Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/685

 LOUISIANA 679 tacked again at Pleasant Hill, but were repulsed with loss. From this point the federals con- tinued to retreat, somewhat harassed by the confederates, to Alexandria, where the fleet was detained by the rapids. At length (May 13) the vessels were all got over, through the engineering skill of Lieut. Col. Joseph Bailey, when the town was evacuated and accidentally burned. Soon after Gen. Banks was super- seded by Gen. Canby. On Dec. 4, 1862, the first two congressional districts, comprising Orleans and adjacent parishes in the delta of the Mis- sissippi, being in the possession of the Union forces, an election was held by order of Gen. Butler, those being entitled to vote who were qualified electors under the laws in force prior to secession, and who since the capture of New Orleans had taken the oath of allegiance. In the first district Benjamin F. Flanders and in the second Michael Hahi, both unconditional Union men, were elected, and they were sub- sequently admitted to their seats. Local courts were early organized by the military gover- nors in New Orleans, and in December, 1862, a provisional court for the state, with one judge having full powers at law, in equity and ad- miralty, and in criminal matters, was organized by President Lincoln. In April, 1863, judges of the supreme court were appointed by the same authority. The affairs of the state con- tinued under the control of the military, aided by these instrumentalities. On Feb. 22, 1864, in accordance with the proclamation of the president of Dec. 8, 1863, an election for state officers was held, the portion of the state with- in the federal lines comprising 11 parishes and parts of 6 others, having, in 1860, 233,185 in- habitants, and lying mainly in the delta E. of Bayou Teche, and along both banks of the Mississippi as far up as Baton Rouge. Quali- fied electors under the laws existing prior to secession, who had taken the oath of allegiance and sworn to abide by the laws and procla- mations relating to slavery, were permitted to vote. Refugees and soldiers were allowed to vote in the precincts where they happened to be. Michael Hahn was elected governor, the whole number of votes cast being 11,414, and was inaugurated March 4. On the 15th he was invested by the president with the powers of a military governor. On March 28 an elec- tion of delegates to a constitutional convention was held. This body sat from April 6 to July 23, and adopted a constitution abolishing sla- very and providing for the education of both colors, which on Sept. 5 was ratified by the peo- ple by a vote of 6,836 to 1,566. Five congress- men (Unionists) were at the same time chosen, who however were not admitted to seats ; and a legislature was elected almost unanimously in favor of a free state, which subsequently ratified the 13th amendment to the constitution of the United States and chose presidential electors; but the vote of the state was not counted, nor were the senators admitted to seats in congress. On March 4, 1865, Gov. Hahn, who had been elected one of the United States senators, resigned, and was succeeded by Lieut. Gov. Wells, who on Nov. 6 was re- elected. The legislature chosen at the same time, which was almost unanimously democrat- ic, elected United States senators, who were not admitted to seats. On July 30, 1866, a riot occurred in New Orleans, which created much excitement throughout the country, and in which many lives were lost. The occasion was the reassembling of the constitutional con- vention of 1864, which had adjourned subject to the call of its president, and the powers of which it was asserted by some had not expired. Under the reconstruction acts of 1867 Louisiana was with Texas created the fifth military dis- trict, and placed in charge of Gen. Sheridan, who assumed command March 19. On June 3 he removed Gov. Wells, and B. F. Flanders was appointed in his stead. A registration of voters was had under the provisions of the re- construction acts, and 45,218 white and 84,436 colored voters were enrolled. In August Gen. Sheridan was removed by President Johnson, and the command devolved upon Gen. Mower until the arrival of Gen. Hancock, Nov. 29. An election to decide the question of a con- vention and for delegates was held Sept. 27 and 28, when 75,083 votes were cast in favor of and 4,006 against a convention. This body met in New Orleans Nov. 23, and remained in session till March 9, 1868, agreeing upon a constitution, which was ratified at a popular election held April 17 and 18 by a vote of 66,152 to 48,739. At the same time Henry C. Warmoth, republican, was elected governor, and a legislature republican in both branches was chosen. In March Gen. Hancock was re- moved, and Gen. R. 0. Buchanan was appoint- ed in his place. On June 25 an act of congress was passed admitting the state to representa- tion ; and on the 29th the state legislature met, and subsequently ratified the 14th amendment and elected United States senators. Gov. War- moth was inaugurated July 13, and the same day the government was transferred to the civil authorities. At the ensuing presidential election most of the colored voters remained away from the polls through alleged appre- hension of violence from the whites, and the democratic electors received a large majority. The 15th amendment to the constitution of the United States was ratified by a vote of 18 to 3 in the senate on Feb. 27, 1869, and of 55 to 9 in the house on March 1. The state election of 1872 occurred on Nov. 4, William P. Kel- logg, republican, and John McEnery, democrat, being the candidates for governor, and at the same time presidential electors were voted for. Immediately afterward serious trouble arose from charges of fraud and illegality in the elec- tion, and from the existence of boards of return- ing officers in the interest of each candidate, both claiming to be legal. By the one the state ticket headed by Kellogg and a legislature largely republican, and by the other McEnery