The national Republican., 1866-08-03


of the people.
The constitution was submitted TO the
people who had taken the "iron-clad" oath,
and was ratified by them. Under IL MICHAEL
HAHN was elected Governor Of that State,
and j: MADISON WELLS was chosen Lieu
tenant Governor. WELLS was selected be-
cause he was from the interior, and was a
planter. For initiating the reorganization Of
Louisiana President LINCOLN received abuse,
which for malignancy and venom has had
no equal, save that which has been heaped
upon his successor for the continuation OF
the same policy. For carrying the project
into effect General BANKS invoked an oppo.
sition which singled him out as target for
Misrepresentation and the most unjustifiable
comment The foulest ISLANDERS ever uttered
by human tongues, and the batteries Of the
press, shotted with falsehoods and libels, was
poured upon the heads Of these men. This
warfare was not directed against the consti
tuition o! Louisiana itself, for that was con-
ceded to be faultless as an organic act; but
the denunciation was against its military
origin, apd its pretence in being the act Of
the people of that State. Mr.. SUMNER said
Of it that it was "seven months abortion"
ushered into being at the point Of the bay
onet by Massachusetts, General, and was
not the work Of the people Of the State.
Other Senators called it "usurpation," a
creation of~military despotism," and likened
its imposition upon the people Of Louisiana
to the iniquitous attempt to force upon the
people Of Kansas the abominable Lecompton
constitution. But every opponent admitted
at that time that If the constitution had been
made or accepted BY a majority Of The inhab-
itants of Louisiana that nothing ,oo,,ld have
been more gratifying than its recognition.
After framing the constitution, the Conven-
ten adjourned, giving authority to the presi-
dent to reconvence the Convention in case
Of necessity Yhis was understood then, by
every member Of that body, to mean that, in
case the constitution should be rejected, the
convention might reassemble to construct
another to be passed upon by the people,
That, and no other, was the intent Of the
authority conveyed to the presiding officer.
When the constitution was ratified, the work
Of the convention was completed, and that
body expired beyond the possibility Of legal
resurrection. After holding the Office Of
Governor nearly one year, Mr.. HAHN was
chosen Senator by the Legislature, and re-
signed his gubernatorial position. Here COM
mences the difficulties which eliminated q
few days since in frightful riot. At the
time Of Gov, HANKS resignation, his personal
and political friends filled the Offices Of the
State. The judiciary, the parish Offices, the
police, indeed every place was occupied by
men who had participated in the movement
for free State. From September, 1864, to
April, 1865, Gen. BANKS, having been ordered
North, was absent from the State, and his
imme liate command fell to Gen. HURLBURr,
OF Illinois, Gen. CANBY being in command Of
the military district which then included the
Department Of the Gulf Upon Coy. HAHS's
| retirement, j. MADISON WELLS came into
power. WELLS was bigoted creole, and as
politician totally INSCRIPTIONS. lie was
inspired BY three motives: the determination
| 10 nrovsn. - 'hs return Of Gen, BANKS to the
Department of the Ga.., " and to 90 every;
thing possible to injure his reputa..o.. o'''
destroy his influence, and in this, whether in
| tentionally or not, he was assisted by all the
military power Of the Department; to vacate
every person identified with the HAHN ad.
ministration, and place his own friends in
power and to create "WELLs" party; and
| to ostracise oil "new cOmers" who had any
share in the Government, maintaining, in his
own language, that Louisiana was for Louis,
ianians." Through the cooperation of Gen
HURLBURr, he first removed Mayor HoYT,
the personal friend and appointee Of Gen.
BANKS; then the police went; then the sheriff
in one word, all the principal incumbents.
Wounded Union soldiers were ruthlessly dis
charged; par ercelience Union men were in
discriminatory banished from place and per-
sons OF doubtful loyalty installed; the ma
tionalization of the schools was paralyzed;
and when Gen. BANKS returned in April,
1865, to reassume command, he found the
Union men Of his persuasion in a state Of
grief, suffering the hardships Of removal from
Office, and many deserving persons out Of
employment and in want. He found that
the abdcation Of Gov. HAHN had resulted in
the expulsion of the party that elevated him
to power; and we shall never forget the ter.
rible severity of condemnation with which he
denounced that individual for vacating the
power which had been put into his hands at
the cost of such outlays of treasure and
blood.
All efforts on the part Of Gen. BANKS to
rectify matters were neugalized by Gen
CASBY, to whom he was obliged to report as
superior officer. WELLS, among other high
handed and illegal acts, forcibly elected
from Office the Auditor Of the State, DIR. A.
p DosrIR, KILLED in the late riot BECAUSE
in his official capacity he was about to com
mence legal proceedings which would COM
pei the removal Of WELLS from the governor
ship. By the laws of the State he was dis
qualified. Some years previous be had been
sheriff of one Of the parishes and had delayed
in making his return Of moneys, and in the
Auditors books there stood against his name
quite large deficit. This, according to the
statutes of Louisiana, happened to be ground
Of removal. DR.. DosTIE being about to en-
force the statutes, was put out of Office by
tho .>oltce, and friend Of nWELIs," who
seemed IN ovo; -'""k the outstanding account
OF the Governor, was instalieu. "' 0"f'Sh,
der OF TAYLoR's command brought home In,
confederate Louisianians. WELLS courted
and fawned them, at the exclusion and per-
secution Of the HAHN Union men. These
men were exceedingly bitter against WELLS
for betraying them, and equally morose to-
wards HAHN for deserting his post and leav-
ing them to the tender mercies of his heart
less successor. There being no disqualifying
provision in the State constitution, at the
election in October the returned Louisian-
ians who had been in the confederate army
voted; and though choosing WELLS for Gov
ernOr, the remainder of the ticket was made
up Of their own friends, who were clothed
with authority. During the winter the city
also passed by election into the hands Of
| i L l. L