The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-10
Letter from Gov. Wells.

The New Orleans g Own Correspondent
of the New York Tribune ipcloses to thai
paper the following letter from Gov. Wells
of this State:
STATE Or LOUISIANA. EXECUTIVE OPT,
|. New Orleans, Sept. l3, 1856. !
Thos. Fl. Jones, Esq, Arcadia, Parish o.
Bienville:
DEAR SIR was highly gratlfed a. the
receipt of your favor OF the 10th inst, both
for old acquaintance sake and for yonl
manifestations Of approval OF my recent al
dress to the loyal people OF the State
Knowing steadfast loyalty to the Union
amid periIs that tried INNS courage, ex
pee ed nothing less Of you than your APP
probation and support of the principles
and measures enunciated by the great Re
publican party. looking to the reconstruc
ton of the States lately in rebellion. Fol
myself, conscientiously bell We the preser
walton of the Government, and the safety
Of the lives Of Union men ia the south are
involved in their success.
don't wonder, my friend, that you ad
vert to the present condi ion of Union men
in this State, and can see but little difference
between what they suffered under rebel rule
and what they now have 70 submit to
Their fidelity to the government is brand
OF stigma. They are called all sorts Of
nam $, the word q Yankee being the most
general, because, suppose, considered the
most opprobrious-they find themselves
under the ban of prescription, both socially
and in their business affairs, in every parish
where the rebel element is in a majority
they see men holding the principal officers
at whose hands perhaps they and their
families were prosecuted, and this, too, at
a time when the State is still under martial
law. and when garrisons of the United
States troops can be communicated with
almost at days notice everywhere. In
this list of grievances hare said nothing
Of threats OF violence, and &C uai violence
suffered by Union men.
have left out the bloody record of the
3Oth ofJuly in New Orleans, when Union
men were murdered by the wholesale in
broad daylight, and with thousands Of
United States soldiers within hailing dis
lance. Now, my friend, if these things are
done when we are under the protection Of
the strong arm of the military, If the
envenomed hatred of the men who labored
for four years to destroy the government
could not be restrained, even in the presence
of the military, it is q serious subject fol
reflection to what extent this vengeance
will be carried when unawed and unrestrain
ed by the force of bayonets. In my ad-
dress referred to, give it as my deliberate
opinion that if the military forces were
withdrawn the life Of every prominent
Union man would be endangerel. l shal
adhere to that opinion, and will add by
way of amendment that unless the force is
increased I do mt consider the protection
thus afforded as a perfect security by any
means. You know, my friend. I tried the
cancellation policy in this State thorough
ly. / did so in good faith and sincere de
sire to heal the wounds of the country
The result you know as well as | do.
have and do acknowledge that it failed ii
its object.
Perhaps it is as we'll the experiment was
tried. IT has demonstrated to the people
Of the loyal States the undying hostility 0
the spirit of slavery to free government
1t has shown that the clemency extended
to its advocates, who plunged the country
into bloody war, has been unavailing il
winning them back to their allegiance. and
the only policy by which the nation can be
preserved from these plotters for this over
throw is to punish the traitors that, to use
President Johnson's emphatic language
= tire ,son may be forever rendered odious.
That Congress will regulate all these mat
ters at the next session, is not q matter fol
doubt. Its first duty, conceive, will be to
pass an enabling act, prescribing how the
rebel States shall be reorganized The
first preliminary to that end will Of course
be convention from the people to form q
constitution, and in electing that conven
ton consider that Congress has the con-
s,itutional right to Say who shall vote and
VIII, shall not vote.
When the convention meets. the power
rests in that body to fix and regulate the
basis Of suffrage. the constitution they
may adopt being submitted to Congress fol
its approval.
This understand to be the programme
Of the Republican party, and is shorter a:
we'll as q more etfectual method for the
redress of our grievances, than by persist
ing in tn assembling ofthe convention o.
1864, as you suggest. After the murderous
onslaught made on the members of that
convention. with the mayor and his bloody
| police still in power, sustained and sup
ported by the President of the United
States, consider that convention nc
longer practicable.
sea no alternative, therefore, but to
await the meeting Of Congress, in whose
wisdom and patriotism / have the highest
confidence, and who. I feel assured, will
take care of Louisiana.
With thanks for your good wishes, l re-
main, very truly, your friend,
| j. MADISON WELLS,
Governor Of Louisiana.