Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-14
New Political Troubles i'm lou
isianas

A new spirit of resistance seems -
have arisen in New Orleans TO the en-
forcament Of the laws engendered by the
principles of the Military Reconstruc'
tlou bill, being carried into effect by the
acting Governor, and the intelligence re-
Gently received indicates that the situa-
lion Is critical and another riot immi-
nent but that the preparations OF Gen.
Sheridan TO meet the emergencies OF the
case will, in all probability, be able to
avert the threatened difficulty. The i'm
mediate cause for the anticipated out
break is a conflict between the munich
nal and State authorlties,-Gov. Wells
claiming authority under the new recon-
struction blll,-providing that the pres
ent State government shall be deemed
Provisional only, under which he has
issued a proclamation declaring himself
to be virtually Military Governor of
Louisiana, and taken the oath prescribed
In the District Court of the United
States, and ordering that the local Off
GERS shall only obey Gen. Sheridan, him
self and the Recorders of the Courts.
On the other hand, Mayor Monroe and
other municipal officers, issue an edict
that no orders should be obeyed except
given by them. The municipal election
was 10 take place on the 18th, and the
Governor enfranchises the freedmen I'M
der the Sherman bin and proclams that
the class disffanchised by its provisions
shall not vote. The old State law en-
acted by a loyal Legislature under the
Banks Constitution, so called, provides
for the registration Of all voters and the
registry to close three days before cleo.
ton, and the Mayor claims it to be still
In force because no official copy OF the
Reconstruction act has been published In
the State, and if it had, the registry
could not be be changed, and claims
that the Governor in his proclamation
has usurped authority that does not
attach to him, in ordering that the freed
men shall have the polls open to them,
thus bringing in conflict the authorities
to obtain the control of the election, and
If either Of the parties are desperate
enough to appeal to force, blood will
freely TOW, and the only prevention Of
this result will be for Gen. Sheridan to
suspend the election, for which it is ru-
mOred that he has received orders from
Washington, and that will probably de-
lay the day of the election uutil a Dis
trict Commander is appointed or SPECIAL
instructions received upon the subject.
The Southern people seem like q
drowning man to catch at straws, hop
ing that they will float them into place
of safety. This course Of action is to
be regretted, for it is quite sure that
steady persistence in it on the part OF
the South will but lead them deeper in
social land political humiliation. The
adoption of the Constitutional amend
ment was offered them as an olive branch
for restoration, which was rejected, and
Congress offered 1t again requiring the
addition Of universal negro suffrage and
imposing military rule which, from the
present anticipated action Of the author
tiles, it would appear they are also pre-
pared to reject, hoping to extricate them
selve by some other method.
Whatever the right may be, they have
discovered that the power Of this gov
eminent rests with Congress and they
cannot suppose Congress will remain
idle, and having taken position it will
not be very probable that they will re-
tract, but rather impose barsber and
more humiliating and Tepugnant Condi-
lions. Their condition requires an early
return and participation in the govern
ment that the industry, manufactures
and agriculture of the South may be de.
veloped. Their fate is thus again placed
in their own bands, and what their de-
clsiOn will be remains yet TO be deVel-
oped, but it is to be hoped they will give
up all expectation Of gaining anything
by resistance to the will Of the govern
mept