New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-08
Report to President johnson from the Lieut..
Governor, the Attorney General and the
Mayor Of New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 3, 1865.

New ORLEANS, Aug. 3, 1865.
His Excellency President Andrew johnson;
| Sjr-Your excellency is already in possession Of
4 the main facts as regards the conspiracy which
| by reviVing the convention of 1864, purposed to
| subvert the civil government of Louisiana.
| An informal meeting of twenty-nine members
one hundred and fifty being the whole number and
| seventy.siX a quorum-proceeded to depose the
president of the convention, who considered the
convention itself extinct and himself fufotlES off
| oio, and to elect R. K. Howell as president pro
TEN. They adjourned to meet again, and a proca.
nation was issued by the president prO tenn. con
| vening the convention to meet on the 30th July
last, and directing his excellency the governor of
the State to issue writs of election to fill yacan-
| cies.
| So far the whole matter was looked upon as a
harmless experiment, although mischieyously in
tended, the people being confident that the gov
ernOr could not cOndescend to notice this procla-
nation, and that in case the convention would
commit any act of interference, he would at once
have it dispersed
Unfortunately, however, after the lapse of near
| ~ month, the governor issued WTits of election
to fill up ffty-one vacancies in that body. This
document, to which the secretary of state refused
to give his attesaton under the seal of State, was
issued under the attesation of the private secre-
tary of the governor
The people of the State became alarmed when
no doubt could be entertained as to the fact that
their chief magistrate had given willing aid and as
sistance to subyert the government, the preserva-
ton of which was especially ntrusted to his keep
ing. Or Friday, 9th July, large meeting was
held in the hall of the House of Representatives,
professedly for the adyocacyo Of universal suffrage
but in reality to organize for the meeting of the
convention on the Monday following. The object
of this meeting was to arouse the passions and
/ prejudices of the coiored population, SO as to
make them the victims of o riot by urging them
headlong into conflict with the State and muni-
eipal authorities. On the other hand, we were de-
termined to prevent riot and blOodshed, by pur-
suing such course as would battle the neiarious
the only remedy, must be by recourse to the usual
process of law; and, even them to proceed in such
d way as to fasten upon them the responsibility OF
all collision whatever.
The case was submitted to the grand Jury by
the attorney general, and, in the meantime, the
lieutenant governor and the mayor called upon
| Gen. Baird to ascertain whether, if a warrant
issued upon regular Indictment, were placed in
the hands of the sheriff for the arrest of the mem
beers of the convention, the military would inter
| fere. The answer was that the sheriff himself
would be arrested and that the convention meet
ing peaoeaby could not be interfered with by the
officers of the law.
Il is proper here TO state that the mayor had
previously addressed note to Gen. Baird, inquir-
ing whether he would be interfered with by tile
military in case he would proceed to dispense the
convention as an unlawful assemblage. The
answer to this communication was that the meet.
ing Of the convention, being peaceable, could not
be suppressed by the mayor-and that the military
authorities would prevent the interference of the
city authorities. aaaE 4aY
it was suggested hy the lieutenant governor
that the city authorities, under those circum-
Stances did not intend to interfere to prevent the
meeting of the convention; but he proposed that
in case warrant OF arrest were placed in the
hands of the sheriff the latter before attempting
to execute it, would call upon the general, who,
thereupon, would indurse his objections, and the
matter would at once be submitted to the Presi
dent 5
This arrangement was satisfactory to both par.
! ties Nm bA Ia N ott1
the lieutenant governor telegraphed t0 the Presi-
dent to ascertain whether the process of court for
! the arrest of the members Of the convention
could be thwarted by the military. The answer
was that instead OF ohstructing, the military was
| expected TO sustain the courts.
On Sunday t29th) the State and municipal
authorities called upon the press to advise the
people as to the proper conduct to be held the
next day, so as to avoid all collision and riot and
the mayor issued his proclamation to the same
effect The press,oi the city with the exception
of the radical organ, gave wise and sanitary couu-
sells to9tte people, inviting all good citizens TO
avoid congregating about the capitol, and to de-
mean themselves with prudenee and discretion,
On the morning Of The Both, the lieutenant gov
ernor called upon General Baird to communicate to
him the Presidents dispateh and also Inquired
from the general ii he would not have some troops
in the vicinity of the Hall to preserve peace and
good order. General Baird answered lhatapplca-
ton had been made by members OF the convention
for that purpose, and that lis reason for not
plying was, that he did not wish to appear to side
with either party or to uphold the convention.
The suggestion was then made that to have too
large police force on that spot might be con-
suued as meant to oyerawe the members and that
itlasm0eh rs the civil authorities did not intend
interfering with the convention until Instructions
received from the President as above agreed on,
II was proper 10 have troops to cooperate with a
small police force, to preserve peace and prevent
AZ possible attempts to bring abonta collision
The suggestion met the approval Of the general
Who then stated that he would immediate