Year: 1868

Tie morning dawned bright and clear yester
day, as the iphabltsnts of New Orleans, awaken
ing from sleep. realized that for the first time in
eight years there devolved upon them the duty of
voting for President and Vice President of these
United States. Everyone was sstir at an earlier
hour than usual. Many hasty toilet was made,
many breakfast left untouched, or half disposed
of in the esgerness of this one or that one to be
early at the polls and get his vote into the ballot
box. And. consequently, when seven o'clock
came, and, the polls being thrown open, the COM
missiopers and clerks took their seats, opened
their books and were ready for business, they
found q crowd without, ranged in . long line.
good humoredly waiting, tickets in hands, to ex-
ercise that privilege guaranteed to every Ameri
can freeman.


Scarcely negro was to be seen about the polls,
when they opened. The advice given them from
the pulpit only two days before, to abstain from
voting altogether, had evidently been given to
willing and obedient listeners. The few who did
present themselves took their turn in line with the
whites, and received no hindrsnce in their right
to vote as they wished. At many Of the polls not
even bunch of Radical tickets was to be seen
for distribution, the only stand being occupied by
those bearing the names Of tho Democratic can.
didates.


But the quietude which prevailed through the
city was chilling almost, in its intensity. The
closing of the drinking saloons, and the presence
of efficient deputy sherifs and police may have
had something to do with this, but in our opinion,
the tranquility was mainly owing to determine
ton on the part of every one that the day should
lie unmarried by any act of turbulence or violence.
In the whole course of an extended ramble
through the various precincts Of the Second and
Third Ward: above, and the Fourth and Fifth be-
low Canal street, we did not observe single
instance of intoxicaton. At every poll. and there
were eighty one in the city, there were only to be
seen the long lines of voters, either quietly wait
ing their turns or as soon as they had voted de-
parting and giving place to others. About the
business portions of the city. stores and Offices
were generally closed, and the streets wore an air
of stiffness to which the quietude of q Sunday
morning bore no comparison. About noon the
following circular was issued:


HEADQUARTERS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE,


1890 M.


Up to this hour there is perfect quiet at every
polling place in the city. There Is no obstruction
at the polls. Democrats and Radicals are equally
protected. Every arrangement has been made to
keep peace and good order.


J. o. NIXON, Chairman.


And as it was reported at noon, so it continued
throughout the day. Up to dark not over six ar.
rests were reported at the central police station,
and telegraphic dispatches from all the precincts
showed only one affair worth mentioning-that in
which officer White, while conducting to the
IRENE station a colored man named Jack Howell.
was shot in the leg by his prisoner. The ball has
since been extracted, and the wound Is pro.
pounced not serious.
So briskly and systematically was the voting
conducted that fully twothirds of the entire vote
polled had been cast by twelve o'clock. During
the afternoon very little voting was done at some
polls, and all hands appeared only anxious for
the arrival of six o'clock, when the count should
begin. Ample arrangements had been made at
Democratic headquarters. and also at the police
headquarters, for procuring. without delay, the
returns as soon as completed. These, as received
at the former place, were as follows: