New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-30
The Close of the War.

We make the following extract froh ]ne
Louisiana Commercial Almanac 1of 700
nub1ished since the first of January Dy
lama. f. Waldo. and from the pen OF ~.
j. E. Maggie, M. D., of this olty' as iuu'
eating the peculiar views of military occr-
nation of Louisiana and the period preoeo-
ing reconstruction, which vltlateo SCI
ment attempts to fasten upon US az "a par
of the history of eur State:
TIE CLOSE OF THE WAR
THE welcome. vet bitter. ashen ooor c
,oaoe came to the land early in May. ISt-5.
Emme6iatelv after the surrender OF tue
rost formidable organization OF the COnleo
orate armies in Virginia and Nortn CarolALA
occurred. the troops hurriedly returned 10
their homes, and III snort white LIE
J-onis;auians were at Work earnest pF
laborinc to retrieve their lost 1ortun alt
,.ac,,nerate from the terrible mlschancee
49, had hefallen them. The cessation 0:
bostihties and finally the transfer OF clvN
nower from the military to the State ct
tborities aroused the political passions aHG
desires of ambitious men and parties U.s.
t;nctive lines of policy and differences ne
gan to develope into factions and organl-"
fiops. The spoils of office became the cope
and aim of those who were carelessly vera
n
Hence the oppositiOns of principles partook
of tbe character of national politics anc no''
vithstanding the differences that exist be
tween the factions, these main features are
retained and are the basis OF the organic
tions that are battling now Tor place "h.'
emoluments .......
Governor Wells, shrewdly estimating tnas
the pol cy of investing those VINO reCuEheN
with the privileges OF citizenship "ou-C
work Soon there was effected change N
the constitutional basis of voting privileges.
and in the election which occurred II nc
yember 1855, be was made Governor pH
acclaim. He served in this capacity unII
1867, when the reconstrucuon laws wee
mt in force by General Sheridan. Benla-
min Flanders was then made Governor, S.nC
served in the capacity with varying eheo'
INIT with many satisfactory evidences o: t,E
capacity and honesty.
General Sheridan was appointed &c tes
command OF the Fifth Military Distrlc'. l.
cluding Louisiana. in 1900, ana ms uesiotac
character was exercised in many petty
grievances and impositions which: ony
award TO him the fame Of being al or
pressor and military tycant OF the Hos:
eontemptible character. He was succeeded
nv Brevet Brigadier General Mower "a
1867, His term was limited and succeedet
by that favorite officer General Hanc0cE.
The memories which attach to .h.s
onntleman's term make him respected.
and his name landmark around whlch
cluster the reverence and klnoIlesG
regards of those over whom he ruled with
wisdom and merifiIi hand. Genera
Hancock having been transferred IRON. New
Orleans, especially on account OF his pop:l'
larity with the people, who thoroughly &l'
preciated his generous and humane De'
hayior, General Rousseau was plac.t. IN
command. This fine officer and eiegar'.
gentleman pursued :. !enient. yet cODrh'
geous and determined policy, which made
him greatly respected. His death waS
greatly lamented by the people il mass.
and his term of service Will always De heic
memorable for his just and honest adm -n!.'
tration of every department that came aA
der his jurisdiction.
In 1866 the department commander Ger.
eral Banks, of the United States army. -.
sued d military order tor convention %
be held, tor the purpose of revising an.
amending the State constitutions IN aC'
cordance thereto, an attempt was made -
effect an organization by few desperate
and irresponsible persons, who led large
number of negroes armed to the pom. O.
rendezvous, at Mechanics Institute etL"
Temporary and present State Capitol, OE
Drvades street, Now Orleans. These pegsons
attempted TO hold an lllegltlmate convention
July 30. 1866, when a riot occurred Wnlcr
caused the death by violence of several per
sons, the majority of the sufferers being ne
groes The collision WAS planned by and
carried out for eectiouecring purposes. ant
the effects Of this disturbance had yer,
serious influence in mining the hopes o: the
Democratic candidates VINO a5plred 20 tie
places OF President AID Vice ?gesldeL >.
the IN ted States.