New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-31
THE MEMPHIS RIOTS.

The recent riots in Memphis were really quite q
god-send 10 the radical party. Their simulated
horror at the imaginary atrocities perpetrated by
faneied Gonfederates on that occaaioni put on t.
cover their delight at having found this eligible
opportunity to libel the South dd tnituns Nothing
would please them more than that a hundred ne
groes should be killed every day in every Southern
city. Nothing has so much aroused their vindfct-
i've malice as the emphatic and persistent contra
dcton of all their SANDERS by the quiet demeanor
of the Southern people and the spirit of forbear-
ance and moderation towards the negroes which
Is 50 oonspicuously displayed in the South OF
course the Memphis riots furnished hitherto miss
ing opportunity. They were almost as good as
the so-called Fort Pillow massacre for radical
purposes. In that case it was deemed important
to prove that the Confederate cause was black
ened by systematic and barbarous violation Of
tho laws of war. In this case it is considered
necessary to show that the Southern character is
eminently deprayed, and Southern sentiment 50
extremely perverted that it is impossible for ne.
groes to exist in Southern communities except
under the protection Of specific Federal legisla-
ton, enforced by Federal bayonets.
Of course, under these circumstances the
country knows exactly what to expect from the
commission Of congressman which has been sent
ont from Washington to examine into the Mem
phis case and turn its incidents to good account
for the benefit of the revolutionary directory
These commissioners have instructions "toproceed
without unnecessary delay, to Memphis, in the
State Of Tennessee, to make an investigation into
all matters connected with the recent bloody
riots in that city. which began on the Ist inst,
and, particularly, to inquire into the origin. pro-
greas and termination Of the rfotous proceedings;
the names of the parties engaged in them; the
acts of atrocity perpetrated number Of killed and
wounded, amount and character Of the property
destroyed, and report ali facts to the House"
The sergeantatarIns of the House, or his deputy,
and stenographer, are to accompany the com
mittee, and they are to have power to send for
persons and papers and to examine witnesses
under oath.
OF course, from such commission, Influenced
by such motives, and stimulated by such desires.
nothing like fair report is to be expected Their
business is to sanction faIsehood by official forms
and to give cohesion and consistency to tine dis
feeta nlembra of amorphons SANDER which has
been volunteered by the swift and willing
Witnesses who act the part Of public accusers
against the South, Their duty is to find the people
OF Memphis the Confederate people, if we may
use the term without q disloyalty guilty of
ferocious onslaught upon the negro race, dictated
by irrepressible hatred and insuperable yindictiye
ness, We presume that they win discharge their
duty with all tile zeal and fidelity which such
agents always bring to so congeniai task.
Fortunately these persons are not the only
agents deputed to investigate the subject. Major
General stoneman had already commission
to sift the affair." and ascertain the truth in regard
to it. BreFet Major General Fisk has arrived in
Memphis for q similar purpose, and Major r. w. /
Gilbreth has been dispatched to Memphis by Cen. /
eral Howard on a similar errand. If strict impair, |
TALLY cannot be expected from these gentlemen
at least they will not bend ali their energies to the
Of the trath If they prosecute their
inquiries with even approximate fairness they will
discover that the Memphis riot was exactly what
the New York Tribune has already declared it to i
bean outbreak Of the same kind Of spirit. and |
the sane kind Of passions that produced the New
York riots Of '5S. They will find that the rear
people Of Memphis the honest and industrious
elass, the persons who had upheld the Confederate
cause from sincere attachment to their
state and their section, are thoroughly hostile
70 gu such demonstrations, and that they
nave resily, instead Of hostility and animosity.
Z Eenunlne sympathy and friendly feelings towards
ile negroes None regret IS much as thev. the
manifestations of spirit which can have no other
eHsel than 70 stimulate evil passions. provoke an.
sipstines between the tBo races. ana give some
SORE 81 excuse fer The malicious interference of
people who desire to see the South involved in the
eYl eneets OF just such state Of things. And this