The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-11
ADDRESS OF GOV. WELLS
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOTS.
An omcia1 Account.

telegraph, but for some reason did
9 not reach us. 1t is of such import
ance to a correct understanding of the
recent bloody riot in New Orleans
that we publish it in full 1t will be
remembered that Governor WELLS is
the chief executive officer Of the State,
and as such recognized by President
JOHNSON. His account should GER
tainly bear with it the full weight of
official authenticity and authority. 1t
is deserving careful reading. s9
New ORLEANS August 81 The
following is the address of Governor
Wells to the loyal people of Louis
lana: a04#9s 1Ce AUic9- 90 5iia
To the Loyal People of louisiana: esa.d
The bloody tragedy enacted in the
city of New Orleans on the Both OF
July, 1866 in which more than three
hundred citizens were killed or
wounded, has, to the credit Of hui
manity, created a profound sympathy
in the breast of every man through
out the length and breadth of the
country. The remote and immediate
causes of this outrage demand thor
4 ough investigation and explanation,
band, as the chief magistrate of the
State, [ feel the solemn duty resting
upon me to give a plain, unyarnished
statement of it's origin and progress.
In doing this it becomes necessary
for me to commence in the year 1864,
at the reorganization of civil govern
ment in that portion of Louisiana
which had been owrested from the
rebels. / regret that | shall in this
| connection be compelled to speak of
myself. 1t is not to crafty any feel
1 ink of vanitytha | do so, for fully
realize that am but an insignificant
atom in the great cause of maintain
ing and perpetuating the Union of
these States The political history of
our country teaeAes us that under the
policy of our late lanented President,
i all the loyal citizens ofoLouisiana, or
parishes them iethe Union lines, were
invited and authorized in the procla-1
nation issued by the military COM
mander of this Department, to hold an
election February 22, 1864, for State
officers. 5fo4 Dfn 3-" '
io The election owas held, and then
z being a refugee from my parish in The
rebel lines, IN consequence of Union
sentiments, ! was nominated by the
! free State party as it was called, and
i by the extreme, radical party, of which
this J. Durant was the acknowledged
leader, as their candidate for the Of
| flee of Lieutenant Governor The
| first named ticket, headed by Michael
Hahn, for Governor, . was elected.
/ Governor Hahn served until the 4th
of March, 1865, when, by his resigna-
ton, L succeeded to the Office of Gov
,ernor. In the meantime, and by vir-
/ tue of military authority, an election
| for delegates to, the State Convention
to alter and revise the constitutional
1852, had taken place. guass 8ra3Dg
Ia The Convention had met, and pro-
gYided a constitution declaring slavery
to be abolishedg (which constitution is
D now the Fundamental law of the State.
4 1t is further we'll known that the con-
lEention did not adjourn sine die, but
subject to the call ofithe President for
any cause. e.haAnlegislature had oaIsoi
\ been elected and was in session at the
time of the assumption by me of the
i duties of the office of Governor. Z
Shortly afterwardi the collapse of the
SO called Confederate Government
took place, and by the surrender of
the forces In the trans7 Mississippi De-
partment, the entire control of the
State was returnedito the lawful au-
thority of the United StatBs.ts u
! When this event took place, what was
my conduct towards the population of
eighteen parishes reclaimed, although
/ had been prosecuted and driven
from my home bygthe rebel authori-
/ ties2 L suppressed all feelings Of
rancOr so natural to the human heart
under such circumstances. A major
lty bad been seduced from their al
i leglance to the old flag by the wiles of
the artful demagogues who brought
on the rebelGonanI determined to
try the effect Of kindness and con-
ciliation inyoweaning them back to
their first love- / addressed to them
i a proclamation congratulatlng them
on having the protection OF. a gov
ernment of law and order, and that L
was willing to forget the past.
begged to submit cheerfully and
i unreservedly to the new order OF
| things. and assured them that, al
though State Government had been
organized yet 1 was anxious that a
general election for State officers
/ Should be held, in which the whole
State could participate [ fulfilled
| every word Of my proclamation. I
appointed men, and recommended
them to I'LL Offices in several parishes.
I signed their applications to the
President of the United States for
special pardon. | persisted in my
course of reconstruction, notwith-
standing the warnings and remon-
/ stranees of Union men, who believed