The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-18 00:00:00

THE StiN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1860.

New Orleans Riots.

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TIIE LOUIS-
IANA CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICIALS AND THE
AUTHORITIES AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, August 21.—The following is the official
correspondence relative to the New Orleans riots :
WAIL DEPARTMENT TELEGRAM.
From New Orleans, Louisiana, July 27th, 1866.
His Excellency President Johnson.
Sir—Governor Wells has, in compliance with the pro-
clamation of It. K. Howell, President pro tern., signed
writs of election to fill vacancies in tho Convention and
forwarded the same to the office of the Secretary of State.
(Signed) ALFRED VOORHEES.
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.
Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of Louisiana.
The War Department received the following tele-
gram:—

New Orleans, July 28th, 18GG.

To President Johnson.

A Radical mass meeting, composed mainly of negroes,
was held last night, ending in a riot. The Committee of
Arrangements of said meeting are assembling to-night.
Violent and incendiary speeches are being made. The
negroes are called upon to arm themselves. You are bit-
terly denounced. The speakers are Field, Dostie, Haw-
kins, Henderson, Heir, Ward, and others. Governor
Wells arrived last night, but sides with the Convention.
I would place the whole matter before the Grand Jury,
but it is impossible to execute a civil process without the
certainty of a riot.

It is contemplated to have the members of the Convention
under process from the Criminal Court of this District.
Is the military to interfere with the process of the
Court ? _

A. VOORHEES, Lieutenant-Governor, La.
A. J. HERItON, Attorney-General, La.
Executive Mansion, Washington, July 28, 1866.
To Albert Voorhees, Lieutenant-Governor of Louisiana,

New Orleans.

The military will be expected to sustain and not to
obstruct or interfere with the proceedifigs of the court. A
despatch on the subject of tho Convention was sent to
Governor Wells this morning.

ANDREW JoßsoN.
Executive Office, Washington, July 28,1868.
To Governor Wells, New Orleans.

I have been advised that you have issued a proclama-
tion convening the Convention elected in 1864.
Please inform mo under and by what authority this has
been done, and by what authority this Convention can
assume to represent the whole people of the State of
Louisiana. ANDREW JOHNSON.

New Orleans, July 28, 1866.

To President Johnson.

Your telegram is received. I have not issued a procla-
mation convening the Convention of 1864. This was
done by the President of that body, by virtue of a resolu-
tion adjourning the Convention subject to his order,
and in that case also authorising him to call on the pro-
per officers to issue writs of election in unrepresented
parishes.
My proclamation is in response to that call, ordering an
election on the 3d of September. As soon as the vacancies
can be ascertained an election will be held to fill them,
when the entire State will bo represented.—Your obedient
servant, _ _

(Signed)

J. MADISON WELLS,
Governor of Louisiana.
New Orleans, July 28, 1803.

Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington.

A Convention has been called, with the sanction of
Governor Welles, to meet here on Monday.
The Lieutenant Governor and city authorities think it
unlawful, and propose to break it up by arresting the dele-
gates, I have given no orders on the subject, but have
warned the parties that I could not permit such action
without instructions to that effect from the President.
Please instruct me at once by telegraph.
A. BduitD, Brevet Major-General.
New Orleans, July 30.

To the President, Washington. _
We aro in the midst of a terrible riot, caused by the
assembling of the Convention. Owing to the mixed con-
dition of affairs among the State officers, I see no hope of
quiet without you give us a military Governor. Cannot
General Granger act ?
A. J. HERRON,
Late Major-General U. S. A.
Executive Manion, Washington, July 30, 1866.
A. J. Herron, Attorney-General, New Orleans.
You will call on General Sheridan, or the officer in com-
mand, for a sufficient force to sustain the civil authority in
suppressing all illegal or unlawful assemblies who usurp
or assume to exercise any po;ver or authority without hav-
ing first obtained the power of authority from the people
of the State. If there be a Convention, let it be composed
of delegates chosen fresh from the people of the whole State.
The people must be first consulted in regard to changing
the organic law of the State. Usurping will not be tole-
rated. The law and Constitution must be sustained, and
thereby peace and order. A. Jotixsos.
New Orleans, July 30.
To President Johnson.
The Convention met. A riot has broken out in the city.
So far, the police has the upper hand. Several white and
coloured persons are killed. Called on General Baird for
assistance, which is cheerfully tendered. Intense excite-
ment. ALBERT VOORHEES,
Lieutenant-Governor, La.
Now Orleans, July 30-9 p.m.
To the Secretary of War.
A serious riot has occurred hero to-day. I have been in
full consultation with the city authorities, and have kept
my troops well in hand for such an emergency. The riot
commenced unexpectedly, and before the troops could
reach the scene of action, a number of persons were killed
and wounded.
I have felt compelled to declare martial law, and have
appointed a Military Governor of the city. All is quiet
now. Several prominent gentlemen connected with the
Convention are killed or wounded.
A. BAIRD, Brevet-Major-General.
Now Orleans, July 3U.

