New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-01
Correspondent e.

City Hall, July IS 1866 !
Breyet Major Gen Baird commanding, etc.
Gene,dl-A body of men, claiming to be mem
bers Of the convention Of 1864, and whose ayowed
object is to subvert the municipal and State gov
ernments, will, learn, assemble in this city Mon
day next.
The laws and ordinances of the city which my
oath Of office makes obligatory upon me to see
faithfully executed, declares all assemblies calcu-
lated to disturb the public peace and tranquility
unlawful, and, as such, to be dispersed by the
mayor, and the participants held responsible for
violating the same.
1t is my intention to dispense this unlawful as
sembly, if found within the corporate limits of the
city, by arrestiDg the members thereof and hold
ing them accountable to existing municipal law
provided they meet without the sanction of the
military authorities.
will esteem it favor, general, if, at your
earliest convenience, you will inform me whether
this projected meeting has your appreciation, so
that may act accordingly.
am, general, very respectfully
JOHN II. MONROE, Mayor
HEADQuARrERs, pEPARTMENr or LoytgE4NA
New Orleans, La, July rs, 1866.
Hon John l. Monroe Mayor Of the city Of New Orleans
Sri have received your communication of the
25th inst, informing me that body of men, claim
ing to be members of the convention Of 1864
whose ayowed object is to subyert the present
municipal and State governments Is about
to assemble in this city, and regarding
this assemblage as one Of those described
in the law as calculated to disturb the public
peace and tranquility, and therefore, unlawful
you believe it to be your duty, and that it is your
intention to dispense this unlawful assembly, if
found within the corporate limits of the city, by
arresting the members thereof and holding them
accountable to the existing municipal laws, pro-
yided they meet without the sanction of the mill
tary authorities.
You also inquire whether this projected meeting
has my appreciation, so that you may act accord
ingly. ....
In reply, l have the honor to state
that the assemblage to which you refer
has not, so far as l am aware, the
sanction or appreciation of any military authority
for its meetings.
presume the gentlemen composing it have
never asked for such authority to meet, as the mill
tary commanders. since | have been in the State
have held themselves strictly aloof from all inter
ference with the political movements of the cit
zens of Louisiana. For my own part, | have care
fully refrained from any expression of opinion
upon either side of the many questions relating to
the reconstruction of the State government. When
asked If l intended to furnish the convention a
military guard, have replied, g No; the mayor of
the city and his police will amply protect its sit
dngs." If these persons assemble, as you say is
intended, it will be, presume, in virtue of the
universally conceded right of all loyal citizens of
the United States to meet peaeeaby and
discuss freely, questions concerning their
civil governments, right which is not restricted
by the fact that the movement proposed might
terminate in change of existing institutions
If the assemblage in question has the legal right
to remodel the State government, it should be pro
tected in SO doing; if it has not, then its lahurs
must be looked upon simply as a harmless pleas
antry, to which no one ought to object. As to
your conception of the duty imposed by your
oath of office, Iregret to differ with you entirely
cannot understand how the mayor of city can
undertake to decide so important and delicate
question as the legal authority upon which con.
Vention claiming to represent the people OF an en-
tire State, bases its action.
This doubtless will, in due time be properly de-
cided upon by the legal branch of the United
States government At all events, the governor
Of the State would seem to be more directly called
was proper and necessary. What we most want
at the present time is the maintenance of perfect
good order and the suppression of violence. If,
when you speak OF the projected meeting as one
calculated to disturb the public peace and
tranquility, | am to understand that YOU
regard the number of persons who differ in
opinion from those who will constitute it
as so large, and the lawlessness of their char
acter as so well established that you doubt the
ability of your small force Of police to control
them, you have in such case only to call upon me
troops now present in the city, but, if necessary
the entire force which it may be in my power to
assemble, either upon the land or on the water
LaWless violence must be suppressed, and in this
connection the recent order of the lieutenant gem
eTal designed for the protection of citizens of the
United States, deserves careful consideration. 1t
imposes high obligations for military interference
to protect those who, having violated no ordin
ance OF the State, are engaged in peaceful avoca
TONS
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedent ser
want,
A BAIRD Brevet Major General
Commanding Department of Louisiana.