The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-01
The Rebel Massacre in New Orleans.

The Rebel Massacre in New Orleans.
FULLER details show the New Orleans massacre
to have been even more atrocious than first
accounts indicated. Nearly forty persons, it
is now estimated, we're either killed outright,
or so dangerously wounded as TO render death
probable. Among these we're several prominent
and well-knOwn citizens.
Were this au ordinary riot, while the loss OF
life would be deplorabe, it would possess no
peculiar significance. But the startling feature
in this case is that the riot was political one.
1t was fully premeditated carefully planned,
thoroughly prepared Rebel uprising for the pur-
pose of numbering the leaders of the Union
cause in the State OF Louisiana. The facts leave
no manner of doubt of this. This New Orleans
mob was as thoroughly Rebel mob as was the
Baltimore mob that murdered our Union soldiers
in 1861. II was inspired by the same feelings
and intent on the same murderous ends.
The Constitutional Convention, which assem-
bled on the day of the riot, had become the cen.
tral rallyng point OF the Union men of Louisi-
ana. 1t was originally elected in 1864, in the
midst of the war, and, of course, embraced only
those who were acting Unionists in the height
of the Rebellion. Hence it was peculiarly
obnoxious to the Rebels. 1t was memento of
passes by that name in the Southland called
back 10 their ranking hearts memories of
time when the flag of the Union commanded
the respect of Rebels and gave protection to
Union men, even IN New Orleans. The meeting
of this Convention was the signal for this new
Rebel uprising. They were determined to break
up the Convention at all hazards, and chose the
method of a iiot as Offering the best facilities
for numbering obnoxious members. The misera-
Bile wretch wh1 disgraces the office OF Mayor in
New Orleans. and who, if he had his deserts,
would be looking through the crates of prison,
was Geep III the plot Everything shows it.
Under pretense of arrest, members were dragged
from the Convention building only to be seized
and tom to pieces bS the bowling mob out.
side. Ard those Union men, who had been
true to our cause in It's darkest hours, we're left
without protection, to be murdered like dogs!
All this time, there were sufficient United States
troops in New Orleans to have afforded ample
protection to these innocent men, who were being
shot down for no other reason than that they
had been faithful to the old flag. Who would
have thought, year ago last April, when the
whole Rebel COnfederacy lay PROSTATE at our
eet that in less than eighteen months the streets
of New Orleans would have run red with the
blood of Union men murdered by Rebels, and
United States force would stand idly by and be-
hold the damning work going on And this is
the Southern "iOyaly' that is prated so much
about These are the men who "accept the re-
suits of the war" in gOOi faih! These are the
"bTethren" we are asked to take to our hearts
and forgive and forget their past delinquepcies !
1t would seem as though Providence had
allowed these wreyches to make full display of
their ferocious malignity, that the people of the
United States might be aroused to the pells
which still confront them, and to the worse than
suicidal results of placing power in the hands o
men whose hearts are still bursting with rage
against the Union and all who support it.
But is it not outrageous, does it not cause
every true Union mans cheek to burn with
shame, to think that after all we have done in
the late war, after all the money we have spent
and the precious lives we have sacrificed to put
down rebellion set of Rebel scouudrels and
cutthroats should be permitted to rule the city
of New Orleans, and murder Union men with
impunity?