Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-01
The LouIsIana Conranfion.


Many of our readers are doubtless ig-
norant of the character of the Louisiana
Convention, whose assembling gave rise
to a riot so startling in its results. This
convention is reassembling of the Con-
stitutional Convention elected in 1864 to
prepare the State for admission to the
Union. Chosen at that time, when the
war was at its height, it consists only
of loyal men-of men who were loyal
when it cost something to be loyal, and
when the present leaders of Louisiana
were in the rebel lines. AT the time of
its first assembling it numbered ninety
three members. A full Convention would
have consisted of one hundred and
fifty members, but several districts were
TOO intensely disloyal to send delegates.
A rule was first adopted making u ma
jority of the delegates elected quorum,
but it was afterwards modified so that it
required a majority of full Convention,
or seventy-six, TO constitute a quorum.
On adjourning the Convention left it in
the power of its officers to reassemble it
whenever in their judgment it became ne
cessary. The growing insolence of the reb-
els, under the fostering care of my policy,
had of late became so intolerable that it
was proposed, by way of a check upon it,
and of a guaranty of protection to the
Unionists, that this Convention, represent
ing the entire Union element of the
State, should be reassembied. Some
propised that it should enact
universal suffrage: all Union men
were anxious that it should adopt some e.
cisive measures for the control and restric-
ton of the rebel element Governor
Wells was in sympathy with the move
ment and issued proclamation for an
election to fill vacancies. The rebel fac
tiOn of Louisiana, now dominant, were,
however, furious at the thought of being
legislated for by loyalists. The rebel |
Monroe, Johnson's mayor of New Or
leans, announced openly his intention to |
dispel the convention with the police, |
swore in special policemen for the purpose,
and by insidions and infammatory proc
lamations excited the rebel mob 20 back |
his policemen. The rebel sheriff of New |
Orleans, an ex-CJnfederate General, had a |
special posse organized for the same object
The mob was steadily stimulated against
the Union men and the negroes. But one
spark was needed to explode the maya
zine, and that was President Johnson's |
dispatch, directing the military to enforce
the writ of the courts, which had been is
sued by partisan Judge against the Gov
ernor and Convention. The mob asked
no better backing. They assaulted the
assembled convention, backed by police
and posse, and then resulted the scene
which we have described elsewhere.
We defy anyone to read that account,
.old by impartial lips, and keep cool. Let
him picture to himself the sole represen-
sstives of the loyal Louisianians, the pur-
Est and ablest leaders of the State, sur
rounded in the hall in which they had
assembled, by q rebel mob,
thirsty for their lives. Behold the body
IF the murdered Dostie, noblest and most
devoted of patriots, lying stark in the
July sun, the dead face upturned to God,
Is if asking justice on his murderers.
Imagine the scene in the streets, where the
lreary slaughter of unarmed, frightened
negroes went on hour after hour. Re-
member that this work was done by the
constituted authorities of the city of New
Orleans, rebels in record and in heart, but
placed in power over loyal men by the
policy Of renegade President Remem-
Der that these acenes are but prelude of
what is to be-but q forewarning of what
Union men will have to suffer at the
hands of rebels-if Mr.. Johnsons policy
hall be carried out. Remembering this,
ct us swear that the victories won by the
Union army shall not be flung away, that
he Union men of the South shall not be
.bandoned, naked, to their enemies, and
hat the men who now urge the restora-
ion of rebels to power shall be forever
ilenced at the polls.
L