convenience you will inform me whether this projected
meeting has your approbation, so that I may act accord-
iugly._l am, General, respectfully,

Hon. John T. Monroe :

Joiix T. MONROE, Mayor.
New Orleans, July 26.

Sir,—l have received your communication of the 2Gth
inst., informing me that a body of men claiming to be
members of tho Convention of 1864, whose avowed
object is to subvert the present municipal and
State Governments, is about to assemble in this city,
and regarding this assembly as one of those described
in the law as calculated to disturb peace and tranquillity,
and therefore unlawful, you believe it to be your duty, and
that it is your intention to disperse this unlawful assembly
if found within the corporate limits of the city by arrest-
ing the members thereof, and holding them accountable to
present municipal laws, providing they meet with the ap-
probation of the military authorities.
You also inquire whether the projected mooting has my
approbation, so that you may act accordingly.
In reply I have the honor to state that the assemblage
to which you refer, presuming th 3 g ._utluinen composing
it, have never asked for such authority as the military,
since I have bell command. The officers of the United
States have held themselves strictly aloof from political
movements of the citizens of Louisiana. For my own part
I have carefully refrained from expressing an opinion on
either side. When asked if I intended to furnish the Con-
vention with a military guard, I have answered "No ;"
the Mayor and police would amply protect its sittings.
[Several despatches intervene. The following are the
most important of the series yet received :—]
U. S. Grant. New Orleans, August 3.

General,---The more information I obtain of the affair
in this city, the more revolting it becomes. It was no
riot, it was an absolute massacre by the police, which was
not exceeded in murderous cruelty by that of Fort Pillow.
It was a murder which the Mayor and police of the city
perpetrated without a shadow of necessity. Furthermore,
I believe it was premeditated and prearranged.
1 recommend the removing of this bad man. I believe
it would be hailed with the sincerest gratification by two-
thirds of the population of the city. There has been a
feeling of insecurity on the part of the people on account
of this man, which is now so much increased that the
safety of life and property does not rest with the civil
authority, but with the military.
P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General Commanding.
New Orleans, La., August 3.
U. S. Grant.

General,—l have the honour to report everything quiet
in the city, but considerable excitement in the public
mind.

There is no interference on the part of the military with
the civil Government, which performs all its duties with-
out hindrance. I have permitted the retention of the
military Governor appointed during my absence, as it
gives confidence and enables the military to know what is
occurring in the city. He does not interfere with city
matters. Unless good judgment is exercised, there will
be an exodus of Northern capitalists and Union men which
will be injurious to the city and whole country.
I will remove the Military Governor in a day or two.
I again advise that some disposition be made to change
the Mayor, as I believe it would tend more to restore
confidence than anything that could be done. If the pre-
sent Governor could be changed also it would not be
amiss.

