Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-09-05
VOL. 13.--NO. 1.

to which you refer has not, so far as | am
aware, the sanction or appreciation of any
military auti ority for its meeting. | pre-
sumo the gentlemen composing 1t have new
er asked for such authority TO meet, as the
military eomma nders since l have been in
the State haveheld themselves strictly aioot
from all interference with the political move
ments of the citizens of Louisiana. For my
own part, | have carefully refrained from
any expression of opinion upon either side
of the many questions relating to the recon
struction of the State government. w hen
asked if | intended to furnish the conven7C
tion a military guard, | have replied, No;
the Mayor and his police will amply protect
its sittings. If, these persons assemble as
you say is intended, it will be, L presume,
in virtue of the universally coneeeded right
OF all loyal citizens of the United States to
meet peaeeably and discuss freely questions
concerning their civil government, right
which is not restricted by the fact that the
movement proposed might terminate IN a
change of existing institutions. If the as
semblage in question has that legal right to
remodel the State government 1t should be
protected in so doing if it has not, then its
labors must be looked upon as a piece of
harmless pleasantly to hich no enc ought
to object. As to your conception of the du
ty imposed by your oath of office, ! regret
~ dliicI Will iOu cllHClg- tdIuot
stand how the Mayor the city can undertake
to decide so important and delicate queS-
tion as the legal authority upon which
convention claiming to represent the people
| of an entire State, bases it's action. This
| doubtless will be decided upon in due time
| hv the legal branch of the United States
! Government at all events, the Governor
| Of the State would seem TO be mole directly
/ called upon 10 take the initiative in a step
/ r Il I
| What we most want at the present time is
! the maintenance of perfect order and the
| suppression of violence. lf,when you speak
! of the projected meeting as oLe calculated
| to disturb the public peace and tranquility,
II am to understand that you regard the
number of persons who differ in opinion
| from those that will constitute the conven-
| ton as so large, and the lawlessness of their
character so well established, that you doubt
the ability of your small force of police 20
control them. you have IN that case only to
cali upon me, and | viii bring to your assis-.
| tance not only the troops now present In the
| city, but if necessary, the entire force which
| it NAV be IN my power TO assemble, either
upon lard or water. Lawless violence must
! be suppressed and in this connection the
recent order of the Lieutenant General, de-
| signed for the protection OF citizens of the
| United States, deserves careful considera-
ton. 1t imposes high obligations for mili-
tary interference to protect those who, hay-
ing violated no ordinance of tie State, are
engaged in peaceful avocations | am, sir,
very respectfully, your obedent servant,
| a. BAIRD Bfevet Maj. General,
| Commanding Department of Louisiana.
Nat. BURBANK, Lit. and Acting A. A. G.
From New Orleans newspaper of Monday morn
ing. July 30th. 1866
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE CONVENTION.
The military expect to sustain. not to OBJ
struct the proceedings of the courts. The
following despatch from President johnson
to Lieut.. Governor Voorhies is one from
which, in the circumstances that called it
forth satisfactory deductions may be drawn.
We cannot doubt that the President gives
no countenance to tie pretehsious of those
members of the defunct convention of 1864
who are endeavoring to reinstate it; and
we can only believe as commander in chief
he will see that on proper occasions the ju-
iical and other authorities of the State, as
now constituted, will be protected by the
military against violence from within aud
without:
WASHINGTON, d. C., July 2S, lS66.--
To AUeyt V6orhies, Lieut. Cor Of Louisi-
ana The military will be expected TO sus-
tain and not obstruct or interfere with the pro-
ceedings of the courts A dispatch on the
subject of the convention was sent to Gov.
Wells this morning. ANDREW JOHNSON
OFFICE, u. S. MILITARY TEL, HEApo's
WAR DEP,t, New Orleans, La, July 3lst,
1866: Hon E1,cm W. Stanton, Secretary
Of Var: All is now quiet in the city, but
| still have the troops under arms, and shall
keep them so for some days. Nearly all
unite in attributing the chief blame to the
police for the troubles yesterday. Thirty
seven persons are reported as killed, all be
longing to the convention or friendly to 1t.
g. BAIRD, Major General
OFFICE L. S. MILITARY TEL, HEADo's
WAR Dept, New Orleans, La, July 3lst,
1866 10 the AdJataat General L.. s. Ar-l
n.y. Washington: Comparative quiet has
been restored in this city by the military,
who still occupy the streets. There is, how
ever, apprehension of slight disturbances in
the lower faubourg of the city. In conse-
quence of the limited force at my command,
lice, whose conduct In the riots of yesterday
is most reprehensible There is every rea-
son to fear the imminent peril to which the
lives and property of Union men of this city
will be subjected by restoration of the reips
of power to the present civil authorities of
the city. A. BAIRD, Major General
OFFICE q. S. MILITARY TEL, ,H'D. Q'Rs.
WAR DEP'T. New Orleans, La, July 81,
1866 Naior General o. O. Hoscdrd.
The riot has been suppressed. / have de-
clared martial law in the city. About forty
persons have been killed and a large num-
convention. A. BAIRD, Maj. Gen.
OFFICE L. S.. MILITARY TEL, HEADo's
WAR Dept New Orleans July 3Ist. 1866