members of Congress from those States to get along with
legislation here. What we do want is the conclusive evidence that
respectable citizens of Louisiana are willing to be members of
Congress and to swear support to the Constitution, and that other
respectable citizens are willing to vote for them and send them.
To send a parcel of Northern men as Representatives, elected, as
would be understood, (and perhaps really so) at the point of the
bayonet, would be disgraceful and outrageous."

Mr. Lincoln would tolerate none of the "carpet-bagging" that
afterwards became so conspicuous and offensive under the
Congressional plan of Reconstruction.

These steps for reconstruction in Louisiana were followed by the
assembling of a convention to frame a new constitution for that
State. The convention was organized early in 1864, and its most
important act was the prompt incorporation of an antislavery
clause in its organic law. By a vote of 70 to 16 the convention
declared slavery to be forever abolished in the State. The new
Constitution was adopted by the people of the State on the 5th
day of the ensuing September by a vote of 6,836 in its favor, to
1,566 against it. As the total vote of Louisiana in 1860 was
50,510, the new government had fulfilled the requirement of the
President's Proclamation. It was sustained by more than the
required one-tenth vote.

In a personal note of congratulation to Gov. Hahn, of Louisiana,
the President, speaking of the coming convention, suggested that
"some of the colored people be let in, as for instance, the very
intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in