The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-17
Address Of the Board Of Registration to the

Address Of the Board of Registration to the
People OF LOUISIANA.
We find the following address issued by the black
and tan convention Board of Registration in the New
Orleans Republican, of the 9Th:
Fsllo,o Citizens: The conflict Of jurisdiction and
prerocatIve that has arisen between the Commanding
General of tile fifth military district aud this Board,
and the hig-handed measures he has seen tit to pur-
sue toward the chairman of the Board, render 1t i'm
nrrsye on US to submit fair and full statement OF
the facts at issue between to the people OF Louis
lana.
The late constitutional Convention Was as much the
creature of Congress is the office OF military com
mander of the district Both derive their origin and
power from the original source are independe
Of each other yet intended by Congress to act in uni
son in carving the will of the creator as legitl.
atey expressed i'll the reconstruction laws OF that body
The prerogatves and duties of each department thus
created are specifically defined by that creating power
Section four OF supplementary act passed March 20
1861 saws: AID said Convention, when organised,
shall proceed to frame constitution and crit gouer'a'
ment according 10 the provisions oil this set and the
act to which it is supplementary The fact OF assign
ing the convention the duty aud nrerogave OF tram
ing civil government demonstrates that Congress dd
not intend assign this duty to the Commanding den
eral: that the government that they 10 inangu
rate should supesede the provisional one already recog
Missed and if so, then they had the right to iagnrafe
| the government a2hsn they pleased (which could
only he stated in their organic iH"s and the term Of
Inauguration is not the will or caprice OF the
Commanding General The attempt therefore of the
Commanding General to intefere IN this matter Is all
unwarra table stretch of prerogave and an invasion
of the rights of the people in convention assembled
II being conceded principle of law that the princi
pal can delegate all his rights to his agent it follows
that the Convention had the right to delegate TO this
Board all its prerogatives inhe PREMISES. This Board
bof,r H.. in IF tl,e
law the legal agent and representative of the Con.
venon that created it, and fully empowered to do all
that the Convention could have done in the premises
aud any attempt the part of any one TO interfere
with its prerogatives and duties is direct interference
with the prerogativea and duties of the Convention and
with the expressed will of Congress
The whole duty of framing the civil government be-
ing vested exclusively in the Convention aud s agents
the Commanding General therefore has nc legal all
thority right either to promugate the election OF
civil officers (Congrtssmen excepted Or to say where
or how they shpll be inaugural, His only pFeroga
tive in connection with the whole matter is to pronu
gate the raIfica ton of the constitution and members
of Congress (Which last duty only assigned him by
the last Congressional billy and take charge ct the
election.
The evident intention eff Congress was that the Com
mandNg General while taking charge of the the insur
recionarv States during their provisional condition,
should assist the Convention h3 taking the intlatory
steps toward its organisation, aud then aiding-not
hindering-it in faihng its assigned dutirs
We therefore hold and Charge that the Commanding
Genern in his ae special orders relative to election,
has transcribed his prerogatiVes
l.. In promugaling the election of State, parish,
and municipal officers.
g In naming time for the said officers to quality
and take possession of their offices different from that
required in the constitution of Louisiana.
3. In assuming the power to convene the ueaeFa'
Assembly at his aciH
D. In assuming the power OF appointing persons to
fiji all such offices in where the persons declared
elected cannot qualify in accordance with the laws OF
Congress- thereby ignoring the voice OF the people, 1t
being the undoubted right of the person having :"e
highest number OF votes aoho can Qudvy 10 All SAID
Offices.
s. In sending the returns of election to the present
Secretary of State he thereby ignores the only cons-
tutona State officers the acting Secretary being an
entirely Irresponsible party in this matter and by re-
fusing to send the returns TO this Board, WAS his
duty when tis Board legally demanded the same, he
unlawliy refused to do his duty in the premises and
prevented this Board from carrying cut Tie will OF
Congress.
6. Thus nanifesting determination to ignore the
will of the people of Louisiana expressed Mt the
ballot box and desire ii not settled PURPOSE to i'm
pede reconstruction by th#arng the expressed will OF
Congress.
While therefore, we exceedingly regret the collision
that has arisen between the respective agents OF re-
construction, and earnestly hope and are persuaded
that cool and candid reflection viii induce the Com
manding General to the steps he has hastily
taken, cannot in view Of the responsibilities i'm
posed upon US, pause for a moment TO consider per
sonal safety unpleasant consequences. The course
before is OF duty, plainly marked ont bT law,
and shall unhestatingy follow it, leaving to the PEG
pie aud Congress to Justify Us in orr determinations
We, therefore, notify all municipal officers d eiartd
elected by the people Of Louisiana under the
stitution in special orders No 1873 from military head
quarters, dated June 4 1863 That article 1913 OF the
constitution u I1t7sisian. urea them on ty and
enter upon their offices Oh Monday, June IS, 1865,
and that any orders from any directing
rary to this article Illegal not binding, and the
parties attempting to take office will lay themselves
liable to action at law by the parties they may thu
unlawfny eject, we'll lisk certainty of removal
from Office for failure to legally qnalify and enter upon
the discharge of their duties AS r. CURED by law.
G. wIcKLlFFE, Chairman pro TEN
n UNDERWOOD,
H. HAMPSTEAD,
]. s. HARRIS,
J. H. INGRAHAM.