The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-08-10

/ Statement of Governor Wells. or OuAsiana-
Radical Electloneer ing DOcumenE
The following address has been issued by Governor

A Radical EIectioneering DocumenAc
The following address has been issued by Governor
Wells Of Louisiana
To THE LOYAL People or LOUISIANA
The bloody tragedy enacted in the city Of New Or
leans on the 30th or July, 1885, In which more than
three hundred citizens were killed Or wounded nsaSs
sSo length and breadth Or the land The remote
thorough investigation and explanation, and as chief
magistrate Of the State feel solemn duty resting ON
and progress In doing this II becomes necessary for
me TO Commence the year 1894 at the reorganization
o. civil IN ,s hs1 q rasr IN s
connection, to be obliged to speak Of myself II not
to crafty feeling OF vanity that 40 So Tor fuily
cause Of maintaining and perpetuatng the Union OF
these States -.
The political history OF the country teaches US that,
under the policy of tho amcnted President all the
loyal citizens Of Louisiana IN the parishes then within
cIamston issued by the military commander 81 THIS de-
parment 70 hold election on the ga Gay Of
1854 for State officers The election was held; and
then being refugee from my parish In the rebel lines
In consequence Of nv Union sentiments, was nomi-
the extreme radical party Of which Thomas j. Durant
the acknowledged leader, as their candidate for
the once Of Lieutenant % rne n. nas as
elected. Governor Hahn served until the 4th OF
Marsh, 1895, when, BY his resignation, ! sue
tmo, by virtue OF military authority an election
OF delegates state convention TO amend and revise
ss 2 n slavery s Be-
abolished, yhioe Constitution Is now the Fundamental
Law Of Tie State. II Is further we'll known that the con-
OF the President for any Legislature had also
been elected and In session az tue tmc OF the as
sumption by me Of the duties Of the oco OF Governor
Sbarkey.
Afterward the collapse of the SO called Confederate
go7ern,sps took place. and BY tho surrender Of the
tory OF the state was restored the lawful authority
the United States When this event took place what was
my conduc, the pGpuAbo lion Of tho esasann
and driven from home by the rebel authorities sup
pressed all feeling of rancor SO natural to the human
breast under such circumstances and belief that ma
ority had been seduccd from their allegiance to the old
flag by wes OF artful dcmagogucs who brought on tho
rebellion determined try the effect of kindness and
conciiiaon in winning them back TO their first love.
addressed them proclamation congratuiang them on
their restoration to the protection OF the
law and order, and that far as was concerned
wiling to forget the past. l begged them to submit
cheerfuly and unrcsevedly TO the order OF thngs
had been organized, yet was anxious thar gene al
election for It's officers should DO hold in which the whole
proms,a l appointed tho men recommended 70 dil
Offices in several parishes signed their applications to
the President OF the United States for SPECIAL pardons
persisted IN my OF reconciliation notvitlsand
Ing the warnings and rcmonsranres Of Union men who
beloved my policy would DO unavaling in accomplish
ing tho purposc Intended and who predicted that at
the very first election these men in every parish
where they held the power would prescribe every man
from Office who had not been in the rebel These
scqucnt election with the exception Of my own case.
