Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-18


distinguished democratic
senator in Congress took the same view. For
myself, if l had any doubt ON the subject,
which Thave not. / should have deferred to
the opinions of other men.
The total number of delegates composing
it was $50. The number elected was ~. The
quorum was fixed at 76. this number being
majority of the whole. There were ~ parishes
unrepresented in the convention, entitled to
oil delegates, adding thereto 10 vacancies to
be filed would make 81 delegates to be elect
ed, besides there were some 10 or IL delegates
who, disappearing the emancipation clause, re-
fused to sign the constitution, who may rank
with extreme conservatives. Counting the 81
delegates to be elected to be of the same class,
and the balance of the committee to be radi-
cal, it will be seen the parties would have
been really equally divided. have gone into
these details to show the ialsity of the charges
that have been made, that the convention
would have represented the whole state, and
that it was intended to be packed. About
one-h alf elected their delegates in 1864 and
the other half i'm 1866 making a just equihb-
rum of those who opposed and those who
sustained the cause of the c0nfederacy. There
are DISTINGUISHING clauses in the constitution
of 1864. The much abused members of that
body had it.in their power to have made the
constitution as stringent against those en-
gagged in rebellion as Tennessee and Missouri
have done. They pursued an opposite course,
believing and trusting as j did that these men
would be actnated by spirit OF tOle rance and
forbearsnee in retarn for the hberallty shown
towards them. How the members of that
convention have been treated individually by
| the very men in whose honor and good faith
they trusted, to say nothing of the scorn and
viilihcation Illuminated against them as a col
lectiye body, and the constitution they made,
let the record of the bloody doing at Mechan-
les Institute on Monday answer. In keeping
with their unTelenting policy to maintain pow
er of state ln their own hands exclusively they
opposed the meeting OF the convention of
1864. They needed no bett monitor than
| their own conseienees to tell them that by
| their own prospective conduct they have for
feited all claim to further liberty from the
original members of that convention. They
resolved that it must be put down and
crushed out at all risks
The terrible scenes of the 20th of july was
| confidently predicted in case the convention
met which was the result.
The letter of Mayor MunrOe 10 Gen Baird
accompanying this communication, is proof
thatlt WAS the determination, if every other
| means failed, to resort to force Everything
was arranged on Sunday preparatory to that
purpose The police received orders, and on
| Monday morning they were in large numbers
at the corner of Canal and Dryades streets.
| each having one or more TcyOlvers on his per-
son. Why were they there except to commit
violence?
Among all that was charged against the speakers
at the Friday night meeting they concealed nothing
more than the blacks should come arOu d to defend
| the COMMITTEES in case the members we're attacked.
Admitting they had assembled for that purpose.
what occasion was there for alarm unless il was
meditated TO assault the committee. The inference
is rrt sistable by the Dassng of the police alone
that it was designed to break gp the convention by
force. For this purpose a beginning was necessary
and the opportunity sought for soon occurred
by the arrival OF procession of blacks with music
on the way TO the place of meeting OF the conveB-
ton, which procession had entered the crowd Of
aud were met with insults and ieers, which brought
ON a collision. shot was ired, but ended in
nothing serious.
The next act OF violence was the arrest of color
ed man by a policeman in front of the institute -
The crowd OF coored persons assembled naturally
becime excited at this occurrence the same as a
body of white men would do under the same cir
cumstance. Some took sides with the policemen
others the side of the prisoner Brickbats were
thrown aud shot fired. tha testimony going tn
show 1t was done by one of the cOlored crowd. 1t
was answered Immediately by several shots from
the crowd OF policemen at the corner, and followed
up by rapid firing ON the crowd of blacks who re-
turned the fire fat they could but being over
powered and driven fom the street. took shelter in
the Mechanics Institute. If the object Of tho DO
ice was simply to preserve the public peace, why
did they not, after thu had taken refuge In the
institute return to their original position at the
corner of the street which ef-ctualy cut off gress
from the fr MT and, placing a guard to watch the
rear OF the building await the arrival of the mill
tary, who were known 20 be on the wAy. Their
only reason for this course is that it did not suit
their purpose. They accordingly advanced in the
front OF the building and beseged it all sides.
Every negro who attempted TO escape was murder
ed.
The browning climax of these murderous and
bloody acts is we'll known. When the white nag
was hung out token OF surrender. the police
rested the members Of the convention and other
white citizens. and brought them into the streets.
where the most prominent of the Union sentines
were shof stabbed and beaten M the custody ana
presence OF the entira police of the ely
Why did not the mayor or his chief station
tIa and farI,SA
entering ana await the arrival of the military. By
this means the last most deliberat and horrible
phase q this bloody tragedy would have been
avoided
It is also notorious that the police failed to arrest
or attempted to arrest ever one of the rioters or
citizens who, according to their ofrepeated stale
ments, We're continually attacking, pounding and
killing persons who had surrendered and were in
their custody.
think have fully shown il was the design of
those opposed to the convention to break it up by
fHrcs. The inference u be drawn from the letter
OF tn ma. or that such course resolved, and
the massing OF police and their willingness 20 rush
into the night think fully establishes the fact that
the OF TIA exhibition of violence aud mob
law must be traced further back. 1t is the embers
of fires OF the rebelous feeling which plunged this
country into a desOating civil war, and which
flame Is not yet exiinguished in the breasts of the
former slavehOlding aristocracy. They failed in
their first attempt to destroy the government
They seek to retain political power by the same
spirit OF violence by which the leaders and chiefs
have maintained their supremacy of the people be
fore the
My deliberate conclusion is, that if the military
forces be Withdrawn, the lives of Union men who
proved themselves conspicuous in main aiming tbs ir
allegiance. Will not be safe The ultimate security
both of the government and Union men of the
South, depends, in my opinion. on the ratification
OF the constitutional Amendment proposed by Con-
gress and the emf anchisemeat of the loyal black
man as he may become educated and qualified for
that important privilege
Ii the advocacy of these measures identify me
with the radical party as it is called in opposition
to the President, must secept the situation. Be
sides ! can't change my conviction in respect to
principles and measures. 1 deem ii necessary 10
preserve and perpe the Union.
j. MADISON WELLS,
Governor OF Louisiana.