ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, ˈæftɚɹ ˈɪʃuːɪŋ ðɪ ɪmˌænsɪpˈeɪʃən pɹˌɑːklɐmˈeɪʃən, pɹˈɛzɪdənt lˈɪŋkən ɛŋɡˈeɪdʒd bˈuːlɪɡni tə dɪtˈɜːmɪn ɪf jˈuːniənˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd nˈuː ˈɔːɹliənz ænd ˈʌðɚ pˈoːɹʃənz ʌv luːˌiːzɪˈænə kʊd hˈoʊld ˈɜːli ᵻlˈɛkʃənz tə sˈɛnd ɹˌɛpɹᵻzˈɛntətˌɪvz tə kˈɑːŋɡɹəs.
In 1862, after issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln engaged Bouligny to determine if Union-occupied New Orleans and other portions of Louisiana could hold early elections to send representatives to Congress.