The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-08-16

p ! H0NCNE1ARl va NA1 laws tA' ~
$ CARDS the conspiracy, which, by r,
e viying the Convention OF 1864, pun
, posed to subvert the civil government
of Louisiana
\ An informal meeting OF twenty
/ members-one hundred and fifty bein,
the whole number. and seventy. six
: quorum-proceeded TO depose tn,
President of the Convention, who con
, sidered the Convention itself extinc
and himself functions oBicio, and u
elect II. X Howell as President prC
( TEN. They adjourned to meet again
and a proclamation was issued by the
President pro tenn, convening the
! Convention to meet on the 30th July
last, and directing his Excellency the
y Governor of the State, TO issue writs
of election to fill vacancies.
So far, the whole matter was looked
upon as harmless experiment, al.
though mischievously intended, the
people being confident that the Cover
nor would not eondescend to notice
this proclamation, and that, in case the
Convention would commit any act of
interference, he would at once have it
dispersed
Unfortunately, however, after the
lapse of nearly month, the Governor
issued writs of election to fill up fifty
one vacancies in that body. This doc.
ument, to which the Secretary of State
refused to give his attestation under
the seal of the State, was issued under
the attestation of the Private Secreta-
nv of the Governor
The people of the State became
alarmed when no doubt could be en-
tertained as to the fact that their Chief
Magistrate had given willing aid and
assistance to subyert the Government,
the preservation of which was especi-
ally entrusted to his keeping. On
Friday, the 9th of July. large meet
ing was held in the Hall of the House
of Representatives professedly for the
advocacy of universal suffrage, but in
reality to organize for the meeting of
the Convention on the Monday follow
ing. The object of this meeting was
to arouse the passions and prejudices
of the colored population, so as to
make them the victims of a riot by |
urging them headlong into conflict
with the State and municipal authori-
ties. On the other hand, we were de
termined to prevent riot and bloodshed |
by pursuing such a course as would
battle the neiarious calculations of
those agitators. Our remedy--and |
the only remedy must be by recourse
to the usual process of law-and even
then to proceed in such way rs to
fasten upon them the responsibility of
all collision whatever.
The case was submitted to the Grand
Jury by the Attorney General and,
in the meantime, the Lieutenant Gov
ernor and the Mayor called upon Gen.
Baird to ascertain whether, if war
rant issued upon a regular indictment,
were placed in the hands Of the Sheriff
for the arrest of the members of the
Convention, the military would inter
'ere. The answer was that the Sheriff
himself would be arrested; and that
he Convention, meeting peaceably,
,onld not be interfered with by the
officers of the law.
1t is proper here to state that the
Mayor had previously addressed
tote to Gen. Baird, inquiring whether
he would be interfered with by the {
military in case he would proceed to {
lisperse the Convention as an unlaw- Q
ul assemblage. The answer to this 6
was that the meeting
If the Convention being peaceable 7
ould not be suppressed by the Mayor !
nd that the military authorities would !
'revent the interference of the city I
C
1t was suggested by the Lieutenant l
iovernor that the city authorities,
nder those circumstances, did not in
end to interfere to prevent the meet J
lg of the Convention, but he propos- !
d, that in case a warrant of arrest
'ere placed in the hands of the Sheriff, Il
he latter, before attempting to exc
ute it, would call upon the General,
Tho thereupon would indorse his OBJ q
,ctions, and the matter would at once .
e submitted to the President. This ),
was satisfactory to both
arties On the same day the Attor- .
ey General and the Lieut.. Governor u
,legraphed to the President to ascer- .
lin whether the process of Court for u
he arrest of the members of the Con "
ention could be thwarted by the mill z
Try. The answer was that, instead of 4
bstructing, the military was expected q
} sustain the Courts. y
On Sunday, the 29th, the State and !
authorities called upon the 2
ress to advise the people as to the u
roper conduct TO be held next day. so d
} to avoid all collision and riot; and 7,
lie Mayor issued his proclamation to U
he same effect The press of the .
ty, with the exception of the Radi-
Al organ, gave wise and salutary coun- u
is to the public, inviting all good !,
tizens TO avoid congregating about s. =
le capitol. and to demean themselves n
it'll prudence and discretion. II
On the morning of the Both the
lieutenant Governor called upon Gen.
aird TO communicate to him the
residents dispatch, and also inquired
ON the General il he would not have