New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-04
Letter From Gov. wells.

me New Orleans /" Own Correspondent of thu
new ORR Tribune ncloses to that paper the fol
lowing letter from Gov. Wells, of this State
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, !
New Orleans, Sept. Is, 1865. /
Thos B. Jones, ESD, Arcadia, parish Of Bienville:
Dear Sri was highly gratiGed at the receipt
Oh your favor OF the 10th inst, both for old &C.
qualntange sake and your manifestations of an
proyal OF my recent address to the loyal people q
the State. Knowing your steadfast LOYALTY 10 tht
Union amid periis that tried mems courage
e e;p notmng less OF you than your approba
ton and support of the principles and measures
enunclated by the great Republican party LOOKING
to the reconstruction of the States lately in rebel
lion, For myself, | conscientiously believe The
preservation Of the government and the safety of
| the lives OF Inc Union men In the South are in
| Tolved in their success.
| don't wonder, my friend, that YOU advert ia
the present condition of Union men in This Stare
ana and can see but little difference between what
they suffered under rebel rule and what they now
nave to snbmitto. Their fidelity TO the govern
ment IS brand or stigma-they are called all
sorts of names, the work "Yankeeu being the
most general, because, suppose, considered the
most opprobri6us-t find themselves under the
pan Of prescription, both socially and in their
BUSINESS affairs; in every parish where the rebel
element ~ IN majority, they see men holding the
ollces at whose hands perhaps they and their
Ldlllles were persecuted, and this too, at a time
When the State is still under martial law and
when garrisons Of the United States troops can be
communicative almost at aday's notice eyerv-
where 10 this list Of grievances | have said
nothing Of threats of violence and actual violence
suffered by Union men.
have left out the bloody affair of the Both of
July N New Orleans, when Union men were muir
dered5by wholesale in broad daylight, and with
thousands Of United States soldiers within Mailing
distance. Now, my friend, if these things are
done when we are under the prctection Of the
strong arm OF the military, if the enyenomed
hatred Of the men who labored for four wears to
Destroy the government could not be restrained
eYen ~ tae presence OF the military, it is serious
supJecl for reflection to what extent this ven
geanee will be carried when unawed and unre.
STRAINED by the force Of bayonets. In nv address
referred to gave 1t as my deliberate opinion that
j the military forces were withdrown the life of
every prominent Union man would be endangered
shall adhere to that opinion, and will add nv
way OF amendment that unless the force is in
creased | do not consider the protection thus
aIloFded O. A perfect security by anymeans. You
NOW IS. t my friend tried the Cancellation policy
IN this State thoroughly. | did SO in good faith
and with a sincere desire to heal the wounds Of
the country. The result you know as well as LIDO.
ject. = - w
Perhaps it is we'll the experiment was tried. If
mas demonstrated to the people of the loya States
the undying hostility of the spirit of Slavery TO
ifee government. 1t has shown that the clemency
eXtenaed to It's advocates, who plunged the coun-
Try INTO bloody war; has been unavailinr in win
nng them back to their allegiance and the only
pollcy by which the nation can be preserved from
these plotters for its overthrow is to punish the
traitors that, to use President Johnson's emphatic
Language, :" treason may be forever rendered
odous.n
That Congress will regulate all these matters at
US next session, is not a matter for doubt Its
hrst Duty as conceive will be to pass an enabling
act prescribing how the rebel States shall be re-
organized. The first preliminary to that end. win
OF course be aeonvention from the people to form
Constitution. and in electng that convention
consider that Congress has the constitutional right
to say who shall vote and who shall not vote,
when the convention meets, the power rests in
that body to fix and regulate the basis of suffrage
the Constitution they may adopt being submitted
to Congress for its approval.
FL ms understand to be the programme of the
republican party, and is a,shorter as well as more
euectua method for the redress of our grievances.
taal py persistng in the assembling Of the conyen
tlots OF 1854 as you suggest. After the murderous
onslaught madeson the members of that conyen.
tion with the mayor and his bloody police stil in
power sustained and supported by the President
OF me United States, l consider that convention
no longer practicable
see no alternatives therefore but to await the
meeting OF Congress in whose wisdom and natri
oilsm have the highest confidence. and who T
eel assured will take care of Louisiana.
With thanks for your good wishes / remain
very truly, yonr friend.
Js MADISON WELLS
---ssAs governor of Louisiana.