F
I
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS THE GUARDIANS OF OUR LIBERTY
Vol. XL VI.
HILLSBOROUGH, NC, AUGUST 16, 1866.
No. 2349.
i i i i iti
. xwa-ar . i i r i i
M III
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THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
Communication to Ptetxient Johnton from
Litutenaat Governor Voorhee$t Gtntrat
Ilerron and Mayor Monroe.
New Orleans, August 7, 1866.
The following correspondence it pubti sh
ed. Hit EsctPtney Prttidmt Andrtw Jvhnton i
Sir : Your Excellency ie already la poa
session of the main fact! in regard to the
conspiracy which, by reviving the conveo
liuo of 1884, purposed to subvert the civil
government of Louiaitna. An informal
wetting of twenty nine members, one
hundred and fifty being the whole number
and seventy six a quorum, proceeded to de
pose the President of the convention, who
considered the convention itself eitract and
himself without functions of office, and to
elect It. . Howell aa President pro lent.
They adjourned to meet again, and a pro
ctsmation was issued by the President pro
trm. convening the convention to meet on
the 30th of, July last, and. directing bis
Kicellency the Governor of the State to
iasue writs of election to fill vacancies. So
lar the whale matter was looked upon aa a
harmless ctperiment, thtugh mischief waa
intended, the people being confident that
the Governor would net condescend to no
tice this proclamation, and that, in case
the convention should commit any act of
interference, he would at toce nave it dis
persed. Unfortunately, however, alter a
lapse of nearly a month, the Governor is
sued writsgof election to fill op fifty-one
tscanciee in that tody.
This decumeif, to -which the Secretary
of State refused to give hit attestation un
der the seal ot State, was issued under the
attestation of the private secretary of the
Governor. The people of the Slate became
alarmed, when no doobt could be entertain
edas to the fact that their Chief Magis
Irate had given willing aid and assirance
to aubvert the government.; the preserve
iao of which waa especially entrusted to
it is Keeping.
On Fridav. thet7thof Jtlv. alarremret
ing waa hefd in the ball of the House of
Keprffsentstites, professedly for the advo
cacy of universal suffrage, but in realitv to
re-organize ier mo ineeiing 01 me lonven
ttoa oa the Monday following. The b
jects of the meeting was to excite the pas
liens and prejudices ot the colored poputa
lion, so as to make them the victims of a
riot, by urging thorn headlong into a eon
lict with the State and municipal authori
ties.
. Oa the otht r hand, we were determined
to prevent riot and bloodshed by pursuing
sscb a course at would baffle the nefarious
calculations of tboae agitatora from New
Orleans.
Oar remedy, and the only remedy, must
be by recourse to the usual process of law,
and even then to proceed in tuch manner
as to fasten upon them the responsibilities
of all collision whatever. The case was
submitted to the Grand Jur by the Attor
ney General, and in the meantime the
Litutenaat Oovernor and the Mayor called
upon General Baird to ascertain whether,
il a warrant, issued opto a regular indict
sunt, were placed in the hands of the She
i iff for the arrett of the members of the
Convention, the military would interfere.
rue answer waa that the Sheriff would be
ai rested, and that the Convention, meeting
peaceably, could not be interfered with by
ike officers of the law.
It is proper here to state that the Mayor
naa previously euaressea a note lotieaeral
Jlainl, inquiring 'whether he would be in
trrfcrtd Jwith by the military in case he
would proceed to disperse the Convention
as aa unlawful assemblage. The answer
In this communication was that the meeting
of the Convention, being peacealle, could
iiot bo auppressed by the Mayor, and that
the military authorities would prevent the
interference of the civil authorities. It
was suggested by the Lieuteuanl Osveroor
tint the city authorities under those cir
lumitancrs did not Intend to interfert to
trcveat the mooting of the Contention
Bat ho proposed that in cite a warrant o
trrcit was placed la the bands ef the She
rift, the latter, before attempt! nr to exe.
cute it, would call on the General, who
thereupon would endorse his objections,
and the matter would at once be submitted
o the President. This arrangement waa
satisfactory to both parties. On the same
day, the Attorney General and the Lieu
tenant Uovernor telegraphed to the Presi
dent, to ascertain whether the process of
the court to arrest the members of the Con
vention could be thwarted by the military.
The answer was expected to sustain the
court.
On Sunday, the 29th. the State and ma-
nicibal authorities called upon the Presi
dent to advise the people as to the proper
oonuuet to oe neid next day so as to avoid
all collision and riot; and the Mayor issu
ed his proclamation to the aamo effect.
The press of the city, with the exception
of the Radical organ, gave wise and saluta
ry counsela to the people, inviting all good
citizens to avoid congregations about the
capitol and to demean themselves with pru
denes and discretion.
