The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-03-20
The Election Imbrcglio in New Orleans

The Election Imbroglio in New Orleans.
In conformity with the charter of the city Of Ne
Orleans, Mayor Monroe issued his proclamation for a
election of one-half Of the Board and Assstau
Board of Aldermen, to have been held last Monda
week. His Excellency Governor Wells took tn
ground that the Mayor had no right to order all cleo
ton after the passage of the Military Bill and ssue
the following proclamation forbiddng it:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE or LOUISIANA,
New Orleans, March s, 1867.
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States have
passed act for the efficient government of the
rebel States, and which act is now a law :; and
Whereas Section Of said act provides that
" when the people of any one Of said States shall
have formed constitution government in confor-
nifty with the constitution of the United States, in all
respects framed by Convention of delegates elected
by the male citizens of said State twentyone years
old and upward Of whatever color, or preyi-
GUS condition. who have been residents of the State
for year previous to the date of said election ex
cept such may be DISTINGUISHED fer participation in
the rebellion, or for felony at common law" And
whereas, section Of said act further provides "and
in all elections to any Office under such provisional
governments all persons shall be entitled and none
Others who entitled to vote under the provisions
of the 9TH section Of this act and person shall be
eligible to any Office under such provisional govern
ments who would be disqualified from holding Office
under the provisions of the Sd section Of the cons
tutiona amendment, which reads as follows: " No
person shall be Senator Or Representative in Con
gsess, Hector Of President and Vice President or
hold any Office, civil military under the United
States, or under any State who, having previously ia
ken oath member Of Congress- or as a member
Of any State Legislature, or an executive or judicial
officer Of any State to support the Constitution of the
United States, stall hsve engaged il Instruction or
rebellion against the salc, given aid or comfort to
the enemies thereof; but Congress may, by vote
Of two-tiiiFds Of each house, such disability"
Now, therefore, l. j. Madison Wells, Governor of
the State OF louisiana do hereby declare the said act
to be in force in the said State aud all elections held
from and after this date, either by State municipal or
parochial authority, except in strict conformity to
section Of said act Of Congress, to be void and Of
no effect, and all persons elected to Office must be
aoIe to qualify under said law before they will be al
owed to enter OF the duties Of the same.
(Signed) ]. MADISON WELLS.
Governor Of the State of Louisiana
1t being the generally conceded opinion of the city
md State authorities that Governor Wells had nothing
0 do with the matter, Mayor Monroe, Lieut. Governor
Toorhies, Speaker Cage, and Mr. Sparks waited upon
'encra Sheridan On the Saturday previous to the day
pponed for the election and aid the matter before
i'm. Al that time the General refused to act in the
natter, but suggested that the Legislature was in
ession they petition it to postpone tie election The
elegation acted on the Generals suggestion, and Pc
tioned the Legislature to that effect. The House
assed the bill unanimously, bat the Senate refused to
oncu". Thus matters rested until Sunday, when
General Sheridan issued the following order forbidding
he election for the present:
HEADcUARTERs DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
New Orleans, March 9, 1857. (
teBeral Orders No l3l Il
No Commander having yet been appointed for the
Hillary District of Louisiana and Texas, created BY
he recentlaw of Congress, entitled can act to pro-
idle for the more efficient government of the rebel
tates," and Brevet Major General Mower, command
ng in this city, and the Mayor and Chief of Police
f the city Of New Orleans having all expressed to
ne personally their fears that the public peace may
disturbed by the election for some Of the city Off
ers, ordered by an act of the Legislature of Louis
ana to take place on Monday the 1th inst and that
,ody, at special session having refused to postpone
aid election, thereby rendering it necessary that
measures for the preservation of the peace should be
aiken, hereby assume the authority conferred upon
he district commanders, provided for in the act of
congress above cited far it is necessary to de-
lare that such election shall take place IT is |
therefore,, ordered that for the preservation of the
ublic peace polls shall be opened on that
ay and that the election shall be postponed until the
stTlct commander, under the law, is appointed or
peeial instructions are received covering the case
T. H. SHERIDAN
Major General Commanding.
The Picayune, in long and able argument, con-
,nds that the Military Bill has nothing to do with
barter elections and that ts military interference is
1tirely unenllcdfor. The Picayune winds up as fol-
Rs:
We therefore continue to hold that the election for
onday might be held, and could be, undsturbed BY
~ popular commotion, and ought to be undisturbed
: the military authority First, because the act is
ot yet promulgated or known officially or put into
'eration by the Government, according to its terms
eondly, because when in full operation, It will not
its terms, or in its obvious Intentions extend itself
this respect to municipal elections; and thirdly.
at i both points were waived and the law were
in force and conceded to govern our charter elec-
ms, the conditions of the municipal law would make
lnarplieable to the elections this spring
These are ali sound reasons but they unavanr.
e put them on record, however, that it may be TN
rstood, that in yielding unreserved submission to
military authority, which is supreme above u.s. we
not altogether abandon the right to think s
ssoLD."-(s shreveport eating house) Waiter, hand
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