Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-06
The Kew Crl ans slot.
from the National Intelligencer

1t was acknowledged that the IeasSaiE oilhs
of the Convention was illegal. The New Or
leans Tribune, the organ Of the Radical aglta-
tors, in an article published CD the oath OF
July, urging the reassembliDg Of the conVen-
ton, said ''We admit the convention to be
illegal; but at The same time we must recog-
nize that it has exercised power de jdcto, and
that it bids fair to s,il exercise similar
power 1t odds this remarkable coDtesslon
This convention is an extFancous power, which
does not emanate from the whole people ai-d
the proceedings Of the delegates are hailed IN
advance as the Inauguration OF political reVo-
lution-''a revolution more deep and more
important than any of the reforms already at
tempted or partially realized.
In addition to this avowal Of the Illegally
and revolutionary purposes Of the convention,
only small minority OF whose original mem
bers were willing to participate in the proceed
ings, it is evident that the authors OF this revo-
lutionary scheme anticipated and intended to
produce riot On the night OF the 9th OF
July they held public meeting avoWedly IN
favor OF negro suffrage. The audience, was
composed almost entirely of Ignorant and ex-
citabe negroes The New York Times has
made up from the New Orleans journals OF
the following day just summary OF the pro
ceedings and Immediate results Of this meeting:
1T was addressed by members of the con-
vention, who urged upon their coored auditors
the duty OF preparing to sustain the conVen-
ton bv force. and unfolding its resolves though
at the cost OF boodshed. As the object OF
the meeting was declared by one of the speak
ers a Mr. Judd, to be 'to strengthen the
coming convention, and to give it back bone;
its utterances now possess special significance
Aud they were utterances worthy OF Partisan
club in the early days Of Robespierre' power.
Universal suffrage was insisted upon as right
to be contended for at all hazards one OF the
resolutions affirming that until this be granted
"thcre will and can be no permanent peace.
DR.. Dostie, who has since paid the penalty ct
his violence, threatened anuhllatIon to those
who should interfere with the convention; and
the negroes we're instructed 10 repair armed to
the Mechanics Institute, where the conven-
ton met. The tone of the proceedings was
calculated to produce bad feeling between the
blacks and the whites, and to incte the form
er to the course they subsequently pursued A
procession Of colored men came after the meet
Ing, and in its progress through the streets
furnished foretaste Of the disturbance of
Monday. The Plcayune reports the majority
as carrying clubs and heavy missiles, and as
many were under the effects oflIquor, collisions
with passing citizens we're with difficulty pre-
vented by the police Later in the night con-
hicts with the police We're pceclplta1ed by
negroes in various parts of the city. Shots
we're fired. knives and sticks were used, and it
was only by the interference Of a struggling
party of soldiers that the officers were enabled
to hold their ground"
From all tho details it appears, conclusive
ly, that this riot was, with full knowledge of
the consequences, originally planned under the
supervision, aud with the c0ngnizanCe and
conniyance, if not at the instigalion, Of the
Radical leaders in Congress; that it was an
open and fragrant attempt: IN violation OF all
law, and in defiance of an overwhelming adverse
public opinion, to lnaugurate political rc7o-
luton, and q prcmeditated and deliberately
planned effort to execute an unlawful purpose
in open and armed resistance to the legally
constituted authorities of the State and ln1nl-
opal governments.
With singular unannlty and 1orbearancr,
the white citizens generally obcycd tie iniunc-
ton Of the Mayor and the advice CT the lead
ing lav-abiding citizens to refrain from gather
ing in and about the place Of meeting Of the
convention. The details show concIuS!vely- that
the riot was confined I>rInclpa!jy to the poiice
Oh the one side and he members Of the con
vention and their negro supporters and defend
ers UPON the other One portion Of the police
was occupied in keeping the populace away
from the scene Of action, while another was
endeuvoring, at the risk Of their lives, to arrest
the authors of this fearful disturbance Of the
public peace The Conflict was begun by an
attack upon the police by the negroes assembled
outside the building. The occupants OF the
building were not interfered with until they
commenced pouring upon the police a murder
Gus fire from the windows of the hall in which
the members OF the convention, supported by
a numerous body of armed negroes, were as
sembed. The police had succeeded in arrest
ing the principal authors of this terrible trag
edy, when the arrival of the military prevented
any further progress of the riot