John McEnery (politician)

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John McEnery

John McEnery (1833-1890) was a Louisiana Democratic politician who was considered by many to be the winner of the 1872 election for Governor of Louisiana. He was not allowed to take office by the federal government and local Republicans loyal to President Ulysses S. Grant. McEnery had been supported by a coalition of Democrats and anti-Grant Republicans (including Gov. Henry C. Warmoth).

In the election of 1872 John McEnery, a Democrat, faced Republican William Pitt Kellogg. Sitting Governor Henry Clay Warmoth, a Republican, supported McEnery because Warmoth opposed the Republican Party faction loyal to President U. S. Grant, who supported Kellogg.

As Governor, Warmoth controlled the State Returning Board, the institution which administered elections. His board named McEnery the winner but a rival board claimed Kellogg the victorious. Warmoth was impeached for allegedly stealing the election. A black Republican, P. B. S. Pinchback became Governor for 35 days until Grant seated Kellogg with Federal protection as Governor.

McEnery's faction established a "rump legislature" in New Orleans to oppose Kellogg's actions. McEnery urged his supporters to take up arms against Kellogg's fraudulent government. Action by the anti-Republican White League caused President Grant to send Federal reinforcements to New Orleans. Until Federal troops were removed from Louisiana in 1877, no Democrat could be elected^[1].