New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-09
THURsDAY MORNING. AUGUST 3, lgee.
go o the LOYAL PeonIe 81 I.oul.Innn.


The bloody tragedy enacted in the CITY of Ne
Orleans on the 30th day Of July, 1866 in whc
more than three hundred citizens were killed 4
wounded, has, to the credit Of humanity, create
profound sympathy in the breast of every ma
throughout the length and breadth of this country
The remote and immediate causes of this outragl
demand thorough investigation and explanation
and, @ ne CHIEF magistrate Of the State, feel
solemn duty resting upon me to give plain anG
1nvarnlshed statement of its origin and progress
In doing this, it becomes necessary for me to com.
1nence IN the year 1854. at the reorganization Of
civil government in thatpOrtion of Louisiana which
badheen Erested from rebel authority. regre
that shall, in this connection be obliged to speak
Of myself, 1t fs MOTTO crafty any feeling of vanity
that DO so; for fully realize that am but an
insignificant atom In the great cause Of maintain
ing and perpetnating the union Of these States.
The political history Of the country teaches us that
under the policy of the late Iamented President
oil the loyal citizens Of Louisiana in parishes then
within the Union lines, were invited and author
5zed il proclamation issued by the military
commander Of this department, to hold
aneeotion on the I'D day Of February, 1854 for
State officers The election was held; and then.
nelng refugee from my parish in the rebel lines,
~ consequence of my Union sentiments, l was
nominated by the free State party as it was
called, and also by the extreme radical party Of
which Thomas ]. Durant was the acknowledged
leader, as their candidate for the Office of Iieufen-
ant governor. The first named ticket headed BY
Michael Hahn for governor was elected. Gov
Hahn served until the 4th Of March 1865, when.
~ his resignation, succeeded to the office of
geyernor ln the meantime, and by virtue of
military authority, an election for delegates to a
State convention toamend and revise the Consti-
tuition Of 1862. had taken place the convention
had met, framed a Constitution declaring slavery
20 De abolished, which Constitution is now the
fundamental law Of the State 1t is further well
known that the Convention did not adjourn {" sine
die but subject to the call of the president for
any cause A, legislature had also been elected
ana was N session at the time Of the assumption
bY me Of the duties of the office of governor
Shortly afterwards the collapse Of the so-calledl
Confederate GOV eminent took place and by the
surrender Of the forces in the Mississippi de-
paItment the entire territory Of the State was re-
stored 10 the lawful authority Of the United States
When this event took place what was nv conduct
towards the population of the tWenty-eight par. |
lshes reclaimedg Although had been persecu- I
led and driven from my home by the rebel author
tiles, suppressed all feeling Of raneour "a natural
to the human breast under the circumstance. in |
me belief that majority mad been seduced from I
Hnelr allegiance TO the OS flag by the Yjles of the
2ltinl denagogues who brought on the rebellion /
aeterained V nv me etect Of Kindness and CON
ciilaliQn ln weaving them back to their first love
1 addressed tAenr q proclamation congratulating +
them on their restoration to the protectioh Of 4 /
government Of law and order; and that, as far as 7
y Mas concerned, was willing TO forget the past
begged them to submit cheerfully and iilresery- /
ealy 70 the new order Of things assuring them that
aitnqugh State government had been organized /
wy WA anxious that general election for State
glleeEs should pc held, IN which the whole State
e9qla ~ Eflclpate. fulfilled every word of nv
PROMISES. appointed men Recommended ~ /
Naela ~ III the 0tees In the several pa rishes Il
9sgne1 tAelr applications to the President Of the
Z s,ssea stAIes ior special pardon; persisted in
sally cglthe oI reconciliation, nQtWithsIandipp the
warnings and remonstrances of gslion me1. who Il
iDeleYeg mat my policy would n unavailine IN /
assllllg we purpose intended and who
ss .9as at ING very first election these
5aen y sVets parish y here they held the power 4
would prescribe every man from of8ee yg6o bs3 L
rebel cause. $50 " w
These predictions have been realized "a The let.
1eE AZ sYery subsequent election, with the exeen
Ion q my own case; and 1t Is wen known. Far n
4 2 w PnDllely aVoWed, that was nut at the head
OF tnen ucket simply because It was thought +
seula 20 useful lnseeuring representation Of the
TIE platform reported by the Committee anno;nteS
4os mat purpose TO the Democratic Convention 4
ne9 N ms city, was reteration Of the doctrine
u VIZ q secession; and II was only through
lAs eSeEti0ns Of few Of the more cautions and
polite Of their party that this platform s
IL assume me form in which it was adopted Al
IVY IVY saals Songehhon, we'll known citizen and t
isst democrat was publicly censured nv raso
hosg w " \ speech, delivered before that
10y. ne sala that secession was worse than 4
IStsme + was binnder.D go tttAu
Nnswlt outstanding my nomination III 4ba nan,o
EaJd Il, 10y a anotner candidate was pnt In tbe
aei
soasliloh unoef rebel rule, and who had III haeS
- ~ eouilsEy and signiied his assent, have n
l0 vin MVlio nave been overwhelmingly eleetea |
WAen the members Of the Legislature mat n ~
III SESSION, N me month Of November l9g5 c6n5
Nshsh Pr me LOT the purpose Of raising snoneS II !
restore the broken ievees and 10 faj7a moo 49, ~
80 redeem the credit Of the State fo,nd tI M
were more intent on calling a eonvantio,, I.
change the Constitution Of 1864 than n fnrnnoot
the material interests of the people Tber cb;eg
objection to that instrument was the charac,e, NJ
the men who framed it, and the abolition fsarabv
Of slavery. Having failed at Che extra sessnn "a
pass bill calling convention. the attemnt Wa
renewed at the regular session. held In the month
Of January, and more than half the tine az INN
body was spent in discussing that question: nj
nally, committee was sent to Washington Il
consult with tho President, and the legislature
only abandoned the measure through his advice
I considered q convention inexpedient and for
shat reason opposed it. I had learned enough n
the real sentiments of the people to convince ne
that il new consultation were made, it would b.
less ia harmony with tho views Of the President
and Congress than the Constitution Of 1864, the re-
suit OF which would be to lessen the chances for.
the admission Of our Representatives. / urged
these views on the members of both houses OF the
legislature, but they hsd no effect with the ma
lority.
I deprecated the city and paroohial elections
Or the same reason. feared the result, because