The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-15
The Military Comman0ant Vet0cs q
Resolution or the Common Council Or
dcring an Election.

ItTom tho New Orleans Delta, Nay II.
The Common Council mot last evening, when the fol-
lowing communication received from General George
+. shepley, Military Comrnsndant Of New Orleans;-
To TIE BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN
GEyIRMEN--I herewith roturn with my objections in
writing resolution which Originated In your honorable
body and which las been passed by 10th Boards of the
give notice, in tho public papers, osxan
election city officers TO be held tte first Monday
OF June next and directing the Mayor 10 give the
sar n atice to the Cent al Board OF Conmissio
The constitution Of Louisiana, article eleven, directs
that the Legislature sLall provide, by law, tfat the
ard residences OF ali qualified electors shall be
registered in order to entitle them vote In pursu
of this article of the constitution of louisiana
act OF the 10th OF March, 1854 passed. which
subsequently repealed by the act OF the goth OF March,
1856 and this latter act was amended by the act OF
March ~, 1867.
An these sfaues seem 20 have been enacted ith the
BY various devices Of protecting the purity Of the
suffrage.
koLe OF them require any oath of allegiance from Tho
Thl feature ingrafed on the system by tho con.
cudg portions Of tho second section OF the act OF the
2ist OF December 1861, which equircs all tha
sto 10 registration 10 be the following oath:-'sI do
soiemny lor rfrnl that am qualified according
to the Constitution and laws OF the State TO vote will
be faithful, and true allegiance bear to the State
Louisiana and Confederate States or America, and that
will support protect and deond the constitution OF the
Stao and OF the said Confederate States, help
Gsd'
The sc, cancel and annul a registrations
prev oasiy made and TO avoid all certificates OF regis
tration given previous 10 its passage.
II declares that shall vote at elections In
city OF New urlcdnh VITO knal not nave complied
with thc provisions Of the act, and finally il
" repeal all laws with thereby putting
end TO tho orc-aon Of all the preceding registry laws
The act Of 2lst December, 1861, has been complied
with to very limited extent. Less than four thousand
voters have been registered being 10 Is believed not
opeouth Of the number Of persons In the city Of New
orleans capable Of beirg duly qualified
For time past the office Of the Register has been
eli sed. II II we're now TO be reopened. IL would he
scarcely possible to make full and fair registration in
tile meantime allowed before tho day appointed for the
election.
Il would manilcstiy be unfair TO hold election of
this mpur Lanco imperfect registry, oven were
the qualifications of the electors based upon principle
sanctioned hy the constitution of the United states.
But as every voter has boen qualified by oath in
consistent with that constitution the impossblity
and inproproty Of any sanction BY the military
tLortiee Of election, becomes too plain for dis
clssion. am not now prepared o. say wlisher by
exercise of military power, the election may DO orecrcd
% be- conducted without tho formally OF registration
under registration made in compliance with
sttuionsl principles Az some future aud dist
time shall have the honor of tn you the
views Of the Commanding General Of this Department,
and my views on this subject. remain, yours,
GEORGE n. 5hEPI.EY, Military ComnaDdsnt.