On the morning of the 30th the Lieuten
ant Governor called upon Qeneral Baird
to communicsto to him the President a des
patch, and also inquired of the General if
he would not have sme troops in the vicini
ty of the hall, to preserve peaee and good
order. General Baird answered that appli-
canon nau oeen maae by members ot the
Convention.
The sutcestion was then made that to
have too large a police force on the spot
mignt oe construed as means to overawe
the members, and inasmuch as the civil au
thorities did notintend interfering with the
Convention until instructions were receiv
ed from the President, as above agreed
upon, it waa proper to nave troops to co
operate with a small police farce to pre
serve peace, ana prevent i ooaatbia at.
tempts to bring about a collision. This
suggestion met the approval of the Gene
ral, who then stated that be would imme
diately give ordera to have the troopa in
reaainess. ueiore ine end ot the interview
it was again agreed upon between General
Baird and the Lieutenant Governor that
whatever warraat of arrest might be plac
rd in the hands of the Sheriff would be
submitted to him before any attempt to
have it executed should bo made, and that
upon the endorsement of the Gencral'a ob
jections the matter wonld be referred to
the President. The Mayor being inform
ed of this arrangement, aentbetasrosll po
lice force to the hall, and the troops that
were to act in conjunction with the police
were eagerly expected.
At noon. Information hsving reached the
Lieutenant Governor that in the third dis
trict there was a commencement of efer
vescence and thst a large number of oe
grvea were coming towards Canal street
from above and below, he immediately sent
a despatch to the General conveying this
intelligence and urging that the troops be
sent without delay.
About unehour afterwards the riot broke
out, endinjj in the dispersion of the con
vention and the eaptare of the rioters, in
cluding several members of this body. It
is not our purpose to argue the question of
the facts as to the actual commencement
of the collision, and fix precisely the mode
and manner and where it started. We
will, however, remark thai the collison was
brought about by the armed mob sustaining
the convention. Suffice it to say ihit the
civil authorities took all the precautions
possible to prevent the outbreak ; that they
applied during three days previous tohave
the military to preserve order at the place
whtre the convention was to meet; that
the authorities, State and municipal, came
to an understanding to act in concert with
the military for that purpose ; that the ci
tizens no more than the police contemplat
ed preventing the convention from holding
5 heir meeting in peace aad adjourning and
iisptrsing unmolested ; and that the war
rant for their arrest would have been sub
mitted to the military, as agreed upon, al
though the President's despatch to the
Lieutenant Governor and the subsequent
one to the Attorney General was impera
tive, that the military roast not thwart the
convention. The military authorities had
oeen tor three days previous to the riot in
constant communication with the Attorney
General and the Lieitenant Governor, with
a view to prevent the impending riot.. The
efforts were unsuccessful and could not
counteract the incendiary counsels and ap-
i. .i .. ...
pais oi inose woo ior sinister pui poses
had in view this very rtault in order to
retp a political harvest, ill at the civil
authoritieahave done their duty in this res
pect is patent. ( That more could have been
done by them is impossible, aa they were
not snowed to remove the cause ot the riot
by taking proper meana to prevent the
meeting of the Convention, and we doubt
not for a moment that the military con
maader himself will be the first to corrobo
rate these facts, and to arrest all calum
nious imputations against the conduct of
our people under these try ing circumstan
ces. As regards the proclamation of martial
law, the least that can be said is that it waa
inoportuue, as the rioting had ceased com
pletely, the police being roasters of the si
tuation. The colored population, as a body, did
not participate in these disgraceful scenes,
and the freedmen in the vicinity of the riot
were standing aa lookers on without being
molested. The colored snob, in union with
a few white rioters who were leading them
in ihe affair, were no doubt well organized.
That they were ell armed is undoubted,
as forty-two policemen ond several citi
zens were either killed or wounded by
them, although the conflict was over in less
than '.wo hours.
Twenty-seven rioters were killed and a
considerable number wounded.
At dark, when all was over, when those
ef the mob were either dispersed or in pri
son, when tranquility and order were re
stored, euartiaJ law waa proclaimed, aad
the prisons where the rioters were cennn
ed emptied by orders from headquarters.
These measures undoubted were not" in
tended to revise the hopes of the outlawa ;
but were they not calculated to inspire them
with false ho, es? The very next morning
the organ of the agitators waa issued, con
taining, as osual, the most imflammatory
articles, and so the succeeding issues. Had
the military on Monday afternoon taken a
stand to co-operate with the civil authori
ties, instead of proclaiming martial law, the
most beneficial effects would have been the
result. We remain, very respectfully.
your obedirnt servsnts,
ALBERT VoORHIES, LUut.Oov.ofLa.
A. H. U EURO, Attorney General of La.
J. T. MONROE, Mayor of New Orleans.
f rata ike New Tork Journal of Commerce.
THE SEW ORLEANS RIOT.
