New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-11
THESE HEADQUARTERS,

1t is our unpleasant duty to record an
other gross blunder by Brevet Major Gen
eral Buchanan. Yesterday by military
force be installed several of the municipal
officers who claim to be elected in this
city. We have heretofore demonstrated
that the late election was held by virtue of
the reconstruction laws of Congress and
the new constitution of this State, and not
by virtue Of any military authority what
ever. The municipal officers claim their
Offices by virtue of their election, therefore
it is absurd for them to do so otherwise
than as provided in the law under
which they claim to be elected, and that
law plainly designates the fifteenth of this
month as the time when they shall enter
upon the discharge of their official duties
II they go into Office before the fifteenth
it must be as military GppointeeS and By
rirtue Of military po,oer Of General BIZ
ekandn, and in this character, and by the
exercise of the ''pOwer i'll him vested, y sew
eral have been installed into the ofices to
which they claim to have been elected. OF
course this has necessitated the removal OF
the former ineumbents, and to accomplish
this the General has unhesitatingly resorted
to his military power. Yesterday he re-
moved Mayor Heath from his Office in the
City Hall, and installed in the Mayors Office
Mr.. John R. Conway and the regime of
John T. Monroe. Mr.. John W. Overall,
formerly Mr.. Monroe's secretary, and of
July massacre antecedents, has assumed
his legitimate position as secretary of the
new Mayor, and owing to the inexperience
of Mr.. Conway he win be virtually Mayor
as he was during the Monroe administra-
ton.
The City Hall and the street in front of
the City Hall were filed by the same old
crowd of thugs and murderers who gath
cred around Mechanics Institute when
loyal men were being slaughtered within
sight of the United States flag Through
Out This city the re0ei spirit is again riln-
pant and threatening, and the feeling in
the community is ominous Of trouble.
Major General Buchanan has assumed a
very grave responsibility in removing a
loyal Mayor and appointing man OF Mr..
Conway's antecedents and association to
that important position at this critical
moment in the history Of our city and State.
Is the General ignorant of the experience
of Major General Baird?
Major Williamson, the chief of police,
and an ex-United States officer, was imme-
diately removed by the new mayor, and
Mr.. Robert Diamond, a gentleman Of diff
erent antecedents was appointed to hisposi-
don. The chief object sought by the ex-
rebels is to obtain immediate control Of the
police force of this city. There is reason
to hope they viii not succeed.
Now let us consider how the law con
Germs these cases, for even "these head
quarters" sometimes recognizes the exist
ence Of such thing as ''civil law" and
we trust they will remember there is also a
moral law.
The fourth section Of the second recon
structicn act undoubtedly gives to General
Buchanan the legal power to remove any
officer previously afpointed BY military
authority, and to on the vacancy made by
such removal. But how be can reconcile
the appointment Of John r. Conway with
bis duty as United States officer or his
obligations 10 carry ont the inteass Of the
laws Of Congress is more than we can an
demiand. We hope the General win not
forget the responsibilities which are on
him, Or The shoulder-straps he wears.