my conclusions are correct in the
town OF Algiers, where there was a strong opposition
to the ruling faction was informed by my deputy /
the late General Casimer Lacoste, that number Of /
desperate men came over from the CITY, committed |
violence upon the citizens and actually took posses
sion OF the ballot-box and drove off the Commits |
soners. The box afterwards taken in possession |
by third parties and the votes counted.
regret to state to you, that before Gen. Iacoste
made his official report TO me he was killed in duel
In organizing the election we met with considerable
opposition from those whom it was but reasonable to
expect were friends to the law Some men, holding |
lucrative appointments from the State and Federal |
governments, actually refused TO lend their aid and
support to the law; and others were first to find /
iaut-express their dsapprobation of the organiza-
uon-al in my humble opinion, to concoct some ap.
parenty plausible preteIt for staying away from the
polls and serving under the law. Owing to the oppo-
slton OF such men, we met with considerable diff
Guilty IN attempting to execute the law. My chief
deputies performed their part well, likewise did
great majority Of my ordinary deputies but owing to