The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-25
Address Of the People Of New Orleans
% the People Of the United States.

The people of New Orleans recently
held mass meeting to consult in re-
gard to the slanderous letter of Gov
ernor Wells, and adopted an address to
the people of the United States. They
deny his statements and accusations,
and protest their loyalty to the Con-
stitution and laws of the United States.
They declare his allegation that North
ern citizens are prosecuted in their So
cial intercourse and business avocations,
false and unfounded. They say that
"Northern capital is needed, and is
constantly invited within the limits of
our State, and the numerous citizens
hailing from the different States North
feel o sense of perfect security in our
midst, both in person and property, nor
need they have recourse for protection
! to the courts any more than our own
citizens, for the plain reason that is
they have recourse to litigation such if
also the necessary result of commercial
relations in all countries and at all
times. As to the record of crime and
offences, we challenge any city of the
United States, North or SOnth, to COM
pare statistics, for nowhere is there less
of crime daily committed than in New
Orleans, when numbers of population
are kept in view.
In relation to the Governors demand
for ali increase of troops, they say:
"Should the troops now here be con-
timed, OF even increased, We shall con-
time to extend to them the amenities
and civilities to which they are entitled,
and which are always extended to them
with pleasure; at the same time, in the
opinion of this committee, their pres
ence is not necessary, the city and State.
authorities being abundantly capable of
preserving order and protecting the in
habitants, cOlored and white, in all their
rights. In support of which we refer
to the fact that within the last eighteen
months the aggregate value of the prop
erty of the city of New Orleans has
nearly doubled the value it had before
the unfortunate civil war, and the rents
have greatly increased--in some cases
Notwithstanding the same period"
"The daughters and sons of
the South and North intermarry almost
weekly, and no one ever heard of the
marriage feast being disturbed.
Even-handed justice is administered
to all men, without regard to color or
race; and the Judges, most of whom
are the Governors own selection, are
men of integrity, ability and impartial
ty. If men disaffected TO the Union are
in office it is generally the fault of the
Governor, as he made his own selec-
lions, with which the people had very
little to say, nor were they consulted;
hence his Excellency has not any one
to blame but himself if unworthy men
are in office.
The free colorcd man has always been
competent witness in our courts, no
matter whether the parties itigant
were white OF otherwise; they have al
ways had precisely the same
capacity of acquiring, holding, and dis
posing of all kinds of property as per-
sons of the Caucasian race. All the
slaves having been emancipated, they,
by the operation of the law, become
morally and legally entitled to the
same rights, privileges and protection
as though they had been born free.
And we refer to the fact that the most
friendly5 relations exist between the
free c0lored people and their former
masters so much SO, that if the cleo
tive franchise were conferred upon the
colored men tomorrow, we are of opin-
ion they would most all vote for their
former masters in preference to Govern
or Wells or his co-Operators.