The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-07
THE STATE ELECTION.

The community was yesterday startled by
the publication Of a proclamation signed by
Mr. Packard, chairman of board appointed
by the Mechanics Institute convention, which
proclamation designated the 18th instant as
the day on which the State officers elect shall
assume the duties of their respective Offices,
and called the legislature together, in this
city, on the 22d instant. This action was not
surprising to those who knew the inner work
ings of the Republican party, and who took
into consideration the natural anxiety of the
successful radicals to get control of the State
government; but it was not by any means an
ticipated by the public in general, who never
imagined that any one could be found bold
enough to dispute the authority of the district
commander, or that any radical would rebel
against the power which his party had invoked
to enforce the consummation of its projects.
Only few days ago Gen. Buchanan issued an
order appointing the first Monday in Noyem-
Der for the Inauguration of the new govern
ment, and commanding the legislature not to
assemble until convoked by a military order
issued in conformity with the anticipated
action of Congress- The district commander
assumes that the new Constitution is not
valid until accepted by Congress, and that
the new government is merely provisional,
like the actual government, until the admis-
sion of the State to representation in Con-
gress. In other words, he repudiates the
pretensions of the convention to absolute
sovereignty, and ignores the powers con.
ferred on their delegates to provide for the
contemplated change of government, main
tanning that this function belongs to the mill
tary authority. and that military supremacy
can be terminated, not by the act of the con-
ventiou, or by the vote of the electors, but
alone by the power which created and estab-
lished it. These discrepant views were
sure to lead to conflict if the con.
yentional committee should attempt
to carry their theories into effect. 1t would
be simply impossible for Gen. Buchanan, with
his views of the law, to permit an overt insur-
rection against his authority, on the part of
any political organization whatever; more es-
pecially as his views had been officially pro-
mulgated in form of a military order. The
result was, therefore, precisely WIN might
have been anticipated. Mr.. Packard was
arrested, and will be tried by military COM
mission unless superior authority be inter
posed for his protection. Whether or not the
radicals acted in concert with their party in
Washington, in adopting the course which
has led TO this difficulty, We have no means
of knowing. 1t is quite possible that the
plan may have been arranged in order to lend
some consistency to the pending action of
Congress. But it is scarcely probable that |
the cool and calculating politicians would |
have sanctioned project which was sure TO !
provoke collision with the military authority !
by themselves, and which might |
lead to new and embarrassing complications |
at the very time when they most need to re-
move the obstacles in the way Of their scheme |
of reconstruction. This difficulty, however
the awkward and disjointed |
character of the whole reconstruction project,
and ought to be considered symptomatic of
difficulties which must necessarily arise even
after its formal success.
We presume, of course, that the legisla-
ture will not attempt to meet in defiance of |
General Buchanan's order. unless the mem
bers feel disposed to challenge the authority
of the district commander. In the meantime
there are indications that Congress will now
adopt some new plan for demonstrating
these States back into what they cal the |
Union, with the object of assuring the Re-
publican party of the Southern electoral vote
next November Ose way or another, we
suppose they will have their way as far as it
depends on their own legislation, so that it
makes very little difference whether the legis-
lature meets now OF two months hence.