There can be nejustificaton for any class
oi luoac wno 100a part in inc uugncciui
aeenea which marked tl.r 38th of Julv at
New Orleans ; but there will doubtless be
some division of sentiment in awarding to
eaeh ita due proportion of the blame for
these sad occurrence. The convention of
1864, called to revise and amend the Con
stitution of Louisiana, having finished its
business, was duly adjourned. Previous to
its dissolution, a motion was carried that
when it was adjourned it should be to the
rail nf ita nrMiil.nl. Mutt Well iftfurmeil
persons believe that this resolution had no
Diauing lorcr, anu mai mis oou ceuia nei
thus nruriJ' fur a renewal of ita I real ex.
istence. A large number of the members
who were known as Radicals, and who were
supposed to favor the policy of negro suf
frage, desired Mr. K. II. Durell, who had
it together again in order to take action
upon the amendments to the Constitution
receotly proposed by Congress. This gen
tleman tltrlinnt. huwttrr. to iaaue ant
aueh rail, nn il, .ruuml that ha had no
Kower in the premises, as the convention
ad tarminB(J ita Ipoal existence bv ail.
journment. Upon this refusal, the members
held an informal meeting and appointed a
president pro tern., who issued a call for
me convention to aiseraoie on .uonuay, we
30th of July.
Public feelmz in New Orleans was very
much excited in view ul this convocation
Few, we think, will contend that the assem
bly thus convened had any proper attri
butes of a legal body ; and to this can-c for
excitement there was added the avowed
purpose on the part of its members to dis
franchise every person in the State who had
aided the rebellion, and to give universal
suffrage to the negros. The proclamation
of the Mayor, ostensibly designed to pre
vent any disturbance, was not wisely con
ceived, and very likely added fuel to the
flame. A charere had been made that the
military were likely to interfere with the
. ...
convention, anu tor ibis reason, doubtless.
heir leader waa more alow to act than the
occasion required. The opening of the as
sembly waa the signal for precessions of ex
cited negroes, who expected great things
from the convention, ana who marched
through the streets with music and banners,
and other Semonitrations of joy. With such
inflammable materials an explosion was al
most inevitable ; and the first collision be
tween a portion of the procession and an
excited citizen was the aignal for a general
riot. We are not surprised at tbe course
of the Radicals. The have always been
turbulent aad factious, and regardless of
constitutional rirhts or legal restraints
when these stood in the way ot their de
signs. If they did.not expressly desire the
outbreak, their proceedings were well cal
culated to provoke it, and they doubtless
expected, if it occurred, that it would serve
their cause.
The conservative citizens ofNew Orleans
should have taken more prompt and tho
rough precautions to prevent a co'lision.
sod they are much to blame for thia aad
result. They know both the reckless folly
of the Radicals and the excitability of tho
poor negroes, and theyshould have adopted
such measures as tie occasion required.
Those who attacked the convention and ex
hibited a ferocious thirst for blood, are tho
worst enemies of the Soatb, although pro
fessing to be ita more ardent friends. They
take counsel always ot their resentments
or their passions instead of their judgment.
and they are prepetually bringing repioach
upon the land they would die to aerve.
While there ia no justification on either
side for such outbreaks of popular violence,
all good citizens msy well join in doing
what they can to remove the cause of so
much trouble. We hope that those who
have been determined to force upon the
. j?.
couniry a universal suuragc, wunoui uia-
. r . ...... ?".. .1. .
tiaction oi coior, win see me aimcmuci
in the wsy ot their mad project, and will
abandou it before the land is deluged with
bloud. Even if it could be peacefully in
augurated, wherever each ef the two races
were numerous and kept from comming
ling, it must lead, sooner or later, to the
same disastrous conlict.
Frota the If aw Tork Tiibaoe.
Hr. Dull nit Complicity in tho Auai
ilflation Plot.
A Philadelphia paper publiahes the fol
lowing letter receive j in that city in re
ference to the remark made by Jefferson
Davis at Charlotte, on receiving the des
patch announcing Pesident Lincoln's as
sassinstioo, as given in the testimony of
Mr. Bates during the trial of the assassins.
The writer is a Northern man, a near re
lative ofa distinguished officer of the North
ern army, aad a federal office-holder. lie
says:
We have just heard of the surrender of
Gen. Lee's army. The Methodist mis
sionary who first brought the news, nar
rowly escaped the guard-house when he re
lated it Soon after a cavalry escort ap
proached tho town, headed by a civilian,
soon recegnitrd ss Mr. Davis. He stopped
at the house of Mr. Bates, an agent of
Adams Express Company, where he had
been invited by Ulegraph. I wss within
a few feet of the door when he alighted
from his horse, snd, ascending the steps,
he made a short address. Not a word was
said about Mr. Liacoln't death, for nothing
of It was then known. The door of the
house being locked, there wat a alight de
lay afterward.
As he rcmsined in this position, an
sgeot of the telrgraph efflce pined me,