456 



LOUISIANA. 



qualified should adopt this course as much to protect 

 in person and property their fellow-citizens who are 

 disfranchised by these bills, as to retain their own 

 personal and political freedom ; and the discharge of 

 this duty is also due to a large number of newly-en- 

 franchised blacks, who, unaccustomed to the rights 

 of electors, and who in a great measure unqualified 

 to participate in the affairs of government, should, be 



Eroperly counselled in the exercise of this new priyi- 

 :ge in order to save the State from anarchy and mis- 

 rule. 



The Committee on Federal Relations, to whom 

 this resolution was referred, submitted a re- 

 port on the 25th, couched in the following lan- 

 guage, addressed to the citizens of the State: 



ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE PEOPLE 

 OF LOUISIANA. 



The recent action of Congress in the passage of the 

 measures commonly known as " the military recon- 

 struction bill," and. the " supplemental bill," precipi- 

 tates upon the people the consideration of most mo- 

 mentous questions, affecting not merely their present 

 and future welfare, but involving the very political 

 existence of the State, and it seems evident that active 

 steps will be at once taken for the reorganization of 

 our State government in accordance with the princi- 

 ples of those measures, and that general elections will 

 be speedily held for that purpose. 



In this emergency it becomes absolutely necessary 

 for the people to determine forthwith w'hat line of 

 conduct is most proper for them to pursue. 



Your representatives in the General Assembly have 

 not failed to give this question the most anxious and 

 earnest deliberation. 



The subject-matter is placed beyond the pale of our 

 legislative action by a power over which we have no 

 control, but we feel it our duty to give our constitu- 

 ents the results of our sober and serious reflection, 

 and to advise them as to the course we think they 

 should adopt under the circumstances. 



Whatever may be our opinions of the justice, mag- 

 nanimity, or constitutionality of these Congressional 

 measures, they are imposed upon us by an authority 

 which we have clearly no power to resist, and we 

 therefore solemnly believe it becomes our duty not 

 only to abstain from fruitless and factious opposition, 

 but to exert all our power and influence, so to direct 

 events as that the least harm may come to the State 

 from their execution. 



We, therefore, exhort the people to organize thor- 

 oughly and take an active part in all elections, under 

 whatever authority they may be held. 



Avoid all semblance of opposition to the free and 

 fair suffrage of every man having the right to vote un- 

 der the authority of Congress. 



Let there be no collisions or conflicts of any kind. 



Avoid dissensions among yourselves. 



Bring forward, as candidates, citizens in whose wis- 

 dom, discretion, and courage you can place implicit 

 confidence, and whose qualifications shall conform, as 

 far as practicable, to the requirements of Congress. 



Suppress, as far as possible, the consideration of 

 all questions which may lead to division of opinion 

 amon" you. 



Look to the character of the men whom you select. 



Do not seek to bind them in advance to any partic- 

 ular course of policy, the wisdom and propriety of 

 which must at last be determined by the " logic of 

 events," but leave them free and untrammelled to act 

 as their judgments may dictate, for the interest and 

 honor of the State. 



Let moderation and temperance guide you in coun- 

 sel and conduct. 



Eestrain and control the ebullitions of inconsider- 

 ate, rash, and turbulent men, who may precipitate col- 

 lisions from which nothing but injury to the State 

 and people can possibly result. 



Use all fair audlegitimate means within your power 



90 to influence and direct the suffrage n.s to elect trust- 

 worthy men to omce ; and thereby to prevent the 

 power of the State tailing into unworthy hands, but 

 at the same time secure that your choice shall be re- 

 spected, and that the men so chosen shall be clothed 

 with authority which none can question. 



In following out the course of action here indicated, 

 you will be called on to exercise a spirit of extreme 

 tolerance and forbearance, but we believe it to be the 

 only course consistent with our present condition and 

 the safety of the State, and you will not hesitate at 

 any sacrifice necessary to that end. 



In conclusion, we would say that we plafce an abid- 

 ing confidence in the people, and believe that, by the 

 exercise of wisdom, prudence, and patriotism, they 

 will so conduct the State through this ordeal, as to 

 command the respect of friends and foes. 



A few days later, this last session of the Gen- 

 eral Assembly, under the constitution of 18(34, 

 came to a close. Among the acts of this body, 

 not already mentioned, was a joint resolution 

 praying the President of the United States to 

 pardon Matthew F. Maury for the part taken 

 by him in the late war. This resolution was ve- 

 toed by the Governor, but was again passed by 

 nearly a full vote of both Houses, 



Acts were passed for the relief of the Treasury 

 of the State, authorizing the issue of six per 

 cent, bonds to the amount of $3,000,000, and 

 legalizing the notes of the city of New Orleans, 

 of which $3,650,000 were then in circulation un- 

 der the name of " city money," and permitting a 

 further issue of similar notes, to the amount of 

 $2,500,000. A school act was passed, making 

 special provision for children of colored per- 

 sons. 



General Sheridan began the duties of his new 

 position by inaugurating rigorous measures for 

 the improvement of the sanitary condition of 

 New Orleans, and by clearing his way of cer- 

 tain obnoxious officials who were in his opinion 

 dangerous to the peace of the community. The 

 removals from offices were made by the follow- 

 ing general order. 



General Orders, JFo. 5. 

 HEADQUAKTEKS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, ) 

 NEW ORLEANS, LA., March 27, 18GT. j 



Andrew S. Herron, Attorney-General State of Lou- 

 isiana, John T. Monroe. Mayor city of New Orleans, 

 and Edmund Abell, Judge First District Courtj city 

 of New Orleans, are hereby removed from their re- 

 spective offices from 12 M. to-day, and the following 

 appointments made, to take effect from the same date, 

 viz. : 



B. L. Lynch to be Attorney-General State of Lou- 

 isiana, Edward Heath to be Mayor of the city of New 

 Orleans, and W. W. Howe to be Judge of the First 

 District Court, city of New Orleans. 



Each person removed will turn over all books, pa- 

 pers, records, etc., pertaining to his office, to the one 

 appointed thereto, and the authority of the latter will 

 be duly respected and enforced. 



By command of Major General P. H. SHEEIDAN. 

 GEO. L. HARTSUFF, A. A. G. 



Judge Abell addressed to the commanding 

 officer a protest against this action, in which he 

 took the ground that the power of removal 

 was not given to the district commanders by 

 the act of Congress, but expressly reserved to 

 the United States. In defence of his conduct, 

 with regard to the unfortunate riot at New 



