Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-09
The NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
Csmmauicsti 10 President yehnsss from
Lieut. Governor veefkees, Gen. Herren-
and Mayer Monroe

.
OF II main facts an regard 20 the conspiracy
which. by reNiyng the .nvention Of l-Sl. pcr-
posed 10 subyert the civil Government Of Loui-
sIapa- An informal meeting OF twenty nlne
members, one hundred and hity being the whole
number and seventy SIX quorum, proceeded
10 depose the president OF the convention, who
considered the convention itself extinct and
himself without functions OF once, and 10 elect
X. Il. Howell as president pro tenn They ad-
iourned TO meet again and proclaim alton was
issued by the Presioeni pro tenn. con vening the
con vention TO meet on the 31th Of July last and
directing his Exceliepcy the Governor Of the
State TO issue wrIts OF election 20 nh vacancies
20 lar ihe hole matter WAS looked upon "A n
barmltss experiment, though mischief was In
fenced, the people being confident that the
Governor would not eoBdescend 70 notice THIS
proclamation, and that, in case the convention
snouio COMMIT any act OF interference. he
would az once have AZ dispersed. Tnfortu-
nateDy, however. AFTER a lapse Of nearly q
month. The 0oyernor issued writs Of ehection
| 10 I'll up Nifty y-one vacancies IN that BODY.
This document, 10 which the Secret.ry OF
State refused 20 give his aties,atiou uader the
seal Of state, was Issned under the aitsstation
OF the private secretary of the Governor. The
people OF the State became alarmed, when no
doubt could be entertained as 20 the fact that
their chief magistrate had given willing aid
snd assisisneei 90 subyert the government the
pTeseI a,ion OF which Was especially entrsst-
On Friday, The 9.ih of July. large meeting
wss held in the hall OF the House OF Represen-
tatives. profeseedly for the advocacy Of uni-
yersal suffrage, bnt I'm reality 10 reerganize
for the meeting of the convention on the Mon
cay following The object OF the meeting was
coiored population, so as 20 make them the
victims OF a riot. by urging them beadlong
inio conflict with the State and municipal
authorities.
On the other hand we were determin ed 10 pre-
vent riot and bloodshed by pursuing spch q
course as would battle the nefarious caio1la-
tons Of those agitators from New Orleans.
Our remedy, and the only remedy. must be
by recourse 10 the usual process OF law, and
even then to proceed in sach manner as 10 fas-
ten upon them he responsibilities of all colli-
sion whatever. The case was submitted 10 the
grand jury by the Attorney General and in
the meantime the Lieutenant Governor and
the May or called upon General Baird 10 ascer-
tain whether, n warrant, Issued upon a reg
mar 1noiciment, were placed in the hands OF
the sheriff for The arrest of the members of the
convention, the military would interfere. The
answer was that The sheriff himself would be
arrested, and that the convention, meeting
peaceably. could not be interfered with by the
officers OF the law
1t is proper here TO state that the mayor had
previously addressed a note 10 General Baird,
Inquiring whether he would be interfered
with by The military in - be would proceed
10 cisrerse the convention as an unlawful as
semGlage. The answer TO this communication
was ibat The meeting Of the convention. being
reaceable. could not he suppressed by the
mayor. and that the military authorities
would prevent the interference Of the civil
auil critics. TWAS suggested by the Lieuten-
ant Governor that The city authorities under
| those circumstances did not intend 20 inter
| fere 10 prevent the meeting Of the convention
But he proposed that N case a warrant OF
arrest Were placed IN the hands Of the sheriff,
! the latter. before attempting 20 execute n.
would call on the General. who thereupon
would enoorsp his objections, and the matter
would at once be submitted 10 the President
This arrangement was satisfactory 10 ooib
parties. Or the same day, the Attorney Gen.
eTai and the Lieutenant Governor telegraphed
10 The President, 10 ascertain whether the pro-
cess sf the court 10 arrest the members OF the
convention conld BE- thwarted by the military
The answer was expected 20 sustain the court.
