New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-04
THE ELBcTIoN ORDER.

ton and reconsideration, of determination
and vacillation, he entirely ignores the mu-
nicipal elections, and in a way quite mill
tary declares certain persons elected with
ont announcing the number of vetes east
for them or for their competitors. Indeed,
the amiable general seems to be labering
under the slightly erroneous impression
that he is making a large number of ap-
pointments by virtue OF the authority in
| him vested" He has certainly declared
several persons to be duly elected to the
Offices herein specified " who, according to
the sworn official returns of the commits
sioners made to the supervisors, received less
votes than their Republican competitors.
At least one mistake of this kind, lchere the
loronged party Glanced to haze a copy of the
returns in his possession, has been or is to be
corrected by the military authorities, and
probably many others will hereafter be in
Vestigated and corrected by the proper
civil tribunals. OF this branch the subject
we shall have more to say hereafter, and be-
fsre it is finished Major General Buchanan
will probably learn that the laws of Con-
gress, and the constitution adopted and
the officers elected in accordance Herewith,
are not provisional so far as he is con-
cerned, or subject to his "orders," revis-
ions, or amendments, He will be likely
to learn that the same laws under which
he is commander of this Fifth Military
District have decreed that the new constitu-
ton is the fundamental law of the State.
subject only and provisional" only to the
Congress of the United States. The gen.
eral partially recognizes this fact by quot
ing part, and only part, of article 1853.
so far as it accords with his owl desires or
interests, or the advice and interests of his
Copperhead friends. But the order refer
ing to the General Assembly is peculiarly
indicative of the generals way Of doing
it." 1t reads;
The General Assembly will NOT convene
until the Commanding General shall have
been officially notified of the acceptance by
Congress of the new State Constitution,
ton 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 XIV,
and to define by law the powers and duties
pertaining to the offices newly created by
this constitution.
Does Major General Buchanan intend
that Acting Governor Joshua Baker shall
approve or veto the act adopting the four
teenth Constitutional amendment? And if
the said Acting Governor should veto the
act has it ever occurred to the General
Commanding that there is not in the Leg
islature two-thirds Republican majority
to pass it over the veto
If this has never occurred to the General
it probably has occurred to Mr.. J. @. A.
Fellows and his other rebel Democratic
and Copperhead advisers. Indeed, the
many absurdities in this long-looked for
order justify the impression that it has
been manipulated by those SO strongly
opposed to Congressional reconstruction
that they seek to make even military orders
ridiculous. According to the "Civil Law"
of Louisiana and every other State the
sficiai action Of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, and Secretary of State are nee
esRary to make valid an act Of the Legisla-
ture-the Governor to sign or veto the act,
the Lieutenant Governor to preside over
the Senate, and the Secretary of State to
record the act and attach to it the seal of
State. General Buchanan cOolly says:
Article 1853 of the new constitution of the
| State provides that the terms Of Office of all
| civil officers elected under it shall date from
| the first Monday in November following the
| election. Therefore the officers whose cleo
| ton is herein announced will only enter
upon and hold their Offices from that date.
A vacancy occurring in any Office in the
meantime will be filed preferably by the
| person who has been elected toit.
It is evidently the intention Of the gen.
eral and his advisers TO retain the present
State, paroehial, and judicial officers in
their positions until November, if it is pos
sible for them to do so, and this will neces-
state that if the Legislature assemblies in
the meantime Lieutenant Governor Albert
Yeorhies, Of July massacre antecedents,
shall again preside over the Senate Of the
State unless the general in his profound
wisdom and autOeratc power shall con-
clude that the Senate shall dispense with
its proper presiding officer, and that
legislative acts are valid without the action
Of the Governor or Secretary Of State.
This wholly unnecessary, unjust, and IL
legal retention in office Of the old rebel
officials Of the State is plainly in contra
yentiOn Of the new constitution and the
reconstruction laws. The general has
quoted as above about one line Of article
les. This is all Of 1t,
ARR. 1853. An civil officers thus elected
, shall enter upon the discharge Of their
duties on the second Monday after the re-
turn Of their election shall have been
officially promulgated, or as soon as qualified
according % law, and shall continue Il
office for the terms Of their respective office.
herein prescribed, said terms 20 date fron
the first Monday In November following TIL
election.
Is the commander Of the Fifth Mllitar,
District disingenuous and insincsre in ap
parsntly recognizing part Of this articl
and wholly diaregarding the remainder
However this may be, he has plainly ignores
one 81 the plainest provisions Of The neI
Constitution in : matter which 4 sbonl
contel