New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-11


That the fair new moon goes rounding on
To the fullness of her face.
That our garden brook. 90 small and slow,
Ia widening toward the rivert
That under the ice it's faithful dow
Makes music sweet ever!
That the naked trees are all . throb
With the sweet blood in their veins.
That blindly reaching they yearn and sob
For the blessed April rails!
Under tho frozen sod,
Till the great earth warns through her fruitful
With the spirit of her God,
A Good Democratic Precedent.
An intelligent correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial recalls little chapter
of almost forgotten Democratic history. Its
scene is strictly local, and the narrative is
commended to those whose political pre-.
objections lead them to denounce Lieutenant
General Sheridans recent action:
GENERAL JACKSON AT NEW ORLEANS SIXTY
YEARS AGO.
To the EDITOR of the Commercial:
have observed the indignation of the
Democrats at the conduct of General
Sheridan at New Orleans. and their cele-
bration of General Jackson's victory in that
city has caused me to inquire into the pro.
ceedings of jackson while he was in com.
mand on that occasion. Aud as the facts
may not all be remembered, will endeavor
to furnish them.
1t Will be remembered that General Jack
son was in command Of the detenses of New
Orleans for some time prior to the eighth of
January, and that he was engaged in
strengthening his position, under apprehen-
sion not only from the enemy, but that the
disloyal and disaffected portion of the citi-
zens would cause an outbreak within the
lines. The General had found it necessary
to declare martial law, notwithstanding
the Legislature was then in session in the
Then, as now, this conduct was declared
to be high-harded outrage upon the lib
critics of the citizens.
The Speaker of the Legislature said
openly that the Generals arrival was
calamity, and he proceeded to characterize
the General as desperate and a savage,
who would bring destruction on the city
and the vicinity. The General himself
would give no satisfaction to a committee
of the Legislature that called to learn his
intentions. To friend he had said that if
he were forced to retreat he would fall back
upon the city, fire it, and fight the enemy
amid the surrounding flames.
This was not pleasing prospect, to say
the least, even to those whose loyalty was
undOubted; but those who were friendly to
the enemy, or were dissatisfied with "mili-
tary usurpation," were exasperated to the
last degree.
The Legislature found it incOnvenient to
assemble for deliberation, and the members
gathered together at private houses to
express their indignation. Among other
things it was rumOred that the Legislature
had determined to surrender the city to the
enemy rather than allow the General to
carry out his design of destroying it if he
should be defeated.
the General would not agree. The Legisla-
ture meant to preserve the property, whether
the city was taken or not; the General
meant to defeat the enemy, if he had to de-
strOy the city and all it contained. Here
was conflict between the Legislature and
the commanding oficer-the military power
confronted the civil law. One must give way.
"What is to be done, General, if the Leg
islature attempts to tIeat with the enemy"
The answer was, Watch them narrowly; if
they attempt to interfere with my plans
blow them up" This was the order issued
by General jackson to Governor Claiborne.
l especially invite the attention of our in
dignant Democratic friends to this conduct
of General Jackson. ordering that the SOW
ereign Legislature of sovereign State
should be blown up it they attempted to
interfere with his plans. When jackson
issued this order he supposed the Legisla
ture was in session. The fact was that
Governor Claiborne took possession of the
house under Jackson's order, and kept
the members out of it. OF course they we're
indignant then, as much 80 as some of
our friends are now. They assembled in an
august prOcessiOn-prOceeded to the hall,
and with awful solemuity demanded ad-
in the name and by the authority
of the State of Louisiana. To this awful |
summons, the soldier on duty there simply
showed them Jacksor's order to blow them
up if they interfered with the military.
The indignation of the assembled law
makers is said to have been majestic, and |
the epithets in which they clothed their |
of the commanding General |
have furnished the staple of much Oratorical |
from that day to this.
But their troubles did not end here.
There were certain members of that BODY |
who determined that this high handed out
rage upon the dignity of sovereign State
should be rebuked in snch terms as would |
wake an echo in all sympathizing breasts.
One Of these members, a Mr.. Louaillier,
wrote an article, which appeared in one of |
The newspapers in the French language.
against the conduct of jackson,
md pointing out the fact that he was disre-
,arding the rights Of citizens and French
nen under the treaty with France. This let
er was mild in expressing protest against
he alleged unlawful conduct of jackson,
claiming that the time had come for the laws
o have their sway. This article appeared
Ong after the victory, 40 that there was no
LANCER from the enemy. Jackson. upon
eading the article, ordered the editor to
ppear at his headquarters, and demanded
he name of the author OF the offensive
rticle. The name of Mr.. Louaillier was
iven. Mr.. LOuaillier was, at that time,
member of the Legislature. jackson sent
ot an order to him, but a file of soldiers,
0 bring him to camp. Before being taken,
e managed to have writ of habeas corpus
district Court of the United States.
Upon reaching headquarters Louailier
7as placed in close confinement without
rial for having written the article referred
}. He cOnsOled himself, however, that the
abeas corpus would soon come to set him
t liberty. The writ did come, with all the |
Ugh antiquity which hallOws its history
nd endears it to every American citizen,
neither of African descent or otherwise.
In it and by its very influence the drawn
word is presumed to seek its scabbard. and
le great guns of soldiers are supposed TO
Ease their firing, and all nature bows its
cad in devout silence. In the most posi-
We tones this writ called upon General
ackson to produce the body of the atore- ;
i'd LoHaillier before the said honorable u,
'urt forthwith The General took the .
rit and read it carefully through !
Il he found the signature OF Judge ,,
all, then dropping it into bas-