On Sunday, the 29th. the State and mnni-
cipal authorities called npon the President 10
advise the people as to the proper conduct TO
be held the rext day so as toavoid all collision
ren to The same eecy The nress es o tSs eIax
with the exception OF the radical organ, gave
wise and salutary counsels 10 the people, in
NIting all good citizens 10 avoid coneregating
abeut the capitol, and 10 demean themselves
with prudence and discretion.
On the morning of the Both the Lieutenant
Governor called upon Gen. Baird 10 commu-
nicate 10 him the Pi esident's despatch, and also
inquired OF the general IL he would not have
some troops in the vicinity OF the hall 20 pre-
serve peace and good order. Gen. Baird an
swered that application had been made by the
memb bers Of the convention
The suggestion was then made that 70 have
TOO large police force on the spot might be
construed as meant 20 oyeruwe the members
and inasmuch as the civil authorities cid nor
INTEND interfering with the convention until
instructions Were received from the President
as aoove agreed upon, u was proper 10 have
troops 10 cooperate with a small police force
10 preserve peace. and 70 prevent all possible
attempts 10 bring about a collision. This sug-
eesiion net The approval OF the general, who
then stated that he would immedately give
orders 20 have The troops in readiness. Before
the end Of The interview IL was again agreed
ppcn between Gor. Paird and the Lieutenant
Governor that whateveI,.warrant OF arresr
might Re placed in the hands of the sberirr
would be submitted 70 HIM before any aitempr
10 have II executed should be made and thai
upon the enforcement Of the generals oh,ec-
tiObs the matter would be referred TO the Pres
ident. The mayor being informed Of this az
ranCf ment, sent hut q small police force % the
vicinity Of the hall, and the troops that Were
10 act in conjunction with the police were
eagerly expected.
At noon, information having reached he
Lieutenant Governor that in the third distric-
there YVES n commencement OF efferves cence
and that n large nunlter OF negroes were COM
ing towards Canal street from above and be-
low. he Immediately sent despatch 10 The
general conveying this intelligence, and urging
that the troops be sent without DELAY
About one hour afterwards the riot broke
out, ending in The dispersion OF the convention
and the capture of the rioters, including sew
eral members OF this body. IL is not our pur-
pose 10 argue the question Of facts as % the
actual commencement OF the collision, and tx
precisely the mode and manner, and where IL
started. We will, however, remark that the
collision was brought aoout by the armed mob
sustaining the convention. Suffice It TO say
lndt tne CIVIL duthOrlues tOOk all the precar-
tons possible TO prevent the outbreak; that
they applied during three days previous 20
have the military 20 preserve order at the
place where the convention was 20 meet: thai
the authorities, State and municipal, came 70
an understanding 10 act IN concert with the
military for that purpose: that the citizens, no
more than the police. contemplated preventing
the convention from holding their meeting IN
peace and adlourning and dispensing unrno-
Tested; and that the warrant for their arresr
would have been submitted 10 the military. as
agreed upon. although the Presidents dispatch
10 the Lieutenant Governor and the subse-
quent one to the Attorney General, was i'm
peratiye, thar the military must not thy
the con yention. The military authorities had
been for three days previous 10 the riot in con-
srant communication with the Attorney Gen.
eral and he Lieutenant Governor, with view
TO preyen. the impending riot.
The efforts were unsuccessful and could nor
counteract the incendiary counsels and ar
peais OF those who for sinister purposes had
had in view this veiy result in order 20 reap A
politIcal harvest. That the civil authorizes
have done their duty In this respect is patent
That more could have been done by thew is
impossible, as they were OF allo wed 10 remove
the cause OF the riot by taking proper means 20
prevent The meeting Of the convention, and we
doubt not for a moment that the military com
mander himself will be the first to corroporata
these facts, and arrest all calumnioue iupufs