The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-10
Governor Wells, Important mony.


THE dispassionate, manly, and evidently truth
fu statement of Governor WELLS concerning
The New Orleans massacre, and the causes which
led to IL, published in our columns yesterday,
is worthy of the attentive perusal of every cti-
zen who desires to form a correct opinion as to
the state of affairs in Louisiana. HIS testimony
in regard TO the massacre itself is but confrma-
tory of previous accounts, that it was delibc-
rately planned Rebel uprising for the
murder of leading Union men. Bat it is with
reference TO the policy of allowing the Rebel
leaders to become once more possessed of poti-
-ca power in the South, that Governor WELLS
statements are of the highest importance. He
+ speaks from personal knowledge and observa.
q tion. He himself favored the experiment in
Louisiana OF restoring these men to all their
y. Justly forfeited rights. He hoped that policy
! of leniency, Of kindness, and of Cancellation
3 would win them back TO loyalty to the Union.
81. Vain hope! They prescribed every man who
sIhad mot been connected with the Rebel cause.
They displayed all Of their old insoent and re-
belIious spirit, aid rubbed their hands in
: 7glee at the idea OF a civil war In the loyal
States They repaid the mercy OF the Union
men by, insult and prescription. If they
saw any prospect of success, they would
renew the Rebellion tomorrow. Governor
. WELLS closes his address with an express
sion of the deliberate conviction, that if the
military force be withdrawn the lives of Union
Z men who proved themselves conspicuous in
maintaining their allegiance will not be safe.
The ultimate security both OF the Government
and Union men of the South depends, in his
opinion on the ratification Of the Constitu
tional amendment proposed by Congress- and
the enfranchsement of the loyal black man
as he becomes educated and qualified for that
important privilege. If the advocacy of these
measures places him with the radical party in
opposition to the Pre- dent, he accepts the stua.
ton. He deems it necessary to preserve and
perpetuate the Union.
These are the opinions of a Southern man,
Governor of the State OF Louisiana, forced upon
him by the facts of the case as they have fallen
under his own observation. We here see the
results of the conservative policy after fair
trial. Are they such as the loyal people of the
nation can look upon with satisfaction We
think not. On the contrary, we think they
demonstrate the wisdom and justice OF that
policy which would conide the great work oil
reconstruction to loyal men, and TO them alone.
1t is also worthy of remark, that Governor
WELLS, as do other leading Southern Umonists,
recognizes the vital necessity of the gradual
eDiranchisement of the loyal black man. This
was the policy of our lamented leader, the
martyred ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and was urged by
him in the original reorganization of louisiana
That trying time" to which he alluded, when
this class OF faithful Southern loyalsts Nigh
"help to keep the Jewel of liberty in the family
OF freedom" has already come.
The colored people OF Louisiana are very
numerous, and many of them are intelligent
and rich They own and pay taxes on over
fifteen millions OF dollars worth OF property in
New Orleans alone. The old law of slavery,
that man is to be considered black who has
any negro blood in his veins, adds to the colOred
population OF Louisiana many wealthy and
educated people who would pass anywhere at
the North as white. The very safety of the
Government and the security Oh Southern Union
men, to say nothing of the claims OF justice,
will compel the acknowledgements at no distant
day of this class OF citizens.