Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-08-14
LOUISIANA.
ADDRESS OF GOV. WELLS TO
THE PEOPLE.
The Military the only Protec,
tors of Union Men.
ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONSTITU.
TIONAL AMENDMENT.

NEW ORLEANsi wednesday, August Stll
1856. The following address has been is
sued by Governor Wells, to the people a
louisiana
The bloody tragedy enacted in the city o
New Orleans on the 30th of July, 1866. il
which more than three hundred citizens weri
Killed or wounded, has, to the credit OF hu
manly, created profound sympathy in thu
breast OF every man through the length anf
breadth of the land.
The remote and immediate use of thi,
outrage demand thorough Investigation and
explanation, and as Chief Magistrate of the
state, feel a solemn duty resting on me tC
give plain, unvarnished statement OF its
origin and progress. In doing this, il
| becomes necessary for me D commence in
the year 1864, at the reorganization of tho
civil government in that portion of Louisiana
which had been wrested from rebel au torlty.
regret, in this connection, to be obliged ia
speak OF myself 1t is not TO crafty feelings
OF vanity that do so, for fully realize that
am but au Insignificant atom in the great
cause of maintaining and perpetuating the
union of these States. The political history
oil the country te hes us that under the
pollcy OF the late lameAted President, all the
loyal citizens OF Louisiana, in the parishes
then within the Union lines, were invited
ana authorized in the proclamation issued
by the Military Commander of this Depart.
ment, to hold an election on the 22d of Feb.
ruary, 1854, for State officers. The election
was held, and then being a refugee from my
parish in the rebel lines, in consequence of
my Union sentiments, l was nominated by
the Free State party, as il was called, and by
the extreme radical party of which Thomas
}. Durant was the acknowledged leader, as
their candidate for the office of Lieutenant
Governor. The trst-named ticket, headed
by Michael Hahn for Governor, was elected,
Gov. Hahn served until the 4th of March,
1865, when by his resignation succeeded
to the office of Governor.
In the meantime, by the virtue of military
authority, an election OF delegates to State
Convention TO amend and revise the Consti
tuition OF 1852 had taken place. The Con-
vention met and framed Constitution de-
claring slavery to be abolished, which Con
vention did not adjourn sine die, but subject
to the call of the President for any cause.
A Legislature had also been elected and was
IN session at the time of the assumption by
me of the duties of the office of Governor.
shortly terward the collapse of the so. called
Confederate Government took place, and by
the surrender of the forces in the Transmits.
sissippi Department the entire territory of
the State was restored to the lawful authority
Of the United States.
When this event took place, what was my
conduct to 'ardihe population ofthe eighteen
parishes reclaimed? Although | had been
prosecuted and driven from home by the
rebel authorities, | suppressed all feeling of
raneor so natural to the human breast under
such circumstances, and belief that ma
jority had been seduced from their allegi.
ance to the old flag by the wiles of artiul
demagogues, who brought on the rebellion,
determined to try the effect of tenderness
and Cancellation in winning them back t.
their first love. addressed them plocla-
nation, congratulating them on their resto-
ration to the protection of the Government,
OF law and order; and that, as far as l was
concerned, was willing to forget the past.
begged them to submit cheerfully and unre-
servedly to the new order of things. and
ASST I'd them that although the State Gov
ernment had been organized, yet was anX-
ious that general election for its officers
should be held, in which the whole State
should participate. : fulfilled every word of
my promise: l appointed the men recon-
mended to fill offices in several parishes. /
signed their applications to the President of
the United States for pardons. persisted
in my course Of reconciliation, notwithstand-
ing the warnings and circumstances of Union
men, who believed my policy would be una
valling IN accomplishing the purpose intend
ed, and who predicted that at the very first
election, these mL1, in every parish where
they held the power, could prescribe every
man from office who had not been in the
rebel cause. These predictions have beer
realized to the letter at every subsequent
election, with the exception of my case, and
as is well known, for it was publicly avowed
that | was put at the head of their ticket
simply because l could be useful in securing
n nt Of of ha Ctnt 10,
1t is further well known that their platform
reported by the committee appointed for that
purpose, to the Democratic Convention held
IN this city, was reiteratlon of the doctrines
of the right of secession, and it was only
through the exertions of q few of the more
cautious and polite of the party, that this
platform was made TO assume the form which
was adopted, as in the same convention a
well-known and live Democrat was publicly
censured by resolution, because in a speech
delivered before that body, he said that Sc
cesson was worse than crime, il was bluR-
der. Notwithstanding my nomination by
the Democratic party, another candidate was
put into the field in opposition to me, who
had oticlated as Governor under the Rebel
rule, and who, had he been in the country
and signifed his consent, have no doubt
would have been overwhelmingly elected.
When the members of the Legislature met
in extra session, in the month OF November,
1860, convened by me for the purpose of rails.
ing money to restore the broken levees, and
to take measures to redeem the credit of the
State, found them more than intent on
calling Convention to change the Constitu.
ton of 1864, than TO promote the general in
terests of the people. Their chief objection
10 that instrument was the character of the
men who framed it, and the abolition of
slavery. Having failed at the extra session
to pass bill TO call Convention, the attempt
was renewed at the regular session held in
the month of January, and more than half
the time OF THAT body was spent in discussing
the question. Finally, commission was
sent to Washington to consult with the Presi.
dent. Through his advice / considered a
convention ineXpedient, and for that reason
opposed it. l had learned enough of the
real sentiments OF the people to convince me
that if a new constitution was made, it would
be less in harmony with the views of the
President and Congress than the Constitution
of 1854, tie result of which would be TO les
sen the chances for the admission of our re-
presentatives to urge these views on the
members Of both Houses of the Legislature,
but they had 40 effect with the majority.
deprecated the city and parish elections
for the reason that l feared the result, be.
cause of the character of the men who would
be elected, and because had seen enough
of public sentiment to convince me that none
but those who served in the Confederate
army or who had gone into the Confederate
lines, would be elected to office. / foresaw
that such q result would be justly remarked
by the people of the loyal States as showing
defiant spirit, and as still glorying in n
cause that has been sustained by them with
such fearful loss of life and expenditure of.
treasure, with numerous and repeated evil
dences of continuing an intolerant and re-
bellious spirit, and the manifestation of the
intention of prosecuting all who did not adj
here to the fortunes of the Confederacy to