Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-10
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
A Word from the Radical side
Address Of Governor Wells 10 the
FeODle Of H.0utaImmn. n r. Nrr.

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address has been issued to the people O
Louisiana by Gov. Wells:
New ORLEANS, Aug. 8.
The bloody tragedy enacted in the city
OF New Orleans, on the Both day of July
1866, In which more than three hundred
citizens were killed or murdered, has, tC
the credit of humanity, created a profound
sympathy in the breast OF every man
throughout the length and breadth of the
country. The remote and immediate causes
OF this outrage demand a thorough investi-
cation and explanation, and as the Chief
Magistrate of the State / feel a solemn
duty resting upon me to give plain, un-
vanished statement of its origin and prog
ress.
In doing this 1t becomes necessary for me
to commence, in the year 1864, at the reor-
ganization of civil government in that por-
tiOn OF Louisiana which had been wrested
from rebel authority. / regret that shall,
In this connection, be obliged 10 speak of
| myself. 1t is not to satisfy any feeling of
vanity that 1 do 80, for fully realize that
am but an insignificant atom in the great
cause Of maintaining and perpetuating
the Union of these States.
The political history of the country
teaches US that under the policy of the late
lamented President, all the loyal citizens Of
Louisiana, in the parishes then within the
Union lines, were invited and authorized,
in the proclamation issued by the military
commander of this Department, to hold an
election on the 22d day of February, 1864,
for State officers. The election was held,
and then being refugee from my parish
in the rebel lines, In consequence of my
Union sentiments, was nominate by the
Free State party, as 1t is called, and also by
a rf ~, 7
rant was the acknowledged leader, as their
candidate for the Office of Lieutenant Gov
ernor.
The first named ticket, headed by Mich
ael Hahn for Governor, was elected. Gov.
Hahn served until the 4th of March, 1866.
when by his resignation, / succeeded to the
Office OF Governor. In the meantime, and
by virtue OF military authority, an election
for delegates to the State Convention, to
amend and revise the Constitution of 1852
had taken place; the Convention had met,
framed Constitution declaring slavery to
be abolished, which Constitution is now the
fundamental law of the State.
1t is further we'll known that the Conven-
tion did not adjourn sine die, but subject
to the call of the President for any cause.
A Legislature had also been elected, and
was in session at the time of the assumption
by me of the duties of the Office of Gov
ernor.
Shortly afterward the collapse of the So
called Confederate Government took place,
and by the surrender OF the forces In the
Trans Mississippi Department, the entire
territory of the State was restored to the
lawful authority of the United States.
When this event took place, what was my
conduct toward the population of eighteen
parishes reclaimed? Although l had been
prosecuted and driven away from my home
by the rebel authorities, l suppressed all
feeling of rancOr so natural to man,
and expressed the belief that majority
had been seduced from their allegiance to
the old flag by the wiles of artiul dem
agogues, who brought on the rebellion. |
determined to try the effect of kindness and
Cancellation in weaving them back to their
first love. ! addressed them q proclama-
tiOn cOngrRtulating them on their restora-
ton to the protection of Government OF
law and order, and assured them that so far
as was concerned, was willing to forget
the past. begged them to submit cheer
fully and unreservedly to the new order of
things, and assured them that although A
State Government had been organized, vet
| was anxious that general election for
State officers should be held, in which the
whole State could participate.
fulfilled every word of my promises. l
appointed men recommended to fill the of
fees in the several parishes; l signed their
applications to the President of the United
States for special pardon; persisted in my
course of reconciliation, notwithstanding
the warnings and remonstrances of Union
men, who believed that my policy would
be unavailing in accomplishing the pur-
pose intended, and who predicted that at
the very first election these men, in every
parish where they held the power, would
prescribe every man from office who had
not been in the rebel army and fought for
the rebel cause. These predictions have
been REALIZED to the letter at every subse-
quent election, with the exception of nv
own case, and it is well known, for it was
publicly avOwed, that was put at the head
of their ticket simply because it was
thought that / could be useful in securing
Representation of the State in Congress.
1t Is further well known that the platform
reported by the committee appointed for
that purpose, to the Democratic Conven-
tion held in this city, was a reiteratiOn of
the doctrines of the right of secession, and
1t was only through the exertions of few
of the more cautious and polite of the par
ty that this platform was made to assume
the form in which it was adopted at the
same Convention. A we'll known citizen
and live Democrat was publicly censured,
by resolution, because, in a speech deliv-
cred before that body, he said that seces-
sion was worse than a crime, 1t was a
blunder.
Notwithstanding my nomination by the
Democratic party, another candidate was
put In the field in opposition to me, who
had Officiated as Governor under rebel rule,
and who, had he been in the country and
signified his assent, l have no doubt would
have been overwhelmingly elected.
When the members of the Legislature
met In extra session, in the month of No
vember, 1865, convened by me for the pur-
pose of raising money to restore the broken
levees and to take measures to redeem the
credit of the State, found that they were
more intent on calling Convention to
change the Constitution of 1864 than to
promote the material interests of the people.
Their chief objection to that instrument
was the character of the men who framed |
It, and the abolition, thereby, of slavery.
Having failed at the extra session, to pass |
a bill calling Convention, the attempt was
renewed at the regular session held In the |
month of January, and more than half the |
time OF that body was spent in discussing |
that question. Finally committee was |
sent to Washington to consult the Presi- |
dept, and the Legislature only abandoned |
the'measure through his advice. consid- |
cred Convention inexpedient, and for that |
reason opposed 1t. l had learned enough |
of the real sentiments of the people to con- |
vince me that If new Constitution was |
made, 1t would be less In harmony with the |
views OF the President and Congress than |
the Constitution of 1854, the result of which |
would be to lessen the chances for the adj |