The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-03
Andrew Johnson's Defense Of the
Massacre Refuted by the Facts.


report OF the Military Commission appointed to
investigate the of the late riots as furnished
to the " War Department.
SlR:-Ihe Board having matuIey considered the
evidence, would respectfully report as foil ows:-
The immediate causes of this riot which the Board
are directed to investigate are, IN their opinion, to
be found in the violent feelings of hostility to wards
the sO-calied Convention of 1854 which has for
some time prevailed N the community, and which
was finally, by the course of events, famed into
the flame of an actual outbreak OF riot, bloodshed,
In the excited state of public feeling before de-
scribed, Mayor onroe apphes by letter to General
alleged unlawful assembly by the arrest OF its men,
bers Dy his police General Baird replies in effect,
that il Is not for the Mayor to decide that these cIti
Zens are criminals, and that he Will not permit the
arrest, bl that II notOus attack the assembly
be anticipated. which the police may be unable to
quell prevent, that case the of tine mill
tary power vii be furnished If required to assist
keeping the peace But dayor Monroe makes no
application for military aid. General Baird also
states his objections to allowing the arrest by the
sheriff but promises to telegraph to Washington
Tor instructions He does so telegraph and receives
no answer The other party teIePraphs, and are
answered that the military Will be expected to sus-
This does not remove General Baird's objections
to the arrest. 1t IS agreed that the sheriff shall not
make the arrests, but that General Bairu shall en-
dorse his objections on the warrant and forward the
whole case TO Washington so far not ing said of
rot, except General Bard's offer of troops should
one be anticipated General Bard is unwilling to
assume tne attitude OIL protecting The assembly unless
called on Dy the civil authorities to aid IN prevent.
ing or suppTessing rot
Let us now compare the evidence as to when and
by whom he was so called on.
Lieutenant GO GOVernOr NOUrhieS says:-
II then mentioned to the General whether he
would not have troops in the vicinity of the Me-
ance This was the dav Of the riot. It must have
been toward 10 O'Clock when made the request.
| General Baird seemed pleased with ii, because
| coming from our side. He said ne would do so with
| pleasure. and gave immediate orders When left,
stepped up to he Mayors office 10 see troops mad
| been sent did not say what Il oops only asked
| for troops, When l made that statement to the
Mayor, he seemed pleased with the arrangement
| This about III O'Clock "
See, also, Lieutenant. Governor VOORHEES, letter of
latter leaving you, called upon the Mayor, who
| was pleased to hear of the cooperation he could
] have from the mi ltary department"
| MajOrGeneIal Bard saYs:-
soon after II O'Clock, the Leutenant-G Governor
| called upon me to the Governor the disposi:
tons had made of the troops, said also thaG If
was not afraid my actions would be mlsinterpreted,
and that it would be sand that 1 was gualding the
! soldiers in the street. Governor Voorhies ex-
pressed pleasure, and agreed to this with pleasure,
| and sald that he would be glad to have them, and
| that he would see that my motives were not misIn-
| terpreted. then said L would send for few
| companies. THIS was the first understanding be-
tween and any one and the first proposition
made with regard to having troops present. shortly
afer2 2oclock Mayor Monroe cam IN hurIiedy to sec
me. He asked when The troops spoke OF bringing
| up would arrive. ! said that expected them that
they ought 10 be in Canal street by that very tune;
BE then asked me, will they be white trooDsy will
they act along with the pOlIcep l replied that a
part of them would be white troOps-the lst 1ntau-
riot, no matter who was concerned IN IN it. AT no
time he ask the assistance of troops, with
the exception of the request implied these three
| interTogatorles."
Mayor Monroe says:-
on General Baird and gave MIN to understand
feared q difficulty PROVIDED there were not a few
RnoWinS % full we'll there was bad feeling existing
between my po ice, and the negroes and those Wno
favored tins onyentIon. 1t was previously agreed
before Saturday between General Baird and myself,
that q sma force OF troops would be sent to the
Mechanics Institute relied on my proclamation to
10
informed me that he would send small de elachment
OF troops. told him If such the case the ConVen
ton might assemble On the morning OF the assem-
blng every ten minutes sent messenger 10 report
me whether the military had yet got there or not
continued to return and report that the military
| had not vet arrived, as had Oeen agreed upon
between General Baird and myself informed
| General Baird Frdav and on Saturday that this
| Convention was 10 assemble at IL O'Clock on Mon
day, and it would be necessary to have them there
previous to that hour; and he informed me that he
| would have q small detachment of white troops
there on Monday morning, before the hour OF II
O'Clock. Expecting tneY would come, allowed nc
| policeman TO 70 there " etc.
| Major General Baird says:-
"rhe first comm unication had was letter from
| Mayor Monroe ton fel The next communication
was on Saturday, the 2sth, when Mayor Monroe
called upon me, and introduced Lieut. Gov. Voor
bles. No request whatever was made to me ioi
troops al that interview"
This interview is minutely described by the Gen
eral and Lieutenant Governor Its object was to in
ouce the General to allow the arrest OF the ConVen
ton: The subject OF troops or apprehended riot wa
essential difference between Lleut-Goy. Yoorhie
and Gen. Baird on this point is as to which first pro
posed on Monday the sendIng of troops The agree
ment Is mace. Voorhies goes to the MaYor and tell
| HIM of IL, and the Mayor lie pleased to hear of it,
Mayor Monroe swears that General Baird pro
| missed and agreed to and with him on Friday ant
| on Saturday, 10 send troops.
General Baird swears that he never so promised O.
. | agreed with him or any one, except with Leu
tenanI-GOvernor VOorhes on the morning Of th
| riot.
Compare also the testimony of Mayor Monroe, an,
General Heron, In regard to the meeting in tn
Mayors parlor, and the employment OF police an'
military.
. See also the testimony OF Chief OF Police Adams
Who defAiIa the instruotiOns he received from IN