New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-01
REINSTATEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL
MEN

MIN
The removal by General Hancock, on the
7th of February, of nine members oil the
city council tor proceeding to hold an
election for recorder Of the second district
in New Orleans, "in contempt of orders
from the fifth military district headquarters
inspired the disloyal element of this city
with new hopes, and saddened, to a CORE
spending degree the hearts OF loyal citizens
The action of the members Of the city
council who proceeded to hold that election
was in no respect in contempt OF orders
from General HancOck's headquarters, be-
cause no orders were promulgated prohib-
iti,p them from holding an election.
A communication was addressed by Cap
tain Chandler, assistant secretary Of civil
affairs, to Mayor Heath, abiding to reso-
linton of the board efassistaRt aldermen pro
yiding for Joint session of the council to fill
vacancy in the rec ordership, and inviting
attention especially to certain order OF
General Sheridan relating to elections by
the people for state, parish, municipal, and
judicial offices. That communication was
transmitted by the mayor to the board OF
assistant aldermen. 1t was a vague, in
definite, obscure document, prepared, as
General Hancock has since informed Cen
eral Grant, during his absence from Louisi-
ana. and while he was in Texas. The com
munication did not prohibit the city COM
ell from electing a recorder. 1t did not
even intimate that the commanding gem
eral proposed TO Gil the vacancy which
then clearly existed. Had that been the
tenor of Captain Chandler's communication
to the mayor, nothing is risked by the
declaration that the council would not
have proceeded to such an election.
The city charter, which was created by
the legislature of the state, provides for
the precise emergency that occurred
The recordership was vacant, declared SO
by the highest judicial tribunal in the
state, because the incumbent was not eligi-
BILE at the time of his election. 1t was the
duty Of the city council to fill the vacancy,
and each member had sworn to perform his
duty. Here is the fifteenth article Of the
city charter, covering that point;
SEC. Is. Be it further enacted, etc, That
whenever vacancy shall occur by death
or otherwise in the Office Of mayor or
recorder, it shall be the duty Of the boards
of aldermen and assistant aldermen, in
Joint meeting, to elect viva voee person
qualified to serve in the office so vacated,
etc.
This enactment is plain, and it is equally
clear that there was a necessity for filling
the vacancy in the recordership without
delay. These facts the rebel press of this
city, which seems determined to sus-
tain General Hancock, right or wrong,
have steadily and persistently ignored. Not
one of them has produced or referred to the
section of the city charter comforting upon
the city council authority to elect re-
corder under the circumstances, but they
have each and all declared that vacancy
of this nature could only be filled by an
election by the people or by the appoint
ment of the commanding general. 1t is
astonishing that not one of this portion of
the city press has had the frankness to
state the truth about the law.
1t is reasonable and generous to presume
that the attention of General Hancock had
not been directed to this section Of the city
charter, otherwise his declaration that he
should conduct affairs in this military dis
trictin accordance with the civil law, would
certainly have prompted him not to inter-
fers with the action of the council in the
matter of the recordersbip. His action was
clearly inconsistent with his declaration.
The offending members of the city council,
there being no military order prohibiting
them from doing so, were justified in pre-
oeeding to hold the election referred to-
They were among the most useful and in
telligent members of the board. The
Hseven colored members" referred to by
the commanding general are men Of intelli-
gence, probity, wealth, and refinement.
They are fully the equals in every respect
Of the gentlemen whom General Hancock
appointed TO succeed them.
Upon their removal, the eieasnt Of dis
loyalty arose from its lethargy, and men
who had kept away from the meeting, of
the city council during ito undoubtedly
legal control crowded the lobby at the
very first meeting and commenced their ar
rangements for regaining possession of
minor offices. This class Of men thought
they saw in this movement Of General
Hancock harbinger OF success against all
Union men in the city administration, and
they were jubilant thereat.
The reinstatement by General Grant Of
the removed members Of the common
council has been 10 these men a grievous
disappointment. They see the handwriting
on the wall and the shadow of coming
events. They begin to suspect that men
may no longer be prescribed in this city
and state because Of their loyalty or the
color Of their skin, aud the rebel press
goes mad with rage and casts its vulgar
abuse at General Grant, the restored mem.
bsrs OF the council, and 1'mendieaHt 10y
alistsv generally.
But the loyal men Of Louisiana also see
the handwriting on the wall and The shadow
Of costing events, and will eententedly and
quietly wait for tho full sunlight ef the
=