The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-04
The NEW STATE GOVERNMENT.


and order. His dispositions to this end,
though quietly and smoothly made were
formidable and impressive and to his
promptitude and efficiency in crisis seeth-
ing with elements of tumult, and of which
no one could foresee the issue, the fact is
solely due, perhaps, that this city has
escaped, in the first week of July, 1868, the
calamity of a bloodier outbreak than that
which befell it in the last week of July, 1866.
AT that bitterly memorable period, when the
air was thick with bodings of imminent
trouble, Gen. Sheridan whisked off to Texas,
on business so reconcile that its nature and
its urgency still battle the most curious
research and the most imaginative con-
lecture. The subordinate whom he left in
command acted with apparently prearranged
INDIGESTION and yacillation. A fearful mass of
combustible materials, in dreadful proximity
to flaming frebrands were before the very
face of the dd interim commander, and he did
not raise a finger to prevent confagration.
What ensued it is needless to repeat The
political sequel showed that the July
riot of 1866 was organized in
the interest of the party then
dominant in Congress, the party which was
bent on subverting constitutional govern
ment, the party which had resolved to ac-
complsh this object, aud to make its own &.
power permanent, by means of military des-
potism, white Acknowledgement, and negro
supremacy at the South. The legislature sit
ting in Mechanics Institute, and which rep
resents the voice and the interests of the peo-
pie of Louisiana about as much as it repre-
sents the voice and the interests of Japan, is
product of this revolutionary scheme. And
no sooner does this body assemble, and COM
mence its part in the drama of violence and
usurpation, than the ominous fact energies to
view that the city is saved from the horrors of
riot as a consequence of its presence, only
by the prudent intervention of district COM
mander, who happens not to be a Sheridan
or Baird. We say the fact is ominous, for
il means either that military rule is to be in
definitely prolonged, in substance if not in
form, or that, upon the termination of this
rule, the city and the State at large will be
left without adequate guarantees of peace.
Every good citizen would be rejoiced if he
could discover in the new government those
| qualities which are needed to make
it either a sincere or an efficient
conservator CT the peace. In the legislative
branch of it, only the reverse of such quail
ties has thus far been exhibited. Though
| the creature of exterior and tyrannical force,
| it might have done much, in the outset, to
| liota 10
assurance of peace, simply by proceeding on
| the basis of accomplished facts with the regu-
lsrity BETTING legislative body. But, with
all its assumptions, it lacked the decent
assumption of being the constitutional legis-
lature of the State If in any degree jealous
of her dignity, mindful of her wants, and
| solicitous of the welfare of her people, with
I out distinction, in respect alike to material,
social and political considerations, it has
scandalously failed to express such sentiments
in its initiatory proceedings. 1t is greatly to
| be feared that, keenly conscious of the vio-
lence and usuIpation which brought it into
existence, it will think only hereafter of
fortifying and aggrandizing the government
and the faction to which it appertains with
| expedients in keeping with the sinister logic
| of its origin. In that case, our people may
| expect from it an abuse of legislative power
| which will be hideous caricature of the most
partisan and proscriptive features of congress
sional legislation. In that case, it will under
take to substitute for the military duress
heretofore suffered one infinitely more odious,
humiliating, and CALLING; and it will not toll
| crate the continuance of any municipal insti-
tutiOns which may serve in the least measure
| as a shelter from legislative tyranny. In that
case, it will take care to see that the executive
| pasta shall have at his bidding, whenever des
| potism feels afraid of the oppressed, squad
| rons of faithful and ferocious Mamelukes
| And in that case, there will be no assurance of
| peace unless in the heroic resolve of our peo-
| pie to be patient until patience shall be posi-
lively suicidal, and to think only of peaceful
egress from their bondage as long as they
can conceive the possibility of a peaceful
| egress.
While such consequences are gravely to be
| apprehended, it is, on the other hand, earn
estly to be hoped that the new government
viii, by its legislation and by its executive
action, endeavor to throw the veil of oblivion
over its exotic and illegitimate origin, and
merge itself as much as possible in the state
hood of Louisiana. In no other way can
those who conduct this government invite
| peace and prosperity to make their abode in
the State; and, let them depend upon it, by
no other policy can they elevate their own
ultimate fame or promote their own eventual
safety and welfare.
| HENDERSON Welded AND WASHINGTON HOTELS.
| Swede writes as follows to the Cincinnati Com