按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
however； despite the President's adverse action； it passed each House
of Congress by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it
the effect of law； but to prove clearly that the plan of
reconstruction presented was； beyond question； the policy endorsed by
the people of the country。 It was； therefore； my determination to
see to the law's zealous execution in my district； though I felt
certain that the President would endeavor to embarrass me by every
means in his power； not only on account of his pronounced personal
hostility； but also because of his determination not to execute but
to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress。
Having come to this conclusion； I laid down； as a rule for my
guidance； the principle of non…interference with the provisional
State governments； and though many appeals were made to have me
rescind rulings of the courts； or interpose to forestall some
presupposed action to be taken by them； my invariable reply was that
I would not take cognizance of such matters； except in cases of
absolute necessity。 The same policy was announced also in reference
to municipal affairs throughout the district； so long as the action
of the local officers did not conflict with the law。
In a very short time； however； I was obliged to interfere in
municipal matters in New Orleans； for it had become clearly apparent
that several of the officials were； both by acts of omission and
commission； ignoring the law； so on the 27th of March I removed from
office the Mayor； John T。 Monroe； the Judge of the First District
Court； E。 Abell； and the Attorney…General of the State； Andrew S。
Herron； at the same time appointing to the respective offices thus
vacated Edward Heath； W。 W。 Howe； and B。 L。 Lynch。 The officials
thus removed had taken upon themselves from the start to pronounce
the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional； and to advise such a course
of obstruction that I found it necessary at an early dav to replace
them by men in sympathy with the law； in order to make plain my
determination to have its provisions enforced。 The President at once
made inquiry； through General Grant； for the cause of the removal；
and I replied ：
〃HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT；
〃New Orleans； La。； April 19； 1867。
〃GENERAL： On the 27th day of March last I removed from office Judge
E。 Abell； of the Criminal Court of New Orleans； Andrew S。 Herron；
Attorney…General of the State of Louisiana； and John T。 Monroe； Mayor
of the City of New Orleans。 These removals were made under the
powers granted me in what is usually termed the 'military bill；'
passed March 2； 1867； by the Congress of the United States。
〃I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for the removal of
these men； especially after the investigations made by the military
board on the massacre Of July 30； 1866； and the report of the
congressional committee on the same massacre； but as some inquiry has
been made for the cause of removal； I would respectfully state as
follows ：
〃The court over which judge Abell presided is the only criminal court
in the city of New Orleans； and for a period of at least nine months
previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating a large portion
of the community to the perpetration of this outrage； by almost
promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders； in case
such an event occurred。 The records of his court will show that he
fulfilled his promise； as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted。
〃In reference to Andrew J。 Herron； Attorney…General of the State of
Louisiana； I considered it his duty to indict these men before this
criminal court。 This he failed to do； but went so far as to attempt
to impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the
victims of the riot instead of the rioters； in other words； making
the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent。 He was therefore； in my
belief； an able coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the
massacre of July 30。
〃Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot； and when
backed by an attorney…general who would not prosecute the guilty； and
a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and
let the murderers go free； felt secure in engaging his police force
in the riot and massacre。
〃With these three men exercising a large influence over the worst
elements of the population of this city； giving to those elements an
immunity for riot and bloodshed； the general…in…chief will see how
insecurely I felt in letting them occupy their respective positions
in the troubles which might occur in registration and voting in the
reorganization of this State。
〃I am； General； very respectfully； your obedient servant；
〃P。 H。 SHERIDAN；
〃Major…General U。 S。 A。
〃GENERAL U。 S。 GRANT；
〃Commanding Armies of the United States；
〃Washington； D。 C。〃
To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory； but not so to the
President； who took no steps； however； to rescind my action； for he
knew that the removals were commended by well…nigh the entire
community in the city； for it will be understood that Mr。 Johnson
was； through his friends and adherents in Louisiana and Texas； kept
constantly advised of every step taken by me。 Many of these persons
were active and open opponents of mine； while others were spies；
doing their work so secretly and quickly that sometimes Mr。 Johnson
knew of my official acts before I could report them to General Grant。
The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of
reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23。
This was a curative act； authorizing elections and prescribing
methods of registration。 When it reached me officially I began
measures for carrying out its provisions； and on the 28th of March
issued an order to the effect that no elections for the State；
parish； or municipal officers would be held in Louisiana until the
provisions of the laws of Congress entitled 〃An act to provide for
the more efficient government of the rebel States；〃 and of the act
supplemental thereto； should have been complied with。 I also
announced that until elections were held in accordance with these
acts； the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the
holding over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would
have expired； would govern in all cases excepting only those special
ones in which I myself might take action。 There was one parish；
Livingston； which this order did no reach in time to prevent the
election previously ordered there； and which therefore took place；
but by a supplemental order this election was declare null and void。
In April。 I began the work of administering th Supplemental Law；
which； under certain condition of eligibility； required a
registration of the voter of the State； for the purpose of electing
delegate to a Constitutional convention。 It therefore became
necessary to appoint Boards of Registration throughout the election
districts； and on April 10 the boards for the Parish of Orleans were
given out； those for the other parishes being appointed ten days
later。 Before announcing these boards； I had asked to be advised
definitely as to what persons were disfranchised by the law； and was
directed by General Grant to act upon my own interpretation of it；
pending an opinion expected shortly from the Attorney…GeneralMr。
Henry Stanberyso； for the guidance of the boards； I gave the
following instructions：
〃HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT。
〃New Orleans； La。； April io； 1867。
〃Special Orders； No。 15。
〃。。。。In obedience to the directions contained in the first section of
the Law of Congress entitled 〃An Act supplemental to an Act entitled
'An Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel
States'〃 the registration of the legal voters； according to that law
in the Parish of Orleans； will be commenced on the 15th instant； and
must be completed by the 15th of May。
〃The four municipal districts of the City of New Orleans and the
Parish of Orleans； right bank （Algiers）； will each constitute a
Registration district。 Election precincts will remain as at present
constituted。
〃。。。。Each member of the Board of Registers； before commencing his
duties； will file in the office of the Assistant…Inspector…General at
these headquarters； the oath required in the sixth section of the Act
referred to； and be governed in the execution of his duty by the
provisions of the first section of that Act； faithfully administering
the oath therein prescribed to each person registered。
〃Boards of Registers will immediately select suitable offices within
their respective districts； having reference to convenience and
facility of registration； and will enter upon their duties on the day
designated。 Each Board will be entitled to two clerks。 Office…hours
for registration will be from