The weekly Butte record., 1866-10-06
THE NEW ORLEANS MASSACRE.

The following is the report recently made By
General SHERIDAN to the President in reply to the
inquiries addressed to him by the latter:
His Ercsiieney ANDREW JOHNSON President Of
the United States: have the honor to make the
following reply to your dispatch Of August 4. A
very large number Of colored people marched in
procession Friday night, July 81 and were ad
dressed from the steps Of the City Hall by Dr.
DosrIE Ex-Governor HAHN, and others.
The speech of DosTIE was incorporate in Ian
guage and sentiment. The speeches of the Others
far | can learn, were characterized bT modera-
ton. have not given you the words OF DosTrE's
speech. as the version published was denied bat
were Incorporate. The Convention assembled st
II NJ. on the 30ih, the tinid members absentng
themselves because the tone Of the general public
was ominous of trouble.
l think there were but about 26 members present
In front Of the Mechanics Institute, when the
meeting was held, there assembled some eolored
men. women, and children. perhaps IS or 20, and
in the Institute number of colored men, probably
$50. Among those outside and inside there might
have been pistol in the possession of every tenth
man. Ahout P. NJ, a procession OF say from 50
TO 100 colored men marched up Burgundy Street
and across Canal Street. toward the Convention
carrying an American flag.
These men had about one pistol to every ten men
and canes and clubs in addition. While crossing
Canal Street row occurred. There were many
spectators on the streets, and their manner and
A
fired, by whom am not able 10 state but believe it
to have been by policeman coored man
in the processon this led to other shots and rush
after the procession.
On arrival at the front of the Institute there was
some throwing of briek-bats by both sides. The
police, who had been held well in hand were Wig
orously marched to the scene of disorder. The
procession entered the institute with the flag about
Fix or eight remaining outside. row occurred
between policeman and one of the colored men,
and shot again fired by one of the parties
which led to an indiscrminate fire the building
through the windows by the policemen
This had been going for short time when
white flag displayed from the window of the
Institute; whereupon the firing ceased, and the
police rushed into the building. From the test.
mony of wounded men and Others who We're inside
the building, the policemen opened an indiscrim-
mate fire upon the audience until they had emptied
their revolvers, when they retired and those inside
barrcaded the doors.
The door was broken in and the firing again COM
menced, when many of the cOlored and white neo-
pie either escaped through the door were passed
through the door or passed ont by the police
men inside, bnt as they came ont the policemen
who formed the circle nearest the building fired
upon them. and they again fired upon by the
citizens that formed the outer circle.
Many of those wounded and taken prisoners, and
others who were prisoners and not wounded were
fired upon by their captors and by citizens. The
wounded men were stabbed while lying on the
ground, and their heads beaten with brick bats
In the yard of the building, whittier some of the
colored men had escaped and partially secreted
themselves. they were fired upon and killed or
wounded by policemen; some men killed and
wounded several squares from the scene. Members
of the Convention were wounded by the policemen
while in their hands as prisoners some of them
MORALLY.
The immediate cause of this terrible affair was
the assembling of this Convention. The remote
cause the bitter and antagonistic feeling which
has been growing in this community since the ad-
vent OF the present Mayor, who, in the organiza-
ton of his police force, selected many desperate
men, and some OF them known murderers.
People of clear views were overawed by want of
confidence in the Mayor and fear of the Thugs
many of whom he had selected for his police force
have frequently been applied to by prominent
citizens on this subject and have heard them ey-
press fears and want of confidence in Mayer MUN-
ROE ever since the intimation of this last Conven
ton. | must condemn the course of several of the
city papers for supporting by their articles the bit
ter feelings OF bad men. As to the merciless man
ner in which the Convention was broken up, feel
obliged to contesss a strong repugnance.
Ii Is useless TO attempt to disguise the hostility
that exists on the part of a great many here to-
ward Northern men: and this unfortunate affair has
so precipitated matters that there is now test of
what shall be the status of Northen men-whether
they can live here without being in constant dread
or not; whether they can be protected in life and
property, and have justice in the courts.
Ii the matter is permitted to pass over without
thorough and determined prosecution of those
engaged in it, we may look for frequent scenes
of the same kind not only here but in other places
No steps have as Vet been taken by the civil
authorities TO arrest citizens who were engaged in
this massacre, or policemen who perpetrated such
cureltles. The members of the Convention have
been indicted by the Grand Jury and many of them
arrested and held TO bail. As to whether the civil
Authorities can mete out ample Justice to the guilty
parties on both sides | must say il is nv opinion
unequvocally that they can not. Judge ABELL
whose course have closely watched for nearly
year, | now consider one of the most dangerous
men that we have here to peace and quiet of the
city.
The leading men Of the Convention King Cut
Ter, Hahn and others, have been political astators.
and are bad men. regret to say that the course
of Governor Wells has been vacillating and that
during the late trouble he has shown very little
OF the man. T. H. SHERIDAN,
Major General Commanding.