New-York tribune., 1868-06-11
L0U&IAkA

The political complications II Louisiana are
affording the clearest evidence we have seen
for many O day that the only obstacle to a
speedy reconstruction of the Union is the
policy of President johnson. In accordance
with the terms of the Reconstruction bills, a
new Constitution for LOuisians was framed by
| the Convention which met last December, and
| under its provisions an election for State,
county, and municipal officers was held on the
| 18th and 18th of April last This election was
managed entirely by Gen. Buchanan, and it is
! charged that Rebels, by his orders, were treated
with gross partiality, and that every effort was
| made by the military authorities to defeat the
| Radical ticket. The UniOr men, however, con-
scious of their strong majority, submitted
quietly to this injustice; they even contented
themselves with sober rem)nstrance when Gen.
Buchanan kept the ballots for sir weeks after the
election before announcing the result, In order,
as everybody felt assured, that the count
might be 80 arranged as to give the City OF
New-Orleans at any rate to the Democrats.
That proved to be the result when the labori-
GUS addition was completed; but the Republi-
can majority in the State at large was too
handsome to be overcome. The Union party
secured the Governor and other chief officers
and the Legislature. According to the new
constitution, the civil officers were to be inau-
gurated on the second Morday after the official
publication of the result of the election (Which
will be the 18th of June), and the General AS
sembly to meet on the third Monday. If this
should be done the Assembly would undoubt-
edly ratify the XIVth amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, the new consti-
tuition of Louisiana would be approved by
Congress, her Senators and Representatives
would be admitted to the Capitol, and the Re
publican policy of reconstruction would be
completely yindicated. But this Mr.. johnson and
his agents resolved should not happen. Relying,
as we suppose, upon that somewhat indefinite
power of interference which the acts Of Con-
gress have necessarily left with the military
commanders, Gen. Buchanan forbids the as
sembling of the Legislature and the Inaugural
ton of the civil officers at the times specified,
and determines to keep Louisiana out of the
Union at all hazards until after the Presden-
tial election. The civil officers, he announces,
shall not take possession until November and
the General Assembly shall not meet until the
Constitution has been accepted by Congress
This, of course, puts off readmission until No
vember and perhaps later The ratification OF
the XIVth amendment is made by the act of
March 2. 1857, an indispensable condition of
reconstruction, and it cannot he ratified until
the General Assembly meets and the new Gov
ernor has been inausurated, whose assent is
required to give validity to its acts. The pur-
pose of keeping him out Of Office until Novem-
Der we think is plain enough. Tell us, now,
who prevents reconstruction, the Republican
party or the President
To test Gen. Buchanan's power to set aside
the State Constitution in this arbitrary and in
excusable manner would probably involve
vexatiOus delay, and we are glad to see that
Congress purposes reaching this Louisiana case
by the shorter road of amendments to the
Reconstruction bill, specifying when all duly
qualified officers-elect in the several States
shall be inaugurated We trust the matter
will receive immediate attention, and we hope
too that Congress will find some appropriate
means of expressing its sense of Gen. Buchan-
ans conduct
A dispatch received at a late hour informs
us that the Republican Mayor of New-Orleans
was yesterday summarily removed from the
City Hall by order of Gen. Buchanan, and
that the Mayor recently elected took imme
diate possession of the Office and assumed its
duties, in obedience to the same order.