The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-31
Another Riot among the Reconstructed.

an eXhlDltloD OF tnat mon violence, every repe'
titfon OF which carries us backwards towards
the semi barbaric days of the feudal ages. The
Committee of Congress appointed TO examine
into the causes of the Memphis riots have
hardly had time to atfix their names to a report
and the public printer has not been allowed
sufficient opportunity to work the copies Of the
document off OF his presses, when we are again
startled by the occurrence OF another repetition
oil the same bloody scenes, only in an aggravated
form. The city of New Orleans was yesterday
the scene of as brutal series of murders as we
have on record. The accounts, as they come to
us from that city, are SO vague that we will
refer to the primary influence which induced
men 10 forget that they were Christians or oiti-
zens, and allowed them to enkindle the worst
passions of human nature.
After the capture OF the city by our forces
under General BUTLER, AID after his removal
from the position of Military Commander OF the
State of Louisiana, a Convention to reorganize
the State was called to meet in 1864. That Con-
vention met, and, alter framing temporary
Constitution, adjourned, but not sine die After
the lapse of two years, Governor WELLS, desi-
rous OF having the State relieved of certain OF
the oppressive laws on her statute. books, aud
anxious to secure a more general and Just sys-
TEN Of legislation relating to franchise, has
reassembled that Convention, The object of
this action is the adoption OF new State Con-
stitution and the correction ol certain abuses
which have come down even through the fiery
ordeal of war. When that Convention was
called to orGer a mob, posed of those cit
zens who were opposed TO the anticipated action
of that body, assembled Tor the purpose of
breaking in upon its deliberations.
In opposition to these was a negro procession,
and as both appear to have been eager tor
fight, collision soon occurred. 1t would
seem, from the conflicting accounts, that the
negro procession was assaulted by body of
whites, who were repulsed with severe slaughter.
Whereupon vast crowd of armed citizens, ac-
companed by the police OF the city, attacked
the negroes, killing IRON four to ten. The
blacks behaved with bravery, returning all shots
with interest, and two whites are said to have
died, while a number we're severely wounded
Meanwhile, with that characteristic perception
OF what is right which always abounds in police
men, the officers proceeded to the City Hall,
where the Convention was peaceably sitting,
dragged out its President and members, and
amid the cheers OF the mob and cries of chang
'em," they escorted the only peaceably disposed
party in the city to The common jail
II appears, however, that, Notwithstanding the
laudable desire of Mayor MONROE and the police
to arrest all who were TO be the victims OF the
riot, that the mob increased, got so large as to
be beyond the control of the civil authorities,
and as it was reported that the negroes were
organizing, a scene of blood and destruction was
anticipated.
At this uncture, when a crisis was approach
ing, the military authorities appeared and took
the city in hand. Martial law, after an unne-
cessary delay OF many hours, was at last pro.
claimed. United States troops patrolled the
streets, the mob was dispersed at the point of
the bay onet, and cannon placed SO as to com.
mand all the leading streets. By this desperate
remedy the diseased condition of the social
system was at last cured, or at least Temporal
rily repressed.
Upon this, the second series of bloody, and,
in fact, causeless riots, it behooves the people
to pay attention to some practical suggestions,
and to draw some unavoidable inferences. The
| first thought which occurs is the frightful con-
dition of the public mind in a community where
| the pushing OF white man by black, or the
stliking of black man by a white, will inevita-
bly, lead to dreadful collision between the
|
mist that II is not healthy state OF public feel
ing. The distinction between the races has
always been clearly drawn, but never before
have there been organizations whose declared
object is to revenge any insult on any one of its
own color. We can teel no surprise at the con.
| duct OF the negroes: our only wonder is that
these scenes were not enacted years ago, and
that the South was not made one vast San
Domingo. .....
They have been oppressed and down-trodden
so long that, as every suffering must come to
an end, we are not surprised that even the
docile black ls determined 10 assert his rights
and protect himself The wellknown character.
istics of the freedmen, among which long suf.
fering and good nature have long held pro-
minent place, forbids the conclusion that these
fights were originated by them. That they have
resented an insult is evident, and that the fury
of hatred between the two classes is now burn
ing high is apparent to all. In such a condi
tion OF society, does it behooye us to leave the
reconstructed" South TO fight its own battles
Shall we sit calmly by and watch bloody con.
test in which the oppressed will probably be
brutally butchered, and principally because they
have been our friends? Are the men who are
ready to provoke such conflict such as should
sit in our Capitol and make our laws9
Were there no other evidence OF the impolicy
of allowing the South to return to her ole
political power. this one testimony would bC
sufficient. What is needed is that po werfu
military force be constantly kept on hand, anC
not only kent within call. but be At once called