New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-10

nessee AMI Missouri haze done They, however pursued
opposite course and trusted that these men would be.
acraed by spirit OF tolerance and orbcarance IN retara
! for the ilberallty shown toward them
How the members OF that Convention have beel treate4
individually by the very wl0s good faith they tusted
IN. 10 say nothing o. the scon and utilization umn ste1
against them collective body aud against tho Goa.
sttuon which they made, let The record OF the bloody
dongs at Mechanics Institute on Monday answer.
In attempting with their unrelenting policy 70 keep The
power OF the State in their hands exclusively, ther
opposed the meeting Of the Convention They needed
better monitor than their oonsciences To tell them
that by their proscnptye conduct they had forfeited al
claim - further liberty from the original members o.; has
Convention. They resolved Il must be put down ana
The scenes of the Both of July confidently preiicsd
in the Convention met They were the result OF The
letter Of Mayor Monroe 70 Cen Baird Accompanying
this communication proof that u was ne deeimh4o
If every other means failed 70 resort 10 force.
Everything arranged on Sunday, preparatory ~
this purpose The police received their orders anu On
Monday morning they were IN large NUMBERS AZ the
OF Canal and Dryadcssts each having one or moro RS
yovcrs his person. Why they there except -
commit YOlencei Among all that u charged dc3iDst tne
speakers Friday nights meeting they can cite nothag
more than that the blacks should come around 10 def1nd
the Convention IN case he nenbers were attacked. Adj
hitting they assembled for that purpose what occ
sion was there for alarm unless it was meda,ei TO
The inference is irresistible for the massins of the
police designed 70 break up the Convention Fog
this purpose beginning necessary and OPPORTUNITY
sought tor This soon occurred, by the arrival OF pro.
cessiOn OF blacks with music on their way 10 t1' ptts
Of meeting of the Convention When the procession en-
tered the street crowded with policemen ana ciuzsnsi
the of Canal and Dadessts. its was receVsd
with insults and eers which brought on collision
shot was fred but tho affair ended IN nothing serious.
The next act of violence the arrest OF coored maa
by policeman IL front of the Institute, but for wnas
ofense | am unable to say.
The crowd of coored persons assembled naturally DO.
came excited % this occurrence, the same asa Do1y Oh
white men under the same circumstances Aape Of the
crowd took the side Of the policemen and os that ol
the prisoner BckbIts then thrown and shot hfed
the testimony going 10 show that u was done 10y on, o.
the cOlored crowd. II answered by several shoH
from the crowd Of policemen at the corner and ooved
up By rapid firing by the crowd Of blacks who returnsd
the fire fast they could but being ovepowere1 tney
driven from the street. and took shelter IN the Ms
chanics Institute.
If the object OF the police simply to Presergs the
public peace why did not they, after the men bai aks
refuge retire 70 their original positions at the corner %
the street. which ectually cut off egress from the oat
and placing a guard watch the OF the bntfin9
await arrival OF the military who were known 70 Oso
their wayl Their only reason for their course IS u 1o
not suit their purpose They accordingly advanced ga the
front of the building and beseged it on all sides Every
negro who attempted 10 escape was murdered.
Growing the climax Of these murderous ana ooody
acts 1t is well known that when the white flag was hung
token OF surrender. the police arrested the me
bers Of the Convention and other white citizens, sn4
brought them the streets where the most proninea&
of those holding Union sentiments were shot, stabbed
and beaten, while IN custody aud n lns presence o
Chief of Police station guard at the door and forod any
person from entering and then await the ARRIVAL OF he
military By these the last and most diDena1
and horrible phase OF this bloody tragedy wosii haN
been avoided.
also notorious that the police failed 10 arres, Or ~
tempt 10 arrest even one OF the rotous citizens who
their repeated statements continually attackin
wounding and killing persons who had surrendered Aas
were in their custody.
think have fully shown that IL was the design d
those opposed the Convention to break 1t up by force
The inference be drawn from the letter OF the Mayor
that such course resolved upon and the masslng 4
the police aud willingness rush into the light
think fully establishes the fact that the cause OF this ekhb
btion Of violence and mob Law must be traced tnrthS
back. .
1t is the embers of the FIRE Of the rebellious feelia(
which plunged this country into desolating civil VA
and the fame is not yet exngushed IN the breasts OIL sns
former slayeholdng aris,oerats.
Having failed in their FIST attempt 10 destroy tho Con
eminent they seek to retain political power by the same
spirit of political violence by which their chiefs had saS
tanned their supremacy before the war.
Nv deliberate conclusion Is, that II the military f)roe
be withdrawn the lives of the Union men who proves
themselves conspicuous in maintaining their aleglsnN
viii not be safe.
The ultimate security both Of the Government sn&
Union men of the Sonih depends in my opinion on the
ratification of the Constitutional amendment proposed 81
Congress aud the reimbursement OF the loyal black MAJ
as he becomes educated aud quaned for that Important
privilege. ,.,,..... A..
If the advocacy Of these eaaures identify me- with TUG
Radical Party opposition TO the President must 80
cept the situation Besides can't change my positioa
respect my fecngs-I deem 1t necessary TO pfeserve
and perpetuate the Union.
j. MADISON WELLS, Governor OF LOUISIANA