Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-08-15
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOTS.

Dispatches from New Orleans contain
graphic accounts of one of the most terrible
riots that ever occurred at the South The
violent breaking up OF legal and loyal as
samblage OF citizens, the assaulting and
numbering Of leading Union men o. the
State, the ruthless shooting down of more
than hundred freedmen, accompanied with
the most savage barbarities, are facts calcu
lated to impress the whole country with
anxiety and alarm in regard to the state OF
affairs at the South. Are these the first
frpits of that executive policy which main
tains that all the late rebellious States are
ripe for Immediate return to the Union, in
cludlng the complete mastery of their local
affairs. the sway of such authorities as the
Mayor and the police of New Orleans, and
the withdrawal of the United States forces
But instead of making any comments at
present, we prefer to give our readers a
Succinct and accurate account of. the origin
of these deplorable disturbances
Louisiana was the first of the Southern
States in which the Federal arms obtained
a permanent footing during the war. The
capture of New Orleans by General Butler
and the subsequent administration of Gen
eral Banks prepared the way for President
Lincoln to take some preliminary steps to
bring her back into the Union. 1t was the
first State which he began to experiment
upon, and t is notorious that his policy
was that of Cancellation and forgiveness.
He was evidently deceived III his opinions
respecting the loyalty of the people, as sub
sequent events have shown, but it is clear that
he erred on the side of mercy. Whether
the plan of the convention of 1864 was
original with President Lincoln or General
Banks, it is certain that the President ap
proved it and watched the proceedings with
great interest, and the uniform testimony of
the Union men throughout the land has
been that the Constitution which they framed
was one of the most perfect in the United
States. lJ did not nfer negro suffrage,
but left the matter open to future Legisla-
lures 1t enjoined that the Legislature
should provide for the education of all chill
dren, white and coloTed. 1t changed the
status of representation, and gave New Or
leans her share in the Government. There
may have been inaccuracies in the election
of delegates within the Federal lines, for
those elections were held in time of civil
war, when large number of the inhabit-
ants were in the Confederate army, but the
fact that the present Governor, Legislature,
and Congressman and Senators elect have
been chosen under that Constitution, shows
that the people did and do accept its validity.
That constitution provided that at some
future time its members might be called to-
gether again. Governor Wells saw Fit to is
sue such call. He has long been one OF
the most popular men in the State. Du-
ring the administration of Gen. Banks he
was considered Free State man" He
was member of the Loyal League" and
was run for Lieutenant Governor, on the
same ticket with Hon. Michael Hahn.
When Mr.. Hahn resigned his Office as Gov
ernor, and received the election OF Senator,
Mr.. Wells became Governor, and as the
Louisiana Senators were not admitted, Mr.
Hahn apparently fell back into private life.
When the armies of Lee, Dick Taylor, ct.
al, surrendered, and the Confederates re-
turned to their plantations in the State, the
duty of ar pointing temporary officers Ter
Sheriffs, Parish Juries, Judges, &c, fell
upon Governor Wells, and he so far disap-
pointed he radical Free State men, that re-
turned Confederate officers and soldiers uni
formly received his preference His popu,.
larity became unbounded The only rival
which he had in the election last fall was
Ex- Governor Allen, an unpardoned rebel,
who held out at Shreveport till the rebel ar
mics surrendered.
The last eighteen months have made q
great change In the political condition OF
New Orleans. In the spring of 1865, when
under the military rule, human life ana
property were safe, and protection was grant
ed to all classes of citizens, whether wnios
or black DIR. Kennedy was Mayor, ana
though not remarkable for his loyalty, yet
he endeavored to trim very carefully between
the Major General commanding and the re-
.,,.,.J Oonfa5arotas Now everything 10