New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-11
PROCLAMATION


New Orleans, June s 1853.
WHEREAS, BY The ordinance of the late
Constitutional Convention creating this
Board, passed February 10, 1868, this Board
is empowered, and it is by said ordinance
made the duty Of this Board to take control
of "all matters Of execution or of detail not
fully provided for in said reconstruction
acts (of Congras) and Constitution (of
louisiana, and in case OF the non.aetion of
any officer of the State or District COM
nlander, or any omission in carrying out
said law, regulations, or ordinances, or de-
tails necessary TO carry into effect the pur-
poses of said act according to their letter
and spirit;r and
Whereas, The District Commander OF the
Fifth Military District in his Special Order
No. l2l, promulating the election of civil
officers in Louisiana, dated June 2, 1865,
has failed to recognize the requirements Of
said Constitution, which provides
First, That AL civil officers thus elected
shall enter upon the discharge of their duties
on the second Monday after he return Of
their election sBag hare been officially pro-
mulgated, or as soon as qualified according
to law, and shall continue in office for the
terms Of their respective offices herein pre-
scribed, said terms to date from the first
Monday il November following the cleo
ton. (seeartiCle 1853 of CoDstitntion.)
2. 1.-THE General Assembly elected under
this Consultation shall hold its first session
in the city Of New Orleans on The third Non.
dag after t'g Official pron,ulgation aforesaid,
and proceed, Immediately upon its organi.
zatioa, &c -eta apcn the adoption of the
fourteenth amendment to the Constitution
of the Uniiad States, proposed by Congress,
and passed June IS, 1868, etc. (See article
$50 OF Consitution.)
He, the sid District Commander, having
refused to recognize the requirements Of the
Constitution as above shown, in his sa.u
order, in DE following language: The
General Assembly will NOT convene until
the Commanding General shall have been
officially ndifed Of the acceptance by Con-
gress OF thsnew state Constitution. Imme-
diately afte receipt of this information
day will be appointed for the meeting Of the
General Assembly to take action upon the
amendmentto the Constitution OF the United
States, knosn as article fourteen, and to de-
fine By lao ae p0,0ers and duties pertaining
TO he office nsply created By his constil1-
tion.n
Article Bs Of the new Constitution Of
the State prsvides that the terms Of all civil
officers ele4ed under it shall date mot be
gin) from tIb first Monday in November fol-
lowing the aeetion. Therefore the officers
whose election Ia herein announced win
only enter lPon and hold their offices from
that date;n ind
Whereas, The failure to inaugurate the
State Offices elected under the new Con,
stitution at he time appointed BY the Con
stitution wtuld necessarily prevent the
General AssImbly's legal existence, as well
as action ipoa the fourteenth proposed
amendment to the Constitution Of the
United State tthe present acting Governor
being consttuhonslly unable to approve
any act of sid General Assembly, and with,
out the approval Of the Governor it being
impossible 1r any legislative enactment to
become q lak), and thus effectuRlly prevent
Reconstruction IN accofdanee with the laws
Of Congress which provide that the
Legislature elected under the Constitution
shall have hdopied the amendmens to the
Constitutio1oi the United States proposed
by the ThiAy-ninth Congress. and known
IS article lourteenp lses section s, law
passed harsh 2, 1871 prior to admission
int0 The Unpn, he adoption Of said Con
slitutional amendments BY the Legislature
Of I.OuIsIant Being thus rendered utterly
impossible; and
where's, The Commanding General Is not
Shove the laws Of Congress. nor Is be above
the Convention that named the conatitu-
ton under which these officers are TO be
inauguratsd, beth being the creatures Of
Congressional WIN, independent Of each
other, Jet both subject 70 the paramount
anthority Of the Congress Of The Omitted
Sisfess and