Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-09-07
Appeal For Proteeti0n From The New
Orleans UniOnfsts.

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The following was received to night at the
Washington office fthe New York Tribune
from their New Orleans correspondent.
NEW ORLEANS, August 20. The sub
ioined important petition from the loyal citi-
zens Of New Orleans, asking protection from
Congress and the loyal citizens Of the nation
has been signed by nearly every Union man
in the city, and is now on its way North;
I'VE, the undersigned, Union men of the
State Of Louisiana, respectfully represent
that after four years combating the armed
forces of rebels and traitors, we are not pre-
pared nor yet willing that these same rebels
and traitors should return among US to as
sumo authority, maltreat, and with contempt
and otherwise abuse us. The facts are
patent and beyond question. 1t is well
known fact that the real Union men of this
State are in the minority, the returned rebels
and traitors having the balance of power in
their hands, and it is publicly avoWed that
the Confederate element must rule Mat
ters have assumed such phase that if not
strangled in the birth, we the Union men,
viii have no security for life, property or
honor. The returned rebels aud traitors
are daily growing more powerful, and daily
insults and abuse are heaped upon us by
thems They no sooner find return to
power than they commence a series of abuse
of Us. They lose no opportunity, but upon
all occasions use vile epithets toward us.
Our residences are marked, and attempts
have been made to fire the dwellings, of some
of US who are most conspicuous. We are
told that we are spotted, and daily threats
are heard against us, They not only abuse
aud curse. us in private, but publicly scorn'
and Willy us. Newspaper of which we
have but two in our interest, can be bought
on the streets, but like private papers du-
ring the inquisition of old are passed from
hand to hand. We would infinitely prefer
to return them their arms and fight them in
open field than thus to permit them under
protection Of our Government to assume to
dictate to us and govern us. Our Govern
ment, under a misappied mercy, has gran
ted to prisoners Of war, guilty Of the highest
crime known against tie State-treason-
the privilege hitherto unknown, of debating
to their conquerers the terms upon which
the conqueroIs may live in the land of their
birth. Against al of which we protest.
We protest against being termed rebels
and traitors by those whose hands
are vet reeking with the blood
of Union men who boldly and
with unsurpassed efrontery not only in pri-
vate but throughout the daily papers term
us rebels, and traitors, and style themselves
the Unien men of the South, and this too,
while tley are keeping up their Confederate
organizations and utterly ignoring that they
are prisoners of war to our Government.
We protest against being ruled by prisoners
of war under parole. We protest against
being abused by them. We protest against
being made to feel the vengeance of haffied
traitors. We protest against being used as
the lamb of the sacrifice to eonciliate traitors
knowing our shrift would be short if once
these would be assassins gain power as they
have proved conclusively by their acts of
rremcdtated, cold-blooded butchery of
Union men on Monday the 30th of July
the Saint Bartholomew day of New Orleans.
We protest against being left to the tender
mercies of the assassin s knives andpistols.
| We protest most emphatieally against being
made the slaves, so to speak, of fthese priso-
ners OF war who hate us with unalterable
! hate, who despise and curse us. Was it for
| this hundreds of thousands of our Union
| soldiers perished? Was it for this we wag-
/ ed war for the Union? Was it for this
! we have embarrassed our whole land with
| traitors? Was it for this we spent millions
| of treasure? Was it for this we have made
invalids and cripples of our thousands of
| Union men? Was it for this we elected
Andrew johnson to the office from which
| i'll starred events caused him TO become
| President? Was it for this we conquered
We there call upon the conquerers and
loyal citizens of the nation to protect us
We not only petition, but demand protec-
ton from the Congress of our country.
| And as in duty bound etc