New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-06
PROCLAMATION OF THE BOARD 4
REeIgTRATIOE.

In another column will be found the
proclamation ordering the installation o.
the State officers on the fifteenth Instant
and converting the Legislature on 'ns
twenty-second instant, according TO the re-
quirements of the new constitution IN
less the State officers are installed anu tiie
Legislature convened at the times desig-
mated and ordered in the proclamation .
very serious question will arise as 70 WAen
these things shall be done, and Oy '0@a
authority they shall be done.
The Board of Registration have
very properly decided the matter
by exercising the authority vested
in them by the constitutional
Convention and issuing their proclamation
on the subject 1t will be observed that
there is marked difference between their
proclamation and the order of Major Gen
eral Buchanan; and as the General has
chosen to go counter to the plain mandates
Of the new constitution, framed and ratified
under the reconstruction laws and the
plain spirit and intent Of those laws, upon
him will rest the responsibility. The Gen
erals order that the newly elected officers
should not be installed until November,
and that the Legislature should not con-
vene until such time as he thinks fit to desig-
nate are calculated to prevent the speedy
reconstruction Of Louisiana /; nay, II
allowed to prevail, they may wholly
preUeat the reconstruction and readmission
of the State on the Congressional plan,
the very plan which General Buchanan is
here to supervise and successfully carry
out. 1t is pialn that General Buchanan
has exceeded or violated his duty in his
Election Order, and it is incumbent on all
who desire loyal reconstruction, and the
peace and prosperity of Louisiana, to be
prompt and active in doing their duty.
The Board of Registration are acting and
purpose acting under and according to the
"civil lawn to which General Buchanan
yields such a cheerful and ready obedience.
If their proclamation is illegal the civil
law will decide the matter The State
officers will assume the duties Of their posi-
tons on the fifteenth instant, and if they
do so illegally the civil law" will so
decide. And if the Legislature which
convenes on the 22d instant is not a Legis-
lature in law and in fact; if its adoption
Of the fourteenth Constitutional amendment
is not a legal act, then again the "oivil
law and the Congress Of the United States
will so decide. But If on the contrary all
these acts are legal and right and proper,
if the body which assemblies on the 22d
instant is in fact and in justice the Legisla-
ture of the State according 10 the law Of
the land, then Major General Buchanan
will hazard the shoulder-straps he wears if
he ventures to interfere with its assem-
bling or it acts. He may trile with his
own duty and illuminate his "orders,"
but he will hazard his position and
his reputation if he ventures to
interfere with the mandates of the con-
stitution, or the intents of the laws of
Congress. No conflict of authority is
sought or wished by the Board Of Registra-
ton. They desire that the law and the
law-making power shall settle the ques-
tons at issue, and it will i'll become Cen
eral Buchanan to stultify himself and his
illustrious predecessor by appealing to any
other tribunal. The Generals especial
province just now is to suppress and
punish the outrages and murders which
are disgracing the State, and to preserve
the peace in Louisiana, and to these earnest
duties we kindly call his attention.