New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-14


son Did fn 1913, and What He Would
Have Dome Again IL He had Lived.
The great battle near New Orleans waa
fought on the eighth OF January, 1915, but
/ the battle, though great in its martial
| splendory was but an incident in Jackson's
record of heroic patriotism in Louisiana.
General jackson had arrived at the city on
/ the second of December 1914. Immediate
| ly, with characteristic decision and vigOr,
he entered upon its defense. He caused a
levy en- mGSse Of it's citizens. He proposed,
and Governor Claiborne recommended to
the Legislature of Louisiana, the suspen-
sion of the writ of haDeRs corpus; but the
Legislature refusing to authorize its sus-
pension. jackson, rs Major General COM
mandiDg the Seventh Military District,
suspended the writ in procla nation Of
martial law, and boldly justified the act,
sustained subsequently by the DemOc.
racy. His reasoning was terse, his decision
NRpoleOnic. The country was menaced by
powerful enemy, every citizen, every man
under the protection of ito Fl Ag, owed it his
services and life. All who heeitAted were
traitors, and every expedlent, whether of
law or arms, to enforce obedience was le-
climate, patriotic and jusr Martial law
suspeDding the writ was only a means to
the end-the salvation of the natiOn-and
he, the commander in the field, not the
President NOE the Legislature, was the only
proper judge of it's necessity or expedien-
cy. On the twenty-third the British ap-
DeRred on the banks of the Mississippi
jackson Immediately took the field and
with an inferior force, poorly armed, struck
the enemy decisive blow. On the twenty
fourth, S5 Client, the treaty of peace was
signed.
In the meantime, while in the field, Jack
son heard that the Legislature meditated
tresson-was preparing to surrender the
80 to 80 81 H.. ~
His action was decisive. He lost no time
in investigation. Mere constitutional or le-
gal forms never deferred Jackson in the
performance of duty-in striking q blow
where the integrity, the honor or the safety
of the republic was involved. His patriot
lem ever rose shove law or mere forms of
law, and In every conflict between patriot
ism and Law, between justice or liberty and
technical fOrme, the law and the forms were
summarily forced to the wall. Hence he
determined to treat" the Legislature 'tto
warm session" He, on the twenty -eightb,
invaded its precincts with an armed force,
seized its halls, and placed guard at their
doors to prevent the members from reaa.
sembling. He directed Governor Claiborne
to investigate the charges, and if he found
its members guilty "tO blow them into the
air." The mere suspicion of treason with
jackson placed them outside the pale of
law.
On the eighth of January, 1915, the grand
victory was won. The English, decimated
and demOrRlized, retreated to the cover of
their feet. On the ninth jackson an
nounced TO the Secretary of War that Lou
isiana might be regarded as free of the
enemy. On the nineteenth the English
evacuated Louisiana, and on the twenty
first jackson broke camp and returned to
New Orleans. On the tenth of February
Colonel Livingstone, upon his return from
a mission to the British fleet, announced to
the General the arrival of the British sIoop-
of-war Brazen, with intelligence of the
signing st Client of the treaty of peace.
Upon JAckeon's return to the city much
murmuring was excited by his distribution
of the troops, chiefly among body Of
observation-disclosures had volunteered
for the campaign, but who, after CALAMITY
serving in the field, wished to return to
their families after the battle and all dan
ger had passed. Among them was the
Chevalier de Thousand, a companion Of La
feyette's and q soldier crippled in the ser
vice of the United States. These jackson
treated Sc mutineers. Under the treaty
with France ceding Louisiana TO the United
States they appealed TO the French consul
for protection. jackson banished them from
the city. L. Louaillier, Sr., really an able
and patriotic man, and who as member Of
the Louisiana Legislature had rendered i'm.
mOnstrated in the Louisiana Courier Of
March 3, 1915, against this treatment.
We have the article before US as we
write. 1t contains nothing approaching in
any sense the furious anathemaH and belli-
cose bi1lingsgate of the Northern Copper
head literature, but while eulOgizing the
Generals services and patriotism, also
states the services of the Frenchmen, refers
to the alaerity with which they had volun-
teered, although aliens, cites the treaties
aud the laws which guaranteed them i'm
munity and protection, and advises them
to tearlessly appeal to their consul and
country against what he and they re-
garded as the arbitrary and unnecessary
edict Of the General.
Instead of mitigating the indignation of
jackson, or disposing him fayorably to the
contumacious Frenehmen, the General saw
in the article q Qualification Of his edict. He
arraigned Lousillier TOR every crime in the
military calendar. He arrested and inn
prisoned him, and tried him by military
process. DOminick A. Hall, United States
judge of the district, issued writ Of habsas
corpus for his release. jackson arrested
and imprisoned the Judge.
District attorney Dick attempted to re-
lease the Judge by an application for the
same writ before Judge Lewis. jackson
arrested and imprisoned Dick, and ordered
the arrest of Judge Lewis. He did not
stand on trihes. AS iron-headed in his pa
triotism as he was iron-hearted in the field,
he saw in the acts Of the Judiciary only 90
many expedients Of malcontents attempt
ing 70 wfest q traitor from his vengeance
L9uallier demanded q trial By Jury; jack
son tried him by courtmartial. / have the
indictment before me. It embraces seven
charges: /. Mutiny. 2. Exciting nutiny.
3. General misconduct. 4. For being
soy. s. Illegal and improper conduct and
dis0bedience of orders. 6. Writing a will
ful and corrupt libel z. Die0rderly con-
duct, etc. Louaillier was q citizen, not a
soldiers member Of the Legislature--anG
the single speclfcation supporting these
charges was the writing and causing to be-
published the article 10 the Louisiana
Courier. Denied 3 Trial by jury, Louaillier
refused to plead before military court, eat
silent during the trial and was acquitted.
Bnt jackson, overriding the verdict Of ac-
quittaI, banished Louaillier the city. What
an impudent impOsture, then, Is the Demo
cratic appeal to the eighth Of January in
support Of their present BeditiOua and rebel
lions attitude before the nation What the
invocation Of the C9pperhead and C0nfed-
erates old allies In treason, in support Of
their violent schemes; Of the examples and
teachings Of Jaeks0h's campaign in Louis
lanai Of that intense patriotism which, in
is abhOrrenee Of sediti0n and treason, and
hatred q the traitor, struck down with q
martial hand ali the constitutional OF legal
barriers behind which they were eloaksd
How rapidly would the sagacity Of jackson
now penetrate their Hham--thoir impudent
false cry Of constitutional liberty 10 a oru-
sade for the establishment Of tyranny
through unexampled frauds under legal
forms How terrible and sudden would be
bis vengeance Would constitutional iorms
aatiafF bis WRATH Would legal teehni-
calitiea mitigate their guilt How
long would Wade Hampton and his
flh8 oluhe poTpetfate their devil
fn4 NTr.ar TI9tart+ r f.la.n