And it is well known, for y was pnhcy ayowcd that
could be useful IN securing representation Of the State
in Congress- It is further well known TINT thor plat
form reported by the COMMITTEES appointed for that pur
pose 70 the Democratic Convention held in this city
OF the doctrine ofth right OF secession and
ony Soe o s 81 sg 81 s
made 70 assume the form which was adopted. Atthe
same convention vol known ana live democrat was
publicly censured by resolution, because, IN
speech delivered before that body he said that
secesnon was worse than crime, " was a
mocraIc party another candida:c was put In tho a.a
In opposition me, who had 0cated - Governor un
s the 'Ss and had ~ 70 e s
bcn Overwhelmingly elected. when ths scembcss Of
tho Legislature met In session In the month Of rove-
bcr 1885, convened by for the pusposs 81 raising
money 70 restore the broken eyees and 10 take nses
sures redeem the credit or the STATE found them
tuition Of 1884 than 70 promote the ofte
people, Their chief digestion ~ thai inserument was
t%S or slavery HAVING ssed - the ss session 70
pass bill to cali convention, the attempt renewed
d Tho regular session held IN the month Of January,
and more than half tho Tins Of that body spsns In
discussing the question. Finally commasson sent
70 Washington 70 consult with tho i'resdca, ana The
Lcgsistare only abandoned tho nacasare through his
considered q convention lnexpedisnt, and for that
roason opposed IT,. had learned enough OF the real
sentiments Of tho people 10 convince me that IL new
constitution made u would be loss in hnrmouy with
tho views Of the President and Congress than the con
tuition OF 1884 tho result Of which would be to lcsssn thc
chances for the admlsst0n OF Representatives. II
urged these views on tho members OF both huusos or
the Legislature, but they had no effect with the ma
deprecated the city and parish elections for tho rc
son that feared result because tis OF
tho who would DO elected, and because had
enough OF publc sentiment to convince ue that nc but
those who had served the Confederate army or aho
had COMO the Confederate lines would ne elected 10
Office Itoresaw that sucli result would DO ttstiy
marked by tho people Of the loyal States a shaving
q defiant spirit, and still gioryng In that
had been sustained by them with such fcar,ui ioss
Of life and expenditure OF treasure, with numeroas
and repeated evid noes OF cont nuing inioer-
ant and rcbeIliors spirit, and tho mauiIcstai Of
intention OF pcrsect all who did not adhere TO he
Of the conf dcracy to the last tile rat OF
large majority OF thu citizens; and with press almost
nnanmou sly cxpressn sentiments OF the same tenor,
matter Of slrrsse that should pause and com
reflect on the consequ nee ards the
turc security Of the government and the fate o Union
the South, if these men, Who once attempted 10
break tho Unirn succeeded IN securing the power OF
had seen that white processing with their lips 10.
nswcd allegiance % the fa and an obcration Of the
past, which cnbodos the pacific policy Of the President,
fndy sufy yS SRe Spas ssSi sol EeeS tns
10 The policy O ss, tori, ss the s%'sS s a,l ss
Of q ly!l war In The !c::s sss'e. fs
49,, - - THE cosvfxtio$ vr,
IN view OF all tbs array Of xong stubborn facts,
ssy my rss
In destroy the Onion have gVlls = chaIgc
The ntolerant spirit engendcred by slavery SIN xist
rho loss OF property and failure OF hopes Hey DC
icssiiei snq though regard them as impoicIt 70 res
the constituted authority enforced by the pesc OF
The Military, yet am convinced that they would renew
The rebellion 10 morrow If they saw prospc "a OF sue
cess Impressed with thcruth Of tlese views iorescc-
ing the ncccesty for the future security Of the Union
men the South that the amendment 10 The colsiItu-
lion adopted BY Congress and submitted 70 the several
States for ratification should prevail, and fully realizing
the facs that the emcndmenl would peyer ~ slGyd ~
the present Lcbi.latnfc own Was In favor OF the re-
assembling Of the Convention Of ls64, the only
Of securing the ratification required aud thereby 20 In
sure the admission OF our Representatives Ia Congress-
Tho legal right of the contention TO continue is
fpnctlQps Is question, suppose, properly pertaining
10 the courts ~ ascde, senators and Representatives IN
Congress of erea, and OF high legal attain
ments In New orleans. hsve expressed the opinion
thai, under tho resolution Of rnlncnt .ne ecnsen
ton could lawfully assemble S'-tp,s shea demo-
cratic Senator In Congress took the same icy roc my
SELF, jf bad any doubt on the subject haS l-cHcd
W the opinion OF abicr men Go.