P. 11. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding.
Washington, August 3.

Major-General Sheridan, New Orleans.
Continue to enforce martial law so far as it may be neces-
sary to preserve the peace, and do not allow any of the
civil authorities to act, if you deem such action dangerous
to the public safety.
Lose no time in investigating and reporting the causes
that led to the riot, and the facts which occurred.
U. S. GRANT, General.
Washington, August 4.
Major-General Sheridan, Commanding Now Orleans,
We have been apprised here that prior to the assembling
of the illegal and unauthorised Convention elected in 1864,
inflammatory, insurrectionary speeches were made to a
mob composed of white and coloured persons, urging on
them to arm and equip themselves for protecting and sus-
taining the Convention in its illegal and unauthorised pro-
ceeding, calculated to upturn and supersede the State
Government of Louisiana, which had been recognised by
the Government of the United States. Further, did the
mob assemble, and was it raised for the purpose of assist-
ing the Convention in its usurpation? Have any arms
been taken from persons since the 30th ult., who were sup-
posed or known to be connected with this mob ? Have
various individuals been shot and killed by this meb with-
out good cause, and in violation of the public peace and
good order ? Was not the assembling of this Convention
and the gathering of the mob for protection the main cause
of the riotous and unlawful proceedings of the civil autho-
rities of New Orleans ? Have steps been taken by the civil
authorities to arrest and try all those who were engaged
in this riot, and those who have committed offences in
violation of law ? Can ample justice be meted out by the
city authorities to all offenders against the law ? Will the
General please furnish me a brief reply to the above in-
quiries, with such other information as he may be in pos-
session of by telegraph. Answer at your earliest conveni-
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Office United States Military Telegraph,
Headquarters War Department.
(Cipher.)

The following telegram was received at 6.15 p.m.
August 1, 1866:

New Orleans, La., Aug. 1, 180.

U. S. Grant, General,

You are doubtless a ware of the serious riot which
occurred in this city on the 30th. A political body, styling
itself the Convention of 1864, met on the 20th, for, as it is
alleged, the purposo of remodelling the present Constitution
of the State. The leaders were political agitators and re-
volutionary men, and the action of the Convention was
liable to produce a disturbance of the peace. I had made up
my
mind
to
werearrest thelc ul said men if the proceedings of the
Convention
Ol indto disturb the tranqUillity of
easa
the department, but I had no cause for action until they
committed the overt act. In the meantime official duties
called me to Texas, and the mayor of the city during my
absence suppressed the Convention by the police force, and
in so doing attacked the members of the Convention and a
perty of 200 negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in
a manner so unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to
say it is murder. About 40 whites and blacks were thus
killed, and about 160 wounded. Everything is now quiet,
but I deem it best to maintain a military supremacy in the
city for a few days, until the affair is fully investigated. I
believe the sentiment of the general community is great
regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the police could
have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing
lives.

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General Commanding.
Office United States Military Telegraph Lieadquartcrs War
Department.

(Signed)

The following cipher telegram was received at 3.30 p.m.,
August 6, 1866 :
New Orleans, La., August 6-12 m., 1866.
His Excellency, Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States.

I have the honour to make the following reply to your
ilespatch of August 4 :—A very largo number of the co-
:loured people marched in procession on Friday night, July
:27, and was addressed from the City Hall by Dr. Dostie,
fix-Governor Hahn, and otheria. The speech of the others,
as far as I can learn, were characterised by moderation.
I have not given you the words of Dostie's speech, as the
version published was denied, but, from what I have
Xcarned of the man, I believe they were intemperate.
The Convention assembled at 12 o'clock on the 27th,
f;-he timid members absenting themselves, because the tone
o f the public was ominous of trouble. I think there were
bout twenty-six members present in front of the Me-
olhanics' Institute. Where the meeting was held there
were assembled some coloured men, women, and children,
lie chaps eighteen or twenty, and in the institute a number
of coloured men, probably fifty. Among those outside and
i n side there might have been a pistol in the possession of
every tenth man.
About one p.m. a procession of say from fifty to one
Irt,ndred and thirty coloured men marched up Burgundy-
str eet and across Canal-street, toward the Convention,
ca: rrying an American flag. These men had about one
F~iE;tol to every ten men, and canes and clubs in addition.
\ 'nano rros.,iug Canal-street a row occurred. There were
la ay spectators on the streets, and their manner and tone
b swards the procession was unfriendly. A shot was fired,
b y whom I am not able to state, but believed it to have
Of In by a policeman, or some coloured man in the proces-
sio n. On their arrival at the front of the institute there
ise ,s some throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police
w'ne had been held well in hand were vigorously marched
tc) the scene of disorder. The :procession then entered in
the institute with the flag, about six or eight remaining
outside. A row occurred between a policeman and one of
these coloured men, and a shot was again fired by one of
the parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on the
building through the windows, by the policemen. This
had been going on for a short time, when a white flag was
displayed from the windows of the institute, whereupon
the firing ceased, and the police rushed into the building.
The immediate cause of this terrible affair was the
assemblage of this Convention. Tho real cause was the
bitter antagonistic feeling which has been growing in the
community since the advent of the present Mayor, who, in
the organization of the police force, selected many
desperate men, and some of them known murderers
People of clear views were overawed by want of confi-
dence in the Mayor and fear of the " thugs," many of which
he had selected for his police force. I have frequently
been spoken to by prominent citizens on this subject, and
have heard them express fear and want of confidence in
Mayor Monroe ever since the intimation of this last Con-
vention movement.
From the testimony of wounded mon, and others who
were inside the building, the police opened an indiscrimi-
nate fire upon the audience until they had emptied their
revolvers, when they retired, and those inside barricaded
the doors. The door was broken and the firing again
commenced, when many of the coloured and white people
escaped through the door, or were passed out by the police-

