New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-01
MARTIAL LAW.

If there has been, during the last thirty-six
hours, one predominating sentiment in the
public mind of this community it is as
constituent that Major General Baird
should have thought proper to proclaim
martial law in New Orleans AT the time
when the military authorities took possession
of the municipal government, the riots and
tumults excited by areyolutionary faction, had
I been suppressed, under the orders of the
mavor. and the direction of the chief of police,
with promptitude and yigor, which, we ven
ture to say, have never before been displayed
on any similar occasion. When the United
States forces first made their appearance in
town the disturbance had been quieted, and
the authorities were master of the situation.
When, several hours later, Major General Baird
proclaimed magtial law, the city, to all
appearance, was in a state Of profound repose.
The energy and CELEBRITY with which the
authorities had acted had inspired terror in
the disturbers of the peace, and infused conf
dence into the public mind. There was no
longer the slightest necessity for military in
PREVENTION. AS Mayor Monroe very aptly
remarks in his letter to General Baird g none
of those exigencies existed which are sup
posed to justify the assumption by military
officer of contro over civil functionaries and
the civil authorities" 1t is true that in the
morning, when the difficulties commenced,
and when the police force had been concen-
trated in the disturbed district, Mayor Monroe
very properly called on General Baird for the
assistance Of few white troops to aid in
patroling the city and maintaining order j;
but the response to his request came
only when the riot had been effect
ually subdued, and it was followed by
the virtual suppression Of the municipal
government, and the establishment of martial
law, by military proclamation, at time when
even military aid had become superhuous,
and, therefore, untimely. What, then, can
have been the object Of this extraordinary
proceeding a proceeding, we can confidently
assert, entirely unparalleled in the history of
this country? In his order, or proclamation
the general commanding with Characteristic
military brevity declares his action to be
taken in consequence Of sc the riotous and I'M
lawful proceedings which had occurred" But
the object of military intervention in time Of
peace is always either to prevent or to sup
press sriotous and unlawful proceedings
when the civil authorities ask for mill
tary aid. In this case no assistance
was furnished for purposes either Of proven
ton OF suppression. Hence it becomes ex-
| tremely difficult to divine the motive, or to
conjecture the object of the major general
commanding, in putting the city under martial
law If his design was to prevent recur-
renee Of riotous and unlawful proceedings"
to release the rioters and their accessories,
who had been arrested by the police, was
surely not very practicable method Of ac-
complishing such an object. We presume,
however, that it is useless to speculate on this
point Some Light, but only through infer
ence, may Be furnished BY the correspondence
which passed between Mayor Monroe and
General Baird, before the meeting of the
clearly shows that the municipal authorities
were keenly sensible Of the approaching dan
ger, and that they desired to pursue a course
which, while it was strictly in accordance with
law, would have averted the bloody catastrophe
Of Monday last. General Baird appears to
have taken view which preoluded the adop-
ton of effective precautionary measures by the
mayor. For g the riotous and unlawful pro
ceedings' which ensued the city authorities
are, therefore, entirely clear Of responsibility ;
but to them the credit of the extraordinarily
prompt and vigorous suppression of the tumult
is wholly due.