The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-09
THIRD EDITION
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
--~-~>~~~o~~~>~ccNoo~ooooo~O~o
ADDRESS OF GOV. WELLS.
-~S~~~~~~~~~~-~~0~~~>~~~~~~~~~~~
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE
MASSACRE.
N->ooNNo>o~~~~~~>>~D>~O>~~o>~~>
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
~~~~~~~~>~>~~~~~~~~~->o~~~-~>N~
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLES.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLES.
Etc., Etc.. Etc.s Etc., EtC.

-~~oN.~>~->o->c->O1>v>~~-~~~>>
NEW ORLEANS, Wednesday, August 8. The
following address has been issued by Governor
Wells to the loyal people of louisiana
The bloody tragedy enacted in the city of
New Orleans on the 3Oth OF July, 1885, in which
more than three hundred citizens were killed or
wounded has, to the credit OF humanity,
created profound sympathy in the breast of
every man through the length and breadth of
the land.
The remote and immediate causes of this
outrage demand thorough investigation, and
explanation, and as Chief Magistrate of the
State l feel a solemn duty resting on me to give
plain unvarnished statement of its origin and
progress. In doing this it becomes necessary
for me TO commence in the year 1864 at the
| reorganization of the civil government in that
| portion of Louisiana which had been wrested
from Rebel authority.
| regret in this connection to be obliged to
speak of myself. 1t is not to crafty feelings of
| vanity that do SO, for fully realize that am
| but an insignificant atom in the great cause of
| maintaining and perpetuating the Union of
| these States. The political history of the coun-
| try teaches us that under the policy OF the late
lamented President, all the loyal citizens of Lou
islana in the parishes then within the Union lines
| were invited and authorized in the proclamation
! issued by the military commander of this De-
| partment, to hold an election on the 22d of
| Fe truary, 1864 for State officers.
The election was held, and then being q
| refugee from my parish in the Rebel lines, in
| consequence of my Union sentiments / was
nominated by the Free State party, as it was
| called, and by the extreme radical party, of
| which Thomas j. Durant was the acknowledged
| leader, as their candidate tor the office of
! Lieutenant-Governor.
The frst-named ticket headed by Michael
Hahn for Governor, was elected. Governor
| Hahn served until the 4th OF March, 1865, when,
by his resignation, / succeeded to the Office OF
Governor In the meantime, by virtue of mill
tary authority, an election OF delegates to q
State Convention, TO amend and revise the Con.
stituton of 1852, had taken place.
The Convention met, and framed a Constitu
ton declaring slavery to be abolished, which
Convention did not adjourn sine dc but subject
to the call of the President for any canse A
Legislature had also been elected, and was in
session at the time of the assumption of the
duties of the office of Governor.
| Shortly afterwards the collapse of the so
called Confederate Government took place by
the surrender of the forces in the Trans Missis
| sippi Department. The entire territory of the
State was restored to the lawful authority OF
the United States When this event took place
what was my conduct towards the population
Of the eighteen parishes ieclaimedS
Although bad been prosecuted and driven
from home by the Rebel authorities, | sup
pressed all feeling OF rancor, so natural to the
human breast under such circumstances, and
believing that majority had been sedueed from
their alleginance TO the old flag ny the w!les OF
artiul demagogues who brought on the Rebel.
lior determined to try the effect of tenderness
and concation in winning them back to their
first love.
| addressed them proclamation, congratu.
lating them on their restoration to the protec-
ton of the government of law and order, and
that, as far as was concerned I was willing to
forget the past. begged them to submit ckeer-
fully and unreservedly to the new order OF
things, and assured them that, although the
State Government had been organized, yet was
anxious that general election for its officers
should be held, in which the whole State should
participate.
/ fulfilled every word of my promises.
appointed the men recommended to fill Offices
in several parishes. l signed their applications
to the President of the United States for pardons.
. | / persisted III my course OF reconc! !llatlon,
Notwithstanding the warnings and remonstrances
of Union men, who believed my policy would be
unavaing in accomplishing the purpose intended
and who predicted that at the very first election
these men, in every parish where they had the
power, would prescribe every man from office
who had not been in the Rebel cause.
These predictions have been realized to the
letter at every subsequent election, with the ex.
cepton of my own case, and it is well known,
for it was publicly avowed, that was put at the
head of their ticket SIMPLY because l could be
useful IN securing representation of the State
in Congress.
1t is further well known that their platform,
reported by the Committee appointed for that
purpose, to the Democratic Convention held In
this city, was reiteration.ot the doctrines of
the right of secession, and it was only through
the exertions OF few OF the more cautious and
, polite of the party that this platform was made
to assume the form which was adopted.
At the same Convention a well-known and
i've Democrat was publicly censured by reso.
luton, because, in speech delivered before