men inside ; but as they came out the policemen, who
formed a circle nearest the building, fired upon them, and
they were again fired upon by the citizens that formed the
outer circle. Many of these were wounded and taken
prisoners, and those not wounded wore tired upon by their
captors and by citizens The wounded were stabbed while
lying ou the ground, and their hands beaten with bri*-
bats. In the yard of the building, whither some of the
coloured men had escaped and partially secreted them-
solves, they were fired upon and killed or wounded by
policemen. Some men wore killed and wounded several
squares from the scene. Members of the Convention were
wounded by the policemen while in their hands as pri-
soners, some of thorn mortally.
I must condemn the course of several of the city papers
for supporting, by their articles, the bitter foaling of bad
men. As to the merciless manner in which the Conven-
tion was broken up, I feel obliged to confess strong re-
pugnance.

It is useless to attempt to disguise the hostility that
exists on the part of a great many here towards North-
ern men. This unfortunate affair has so precipitated
matters that it is now a test of what shall be the status
of Northern men—whether they can live hero without
being in constant dread or not; whether they can be pro-
tected in life and property, and have justice in the courts.
If this matter is permitted to pass over without a thorough
and determined prosecution of those engaged in it, we
may look out for frequent scenes of the same kind, not
only here, but in other places. _ . .

No steps have as yet been taken by the civil authorities
to arrest the citizens who wore engaged in tho massacre,
or policemen who perpetrated such cruelties. The mem-
bers of the Convention have been indicted by the grand jury,
and many of them arrested and held to bail. As to whether
the civil authorities can mote out ample justice to the guilty
parties, on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, unequivo-
cally, they cannot. Judge Abel, whose course I have closely
watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most
dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet
of the city. The leading men of the convention, King,
Butler, Hahn, and others, have been political agitators,
and are bad men.

I regret to say that the course of Governor Wells has
been vacillating, and that during the late trouble he has
shown very little of the man.
(Signed) P. 11. SHERIDAN,
Major-General:Commanding.

Visit of the Seventh New York Regiment to

Europe.

A correspondent of the Anglo-American Times
writes as follows :

The heir to England's throne some few years since made
a triumphant tour through a portion of North America.
After visiting the subjects of his mother, and receiving
their homage, he accepted the invitation of the American
people, tendered through their Chief Magistrate, and was
hospitably entertained wherever he sojourned, but the
Empire City of New York, splendid in her hospitality as
she always is, surpassed even herself on the occasion of
the Prince of Wales visit. Humanity in all its various
phases and types thronged the great avenues and streets,
and with a unanimity rarely equalled shouted themselves
hoarse in welcoming the son of Victoria.
The writer of .this communication was one of the pri-
vileged few who stood upon the steps of the City Hall
while the militia (or Volunteers as they would be called
here) passed in review. As ono particular regiment, in
fact the favourite Seventh, marched past, receiving the
usual plaudits, which are always accorded to that body,
General Bruce, at that time Governor of the Prince cf
Wales, turned to General Sandford, the commander of the
troops, and asked the name of the regiment then passing.
When informed, he remarked " They are admirable—ex-
cellent."

