New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-07
HreH-HAEDBD AND DIseRA0EFUL Pro
OEEDINGs OF MAJOR GENERAL b.
OHANAE.

HIGH-dAHO6U AMI OAo0AetAo- 49, -. -
OEEDIEes OF MAJOR GENERAL b.
OHANAE.
The proclamation Of the Board of Regis
tration ordering the installation Of the State
officers, and the converting of the Legisla-
ture, in accordance with the new constitu-
ton and the spirit and intent of the recon
structon laws, was promulgated yester-
day, and is now published in our columns.
Yesterday morning General Buchanan ar
rested the Hon. S. B. Packard, President of
the Board of Registration, fer the aVowed
reason that the proclamation interferes with
his absurd Election Order" Mr.. Packard
is now under military arrest, and the
general avows his intention to try him "by
military commission"
This proceeding is 50 near the ridiculous
that we can hardly characterize it as it de-
serves. The general does not turn the case
over to the civil courts" he torgets all
about the civil law" he is eblivious Of
his duty to expedite the loyal reconstrue-
ton of Louisiana; he ignores the pompons
civil law supremacy proclamation Of his
predecessor, in whose footsteps he so de-
lights to follow. A military commission
forsooth So the general has discovered
that it is possible to have a military COM
mission In Lila stta.:.5! Wy AJ ai5 ne not
make the discovery before, and try the
muir derers of Meadows and Sinclair, and
other loyal men by this "power in him
vested?" No. The question OF the imme-
diate loyal reconstruction Of Louisiana
so greatly concerns the interests of
Andrew johnson and the rebel and
Copperhead advisers and friends Of Gen
eral Buchanan that be takes measures to
prevent it which are plainly illegal but
which were required by his duty, and
would have been right and proper, to pre-
serve the peace and punish outlaws and
murderers. But the General exceeds his
inst power as much as he mistakes his
uty in this matter. He coolly says: Il
will not allow the installation Of the State
officers until such time as ] designate, and
will not allow the Legislature to meet IN
til I convene it,"
The General can of course use United
States soldiers to keep the State officers
elect from the rooms and archives apper-
tanning to their offices, and with file Of
soldiers he can prevent the Legislature
from assembling in Mechanics In
stitute. All this he can do i superior
authority does not forbid Il, but he can not
prevent the State officers from taking the
oath of office, or the Legislature from as
.mbling unless he arrests them all, and
that he dare not do. On the fifteenth in
slant the State officers will take the oath OF
office, and it will be for higher authority
than Major General buchanan to decide
whether thereafter they are or are not the
officials of Louisiana. The General As
sembly will convene on the wenty-second
instant, and we urge every legislator to be
in this city and ready to discharge his
whole duty.
An absurd attempt is being made at mil
itary headquarters to prevent the assem-
bling Of the Legislature by Withholding
certified copies of the election order We
pronounce this attempt absurd for Of
course each House will Judge the
credentials of its members, and a
printed copy of the order is all that need
be required, and as the general refuses to
issue any more certified copies" we are
happy in being able to supply any required
number of copies of the "oficial order
Indeed, if it becomes necessary, the Board
of Registration can issue certificates Of
election. The arrest of the President will
not at all interfere with the proceedings Of
the Board; even if Major General Bu-
chanan arrests each member, the State Off
GERS will still qualify and the Legislature
convene, and the fourteenth Constitutional
amendment be adopted.
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