New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-11
General Buohanan's Revolution.
MAYOR HEATH AND MR.. CONWAY.
ARBITRARY ELECTION Of MAYOR HEATH.
A p1unioipal installation,

n pIunicipaI installation.
Yesterday at twelve O'Clock being the
time designated by General Buchanan for
the newly elected municipal officers to be
installed in their respective positions, Mr..
J. r. Conway presented himself at the office
of Mayor Heath, accompanied by Mr.. J. W.
Overall, late Secretary of Mayor Monroe.
He handed to Mayor Heath printed copy
of General Buchanan's order declaring the
names of municipal officers elected, saying:
"Sir, hold in my hand the official order
of the Commander of the Fifth Military
District announcing my election as chief
magistrate of the city of New 0rleans.7
Mr.. Heath replied:
' know of no law authorizing the cleo
ton in question, and do not acknowledge
the authority of General Buchanan to issue
said order, or at least repeat that know
of no law authorizing the election
Mr.. Conway replied:
"I have called in obedience to the order
to assume the duties of the Office, and if you
do not acknowledge its authority, / shall
therefore be under the necessity Of report
ing the same to the Commanding General"
Mr.. Heath replied:
81 decline to give up the Office
Mr.. Conway aud Mr.. Overall then pro-
ceeded to the headquarters OF the fifth mil.
itary district, an hour after which time an
orderly arrived with . communication from
General Buchanan, addressed to Mayor
Heath, reading as follows:
S1E-The brevet major General command.
ing directs me to inform you that he desires
to sec you ist these headquarters at your
earliest convenience.
This was signed by John L. Johnson, act
ing assistant secretary of civil affairs.
To this Mayor Heath made the following
reply:
Brovet MAJOR General r G Buchanan, Command
ing 'iftp Miltary District;
1 have the honor 10 acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your note inviting an interview.
la reply will state that am now at this
moment officially engaged. but will call on
you at the earliest opportunity compatible
with my official duties.
Very respectfully,
Your cbcdient servant,
E. HEATH, Mayor.
Considerable time elapsed, when some
persons standing in front Of the Office of the
chief of police saw an army officer walking
down St. Charles street accompanied by or
accompanying J r. Conway andJ. w. Over
all. They turned down Girod street, and
thence came down Carondelet and along
Lafayette, entering the side door Of the City
Hall. In what seemed to be ten minutes
after they were seen to turn into Girod
street the trio entered the mayors office,
Captain De Russey, of the First United
States infantry, presenting to Mayor Heath
an order reading like this;
CAPTAIN De RussET You are hereby di
reCted to proceed to the Mayors office with
J. r. Conway and inGuct him into office.
To this Mayor Heath replied verbally:
was duly appointed bv military author
itv, and my appointment was confirmed by
Congress | know of no election by which
Mr. Conway was elected Mayer, and | dc
not recognize any authority in General
Buchanan to direct that Nr. Conway shall
enter upon the duties of that office.
Captain De Russey then suggested as the
crowd around the Mayor was quite large he
should like to ia k with him more privately
The spectators fell back, and then when
Captain De Russey suggested that he
should Ike to have him 60 out quietly, and
did rot want any publicity given to the
proceedings Mayor Heath replied that he
should lot vacate the Office voluntarily, anG
should not vacate at all unless he was com
PEELED to by superior force.
Captain De Russey then said that hC
should be compelled to use force.
Mayor Heath replied that he could take
any course he saw 1T.
Captain De Russey -eioirsd, 81 must ar
rest YOU then" This he did by putting his
hand on the Mayors shoulder.
Captain De Russey Immediately went off
leaving in the Mayors Office Mr.. Conway
and Mr.. Overall among the other spectators
and in about half an hour, some two
minutes before the Mayors clock denoted
that the hour of three had arrived, return
ed witch Mr. Smith lizard, one Of the aids 0
tho chief of police and some half dozen po
Iicemen, whom it is presumed the com
manding general instructed the chief T.
furnish.
Captain De Russey demanded that Mayo
Heath should turn over the keys of tn
Office to him. This he declined to do unles
he gave him written order to that effect
Captain De Russey said lie would give hin
a written order if he would go over to tn
Office of the Chief of police with him. H
did So and Mayor Heath row has the orde
in his possession. They returned to tn
Mayors Office in few minutes, when CaI
tain De Russey took the keys that wer
hanging up, Mr.. Conway IN the meantim
having seated himself il the Mayors chail