It was this Regiment which was chosen as the body-
guard or Guard of Honour to the Prince of Wales during
his visit to New York.

It is unnecessary to inform the American portion of the
Anglo-American readers who and what the Seventh Re-
giment is. Enough to say it has over been tho reliance
of tho peaceful community of Now York in opposition to
mob law, and that besides twice marching over a thousand
strong to the defence of tho Union, when called upon they
have furnished over 250 officers for the army during the
late war, many of whom have risen to the most distin-
guished positions, while too many have contributed their
blood to cement the immemorial arch of victory.

To your English readers it may bo necessary to make
some few remarks in reference to a Regiment which may
ere long land as guests upon the shores of England.
Without desiring to detract one iota from the well-

merited honours which are due to other regiments for the
splendid heroism which they displayed through red-stained
battle-fields and weary picket life, on the march and in the
trench, in proud advance or dispiriting retreat, in all the
vicissitudes that mark a campaign, we have no hesita-

tion in stating that the people of the United States could
not select a body of mon one thousand strong who could
better represent them abroad than the Seventh Regiment
of New York. All classes of the mercantile community
are alike represented.
In America all mon work in her industrial hive; there
are no drones, they make principal, not live on it. The
lounger in Hyde Park would bo a loafer there. No man '
is satisfied with what his father left him as a legacy; there
is no law of primogeniture, all men who have capital cir-
culate it. Shabby gentility is at a discount. To be a
gentleman it is not considered necessary to be idle. The
Princes of America aro Merchant Princes. Peabody,
Stewart, Vanderbilt, and Astor all work. So though the
Seventh Regiment may be said to be composed of a body
of gentlemen, yet every member is the representative of
some branch of art, science, or labour. There are mer-
chants, physicians, artists, authors, engineers, clerks,
They are free-will soldiers, not conscripts. They are
proud of themselves as a body ; they are els-) proud indi-
vidually. They have an esprit de corps which is almost
matchless. Their drill is severe, continuous ; the result
is their evolutions are admirable. So well satisfied aro
they with their mode of
,manoeuvring, their drill, and
their general appearance, that they have long desired to
cross the Atlantic and pay England a visit, in order to run
the gauntlet of English criticism. The breaking out of
the Civil War in America caused them to postpone their
contemplated visit. The Exhibition in Paris in 1867 has
resulted in decisive action. Funds have been 'collected,
an invitation signed by over two hundred prominent
Americans in Paris has been transmitted to New York.
All the necessary concessions have been obtained from the
Imperial Government, and thanks to the active and unre-

inittiug co-operation of Colonel Charles B. Norton, ono of
the Commissioners to the Exhibition, and now residing
in Paris, that portion of their visit has been arranged.
We are informed by that gentleman, that, as at present
understood, the E3giment will leave New York early in
Alan land at Havre, proceed to Paris, atter sojourneying there
some 17 days they will then come direct to London, where
they will probably remain seeing the sights about 10 days,
after which they will leave for Southampton, there to em-
bark for New York, in order to be at home by the Fourth
of July. It is supposed they will number 850 strong with
the Engineer corps, besides an excellent band and drum
corps, in all with invited guests about 1,050 officers and
men.

The arrangements forthoir visit to England are as yet in
a state of embyro, but surely if there has been the entente
cordials between France and England, and Belgium and
England, what reception may we suppose will be accorded
by the English Volunteers to their American cousins who
cross the Atlantic ?
Such an opportunity is unexampled. It is the natural
province of men-of-war to visit the various ports of
friendly nations, but for a whole regiment to leave home,
family ties—in fact every social relationship—and brave
the perils of an Atlantic voyage, in order that they may
see and be seen, is an expedition worthy of American
pluck.

We sincerely believe that it will be only necessary to
make this vague announcement to call forth the most en-
thusiastic reception from the Volunteers of England. We
can assure them that admirable though their drill, and
soldier-like though their appearance may be, they will
have to look well to their laurels. The Volunteers of
England will find the representatives of America are heroes
in a fair field, and heroes in the field for the fair.
Gresham House, London.

T. R.

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