462 



LOUISIANA. 



pletely readjusting the board of aldermen and 

 assistant aldermen of the city of New Orleans, 

 by the removal of twenty-two of these officials 

 and the designation of a corresponding number 

 to succeed them. The order states that "the 

 reasons for removing these persons are to be 

 found in the disordered condition to which they 

 have reduced the city credit, and the efforts 

 which they have made, and are making, to im- 

 pede the lawful execution of the law of Con- 

 gress, dated March 2d, and the acts supplement- 

 ary thereto." 



On the 5th of August Joseph Hernandez, 

 city treasurer of New Orleans, was removed, 

 and Stoddart Howell appointed in his place, 

 and reasons similar to the above assigned for 

 taking that step. On the 8th the chief of police 

 of the same city was removed, and his succes- 

 sor appointed, at the request of Mayor Heath. 



Later in the same month, the city surveyor 

 of New Orleans, the city attorney and assist- 

 ant attorney and the assistant comptroller, 

 were removed for reasons " similar to those 

 given in the order readjusting the common 

 council of the city of New Orleans." Other 

 removals were made and reasons assigned 

 therefor by the following order of August 29th : 



Special Orders, No. 129. 

 HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, ) 

 NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 29, 1867. f 



5. For admitting to bail in the sum of five hun- 

 dred dollars Thomas McNeeley, who had deliberately 

 murdered a colored man named Jefferson, and for 

 refusing to admit as testimony on the part of the 

 State witnesses of negro blood ; on the recommenda- 

 tion of his Excellency Governor Flanders. James C. 

 Morantine ; justice of the peace for " Plaisance " 

 ward, parish of Eapides, is hereby removed from 

 that office, and George Dorman appointed in his stead. 



Before entering upon the duties of his office, Mr. 

 Dorman will takb and subscribe to tfhe oath of office 

 prescribed for officers of the United States. 



6. For allowing an alleged murderer, ordered to be 

 confined in jail by Justice Osborn, to escape, and 

 afterward making no efforts to accomplish his ar- 

 rest, on the recommendation of his Excellency Gov- 

 ernor FlanderSj James K. Anderson, sheriff of the 

 parish of Rapides, is hereby removed from that 

 office, and A. J. Sypher appointed in his stead. 



Before entering upon his duties, Mr. Sypher will 

 furnish bonds in the usual amount, and take and 

 subscribe to the oath of office prescribed for officers 

 of the United States. 



On the recommendation of his Excellency Govern- 

 or Flanders, Mr. "William Simmons is hereby ap- 

 pointed. Police Juror for AVard No. 1, parish of Cald- 

 well, vice Richard King, deceased. 



Before entering upon the duties of his office, Mr. 

 Simmons will take and subscribe to the oath of office 

 prescribed for officers of the United States. 



By command of Mai. -Gen. P. H. SHERIDAN. 

 GEORGE L. HARTSUFF, Asst. Adjutant-General. 



One of the orders issued in effecting the 

 above-mentioned removals, contained also the 

 following important section relating to regis- 

 tration and the qualification of jurors : 



2. The registration of voters of the State of Loui- 

 siana according to laws of Congress being complete, 

 it is hereby ordered that no person who is not regis- 

 tered in accordance with such laws shall be consid- 

 ered as a duly qualified voter of the State of Loui- 

 siana. 



All persons duly registered as above, and no 

 others, are consequently eligible, under the laws of 

 the State of Louisiana, to serve as jurors in any of 

 the courts of the State. The necessary revision of 

 the jury lists will immediately be made by proper 

 officers. All the laws of the State respecting exemp- 

 tions, etc., from jury duty, will remain in force. 



The President of the United States not being 

 altogether satisfied with the course of General 

 Sheridan in Louisiana, transmitted to General 

 Grant, on the 17th of August, an order re- 

 lieving that officer of the command of the 

 Fifth District, and assigning General Thomas, 

 hitherto of the Department of the Cumber- 

 land, to that position. General Sheridan was, 

 by the same order, appointed to the command 

 of the Department of the Missouri, to relieve 

 General Hancock, who was transferred to the 

 Department of the Cumberland. The Presi- 

 dent having invited General Grant to make any 

 suggestions which he saw fit with regard to 

 these assignments, the latter urged that the 

 order be not insisted upon, saying that General 

 Sheridan had performed his duties faithfully 

 and intelligently, and that his removal would 

 be looked upon as an effort to defeat the laws 

 of Congress. Nevertheless, the necessary 

 orders were issued for carrying into effect the 

 changes to be made by the President's command. 

 In consequence, however, of the unfavorable 

 state of General Thomas's health, a subsequent 

 order of August 26th retained him in his for- 

 mer position, and assigned to the Fifth Mili- 

 tary District Major-General Winfield S. Han- 

 cock ; while General Sheridan was directed to 

 proceed at once to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 

 to assume command of the Department of the 

 Missouri, turning over the command in Loui- 

 siana to the next officer in rank to himself, 

 Brevet Major-General Charles Griffin. 



General Griffin, who remained at his former 

 post, Galveston, Texas, soon after died of yel- 

 low fever, and the temp&rary command of the 

 Fifth Military District devolved upon Brevet 

 Major-General Joseph A. Mower, of the Dis- 

 trict of Louisiana. 



In various parts of the State, especially in 

 the country parishes, political organizations 

 had been formed, mostly of negroes, for the 

 purpose of military drill. These bands occa- 

 sioned no little annoyance, and gave rise to 

 feverish apprehensions on the part of many 

 citizens, and General Mower put an end to 

 them by the following order : 



General Orders, No. 11. 

 HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OP LOUISIANA, ) 

 NEW ORLEANS, LA., Sept. 16, 1867. f 

 It having come to the knowledge of the Brevet 

 Major-General Commanding, that in various parts of 

 this State the assembling of armed men, for political 

 or other purposes, is of frequent occurrence, and that 

 well-disposed citizens are often subjected to annoy- 

 ance from armed persons posted as sentinels or vi- 

 dettes, it is hereby ordered that such practices, and 

 all other acts tending to disorder and violence, must 

 be at once discontinued. Commanders of posts, de- 

 tachments, and stations within this command, will 

 arrest and retain until further orders all armed men 

 found posted as sentinels, pickets, or videttes, or 



