The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-03-18
THE GHAST.nANCOCR ConREspoN.
DENCE.

THE GHAET-HANCOCR CORRESpOS-
DENCE.
General Grant to-day transmitted
to the House additional correspon-
deace in relation to the removal of
certain members of the city Councils
of New Orleans. 1t appears from
the papers that the members joined in
a memorial, in which, among other
things, they said they were removed
by special order for having proceeded
TO hold an election for register of New
Orleans, in contempt of an order from
the headquarters of General Hancock.
They remark:
"When General Sheridan recon-
structed the City Council, he did an
act of Justice to the newly enfranchised
citizens of Louisiana and of the United
States, by appointing a few repNsen-
tatives of their race as members of the
Common Council. BY removing the
aforesaid members, not a single repre-
sentative of that numerous class of
newly made citizens remain to defend
their rights and interests in the gov
ernment of a city to the prosperity OF
which their labor, capital and industry
so largely contributed"
On the 2lst of February, Major
General Rawlings, Chief Of Stall,
wrote to Major General Hancock, by
order of General Grant acknowledge
ing the receipt of Gen. Hancock's let
ter in response to kilograms from the
General commanding the army dated
the Sth ultimo, in the matter of the re-
moval of certain aldermen and
assistant aldermen of the city of New
Orleans, for contempt of military Or
der. He also acknowledges the receipt
of the memorial of aldermen and as
sistant alderman. Gen. Rawlings
says in conclusion, after setting forth
all the facts in the case:
"On assuming command of the Dis
trict, You announced in General Order
No. 40, dated November 10, 1867,
that it was your purpose to preserve
peace and quiet in your command, and
that as a means to this great end, you
regarded the maintainance of the civ
il authorities in the faithful execution
Of the laws as the most efficient under
existing circumstances. Also that
when the civil authorities are ready
and willing to perform their duties,
the military power should cease to
lead, and the civil administration re-
sumo its naturaland rightful dominion.
Under this state of facts, the City
Council ofNew Orleans might reason
ably have presumed it to be their
right and duty, especially under that
order, your order No. 40, to fill
the vacancy in office of Register it
appears they did from your report in
this case, dated February 15, 1868.
The same fact, too, in connection with
the printed proceedings embraced in
your report Of February 10, 1868, pre-
cludes the presumption ofany intention
of contempt Of the military authority
by the members of. the city councils.
The case of the Jefferson city councils
is not deemed a parallel one, in this,
that they had not theirown right ques-
toned in similar cases, nor the order
of the department commander to justify
them. There being no contempt of
military authority intended by the
board ofalderman and assistant alder
men of New Orleans, relieved by spe-
cial order No. %, dated in February,
and a proper administration of the re-
construction acts not requiring their
removal, said special order relieving
the aldermen and assistant aldermen
herein named and the appointment of
Others in their stead is hereby disap-
proved and revoked, and the members
of such board ofalderinen and assistant
aldermen removed by it are hereby re-
instated, and will resume their duties
of aldermen and assistant aldermen of
the city of New Orleans the same as if
said order had not been issued, You
will please carry this into effect"
On the 37th of February, Major
General Hancock telegraphed to Gen.
Grant saying what he did was adopt
ed under grave deliberation, and he
believed was the result Of necessity i'm
posed upon him, whichcould not have
been avoided without a disregard of
the interests of the public service and
of the obligations imposed upon him
by the reconstruction act, and by Or
derofhis predecessor. After explaining
at length the state Of the case, he con-
cludes by saying:
"I conceive no violence was done to
the principles enumerated and declar-
ed, when l gave effect to the order Of
nv predecessor, and restrain members