New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-19
A MILITARY MISTAKE,

A MILITARY MIsTARE.
The boards of registrars, appointed in
part by General Hancock and in part by
General Buchanan, were selected mainly
from among those whose policy from first
to. last has been to "impede reconstruc-
ton" These registrars appointed COM
missioners of election, generally selecting
the most INSCRIPTIONS members of the
INSTRUMENTATION Nothing Taliaferro
party, many Of whom can not take the test
oath without committing perjury. Among
them, it is stated, are notorious bal
lot box suffers, thugs, and desperadoes who
have been the terror of good citizens, and
who have the reputation of hesitating at no
acts of injustice that would deprive Union
men of their votes
These commissioners of election took
registration certificates from scores of Re-
publicans, who were clearly and undoubt-
eddy entitled to vote, for the purpose of
examining them as the voters presented
themselves at the polls for the purpose
OF depositing their ballots, and refused in
numerous instances to give the certificates
back to the parties entitled to them, and
in almost as many instances ordered their
incarceration in prison without law or the
shadow of law. Indeed, the Imprisonment
of these men, guilty of no offense but that
of hoipnr Dan,,hISaan
strous and hideous crime. In several in
stances these rebel election commissioners
were detected in substituting for the Re-
publican ballots for the constitution placed
in their hands to be deposited in the poll
boxes the rebel Democratic ballots against
the constitution.
The public have not been advised of the
names Of these INSCRIPTIONS rebel COM
missiOners, for the names of the commits
sioners of election were not published as
has always heretofore been the custom.
Nevertheless, three commissioners, Charles
BonneYel, of the fifth ward, Charles Cave
roc, of the fourth ward, and ]. H. Burnes,
Of the second ward, and, we believe, two
others, whose names we have not obtained,
were arrested on affidavit made before
United States Commissioner Shannon,
charging them with the offences which we
have minated, and committed for examin-
alton on those charges. After the arrests
were made, copy of the following com
munication was received by Judge Shan
non:
HEADQUARTsRs FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT,
Office Secretary for OWL Affairs
New Orleans La, April Is, 1868. }
G. W. Avery, ESQ, Sheriff Parish Of Orleans;
SIR-It having been reported to the brevet
major general commanding that certain of
the commissioners of election have been
arrested and confined upon warrants issued
by United States Commissioner Shannon,
thereby causing great interruption of the
election now in progress he orders that
until the election is closed you cause all
such commissioners of election to be releas-
ed, and that no further arrest of such per
sons be made upon such warrants at this
time, being in his opinion an attempt to
impede reconstruction under the acts of
Congress.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
B. 3. KELLER,
Brevet Major U. s. Army,
Assistant Secretary Civil Affairs.
Official copy furnished United States Com
missioner Shannon for his guidance and
information. B. B. KELLER,
Brevet Major U. S. Army,
Assistant Secretary Civil Affairs.
The loyal men of New Orleans will not
!amely allew this interference with law and
justice, and this shielding of criminals from
merited punishment, for the order of Gen
eral Buchanan has the appearance of just
flying the crimes charged against the COM
missioners who were arrested.
Turning these criminals out of prison,
and allowing them to direct that Repub-
lican voters should be thrust into prison
for no oftense whatever, has cost the Re
publican ticket hundreds Of votes, and
whatever might have been the purpose of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Affairs, en-
couraged the rebel commissioners of cleo
ton to continue their preparation of the
monstrous frauds they commenced prac-
ticing as soon as the polls were opened on
Friday, but which would have been effect
ually checked had the military authority
not interfered to obstruct the channel Of
justice and civil law. These commission
ers have done all they could to impede re-
construction, and, Intentionally or uninten-
tionally, they were sustained in their acts
by an authority that should have lent its
whole influence to punish frauds and pre-