New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-10
PROCLAMATION


Board, passed February Is, 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 Congress) and Constitution (of
Louisiana), and in case OF the non.action Of
any officer of the State or District Con.-
p1ander, 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;" and
| Whereas, The District Commander of the
Fifth Military District in his Special Order
No. III, promulgating the election of civil
officers in Louisiana, dated June 2, 1865,
| has failed to recognize the requirements of
said Constitution, which provides
First, That "all civil officers thus elected
shall enter upon the discharge Of their duties
on The second Monday after the return Of
their election shGl haze been officially pro-
INDICATED, 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 in November following the cleo.
ton. (See article l5s of Constitution.)
?. "The General Assembly elected under
this Constitution shall hold its first session
in the city of New Orleans on the third Non,
day after the official pror1ulgation aforesaid,
and proceed, Immediately upon its organi-
cation, to vote upon the adoption of the
| qn,7rEaarAh 4 % hn
of the United States, proposed by Congress,
and passed June 10, 1865, etc. (see article
| 159 Of constitutional
He, the said District Commander, having
| refused to recognize the requirements of the
Constitution, as above shown, in his said
order, in the following language: 1.-THE
General Assembly win NOT convene until
the Commanding General shall have been
officially notified of the acceptance by Con-
gress OF the new State Constitution. Imme-
diately after receipt of this information a
day will be appointed for the meeting of the
General Assembly to take action upon the
amendment to the Constitution OF the United
States, known as article fourteen, and to de-
tsne By laD the poloers and duties pertaining
to the Offices ne1Oly created by this Constit,s-
ton"
+" Article 1853 of the new Constitution of
the State provides that the terms Of all civil
officers elected under it shall date mot be,
gin) from the first Monday in November fol-
lowing the election. Therefore the officers
whose election is herein announced will
only enter upon and hold their offices from
that date;n and
Whereas, The failure TO inaugurate the
State officers elected under the new Con
stitutiOn at the time appointed by the Con
stitution would necessarily prevent the
General Assembly, legal existence, as well
IS action upon the fourteenth proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States 1.-THE present acting Governor
being constitutionally unable to approve
any act of said General Assembly, and with
out the approval of the Governor it being
! impossible for any legislative enactment to
become law), and thus effectually prevent
Reconstruction in accordance with the laws
of Congress, which provide that the
Legislature elected under the Constitution
shall have adopted the amendment to the
4 Constitution OF the United States proposed
By the Thirty-ninth Congress. and known
as article fourteen (see section 3, law
passed March 2, 1861 prior to admission
into the Union, the adoption Of said Con-
stitutional amendment by the Legislature
of Louisiana being thus rendered utterly
| impossible; and
Whereas, The Commanding General is no.
above the laws of Congress, nor is he above
the Convention that framed the Constitu-
ton under which these officers are to be
inaDgurated, both being the creatures Of
Congressional viii, Independent of each
other, yet both subject to the paramount
authority of the Congress Of the United
| States; and
Whereas, The Reconstruction Laws fully
empowered the Constitutional Convention
to govern all matters Of detail in regard to
the inauguration of the new government
authorized by Congress; and
Whereas, Said Constitutional Convention
has delegated its full powers in the premises
to this Board, which is the legal represent.
alive Of said Convention; Now, therefore,
/ ], s. B. Packard, Chairman Of the Board
i u EbE3l9tIatioA AAoAD9eAdf Al oblNACnUO W
the duty imposed BY said Constitutional
Convention upon, and by virtue of the
authority thus vested in this Board, do
hereby notify all civil officers elected under
said Constitution that said Consultation re.
ouires that they qualify and take possession
Of their respective offices on Monday, June
Is, 1858, in accordance with Article 1853 Of
Constitution.
also notify the members Of the General
Assembly Of Louisiana, elected under said
Constitution, that By Art. l69 Of said Con-
stitutioh they are required 70 convene In
the city of New Orleans on Monday, June
%, 1868. at - NJ and ! further notify all
civil officers now 10 Office that BY the new
Constitution their terms of Office will ex-
/ pire at ~ NJ. on Monday, June 10 l5G3, st
which time they will deliver up said Offices,
with all appurtenances thereto, 70 their
successors declared duly elected By the
Special Order No. III Of the Military Com
msnder Of the Fifth Military District, issued
June q 1868; PROVIDED That IN All cases
where the officers elect do not qualify &C
cordlng 70 the laws Of Congress and Of this
state, present iheumbenta will bold over
uatil such officer aAall qualify, or anccessor
shall have been appointed, or an olhcor
declared elected WHO q able 30 qualify.
Ohairnan Beard Of RegistratleR.