The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-08-10
Tie Neic Orleans Riots.


aSsauliing and numbering Of leading In
ION men of the state. the ruthless shooting
down Of more than hundred freedmen,
, accompanied with the most savage bar
harliies. are facts calculated TO impress
the whole country with anxiety and
alarm IN regard 20 the state of affairs at
the south. Are these the fruits of that
executive policy which maintains that all
the late rehellious states are ripe for i'm
mediate return 20 the Cnion, incluling
the complete mastery OF their local af-
fairs the SEvay of such authorities rs the
mayor and police OF lew Crieans. and
the withdrawal of the United States fore
: es! but instead of making any COM
meniS at present, we prefer TO give our
readers a suecinct and accurate account
ot the origin OF these deplorable disturban-
lceS
Louisiana was the first of The southern
states in which ihe federal arms obtained
IN permanent footing during the war.
The capture Of New Orleans 10y General
3u;ler and lie subsequent administration
of Gen Banks prepared the WAY for
: President Lincoln 10 take some prelimi-
mary steps 10 bring her back into the In
lOn- Ii was The first state which he be-
g;n 70 experiment upon. and If Is nofori-
: ouS that his policy was that of concilia-
ton and forgiveness. He was evidently
deceived respecting ;he loyalty Of the peo-
pie. rs subsequent events have shown. but
If Is clear that he erred on the side of
mercy. Whether f'e p!an of Tie conven-
lion CT 1861 was Original with President
Lincoln or Gen. .,a;lks. i IS certain that
the president approved it and watched
the proceedings with great interest, and
the uniform testimony Of the Union men
throughout The land AS been that the
consultation which they framed was one
# The most perfect n the United States.
1t did no! ccnier negro suffrage. but left
the matte- open 70 future legislatures. 1t
enIoined tlr.t the iec-;,l.t..re should pro-
: vide for the education of all children.
wiitc and colo-ed. 4 changed the status
: OF representation and Cave New Orleans
her share IA tLe government There may
have been inaccuracies in the election of
: delegates within he felcral lines. for
n those elections were ,:e,d in a time of civ
:. il var. WHEN 4 i:~-,-e number of the in
II i:ssbitantS were In the confederate army,
but the fact that she present governor,
Legislature. and eongre>smen and senators
: elect have been cllo>en under that conSti-
e titlcn, shows that the people did and do
: accept lis validity
That constitution provided that at
c so,:le future ii;ae liz members might be
+ called together &@ain. Governor Wells
:, SAW lit 10 issue such call lie has long
. been one OF tie most popular men in the
u state During :i:e administration OF Gen.
: Banks. lie WAS considered .'free state
lnan- lie was meanber of the '.loyal
hague, AID WIS run f5- lieut. governor
@ en line same ticket with Hon. Michael
iialn. :, hen Sir. Hahn resigned his Of
acc a. governor, and received the election
,. senator. IT Wells Jecar1e Governor,
a'5 aS tie Louisiana senator's were not
G admitted, Mr. LAIN apparently ii.ll back
= iil,o private liie- Nhcn :he armies Of
Ia Lee. Dick Taylor, ct al. surrendered.
/; and the con.elleT,teS returned 10 their
Y plantations IN the state. the duty OF ap-
:, pointing Temporary officers for sherifiS.
nj parish CURES. Judges. DC, lell upon Gov.
nj Wells. and lac 80 far disappointed the rad
ne ical free state men, that returned confel-
ii crate officers and soldiers uniformly re-
" ocired his preference Ills popularity
IN became mbounded. The only rival
'ie which he had In the election last fail was
" Ex-Governor Allen. an iI,:Tardoned rebel,
g who held oui a; Shreveport till the rebel
rs armies surrendered.
h' 'iie last eighteen months have made a
M grear chaage In lie political condition OF
n New Orleans. In the spring OF 1865,
DE wiicn under the military rule, human life
e' and property were safe. and protection
IA w:ls granted to all classes of citizens.
e'i whether white or black DR.. Kennedy
WAS mayor. ami though not re,n;lrkabl,
,;lS for EiS LOYALTY, yet he cnieavo-ed to trim
';'> VERY carefully between The major general
i>- commanding and the returned conteler
M :ieS. Nuw everything iS changed Mr.
Il John l. Mumoe, a rebel whom Genera
er- Butler sent 10 Fortress jackson for In
iId cnniumacy. WAS the unanimous choice o
ei> the people at a recent election, ;.nd th,
rli- old police. those who were in before Gen
'hr Butler look the city, have all been rem
leS stated, and appearances I:ow indicate tha
lie even the Memphis police, who slaughter
Ell ell 80 many negroes m that city, will sui
ior fer nothing by a comparison with thei
ne New Orleans conircres Ii i well know
ItS there that II is next 10 impossible for
ave nero 10 obtain justice from them, or i
epi the recorders courts. During The pas
uid winter the number of murders. shootin
md ana >tabbing atlrays which occurred j
tie the city. Were greatly increased, an
hardly day passed in which one did nc
md take place.
the After Gov. Wells declared his inter
ord tion of calling together the convention
ile> Judge Abell charged the grand jury tha
can il would be an unlawful assemblage. an
riy it> object and design would he TO subvel
not the peace OF the state. Mr.. Shannon
It's the United states commissioner, had hil
ure arrested for this. Mr. Munroe. the ma,
mt, or. proclaimed that If tine convention m,
len, he should Use the police force to disper
tine 1t. President johnson telegraphed tn;