The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-08-08
THE LOUISIANA CONVENTION.


This convention was elected in 1861
under the military administration of Gen.
Banks The Convention answered a
good purpose and received the hearty APP
proyal Of all Union men, President Lin
coin wrote TO Governor Hahn as follows
''EXECUTIvE MANSION,
Washington, March 10, 1861
Hon. .U'cI0et Udtn:
My DEAR Sill congratula you on
having fixed your name in history as the
first Free State Governor of Louisiana.
Now you are about to have convention,
which, among other things, will probably
define the elective franchise. barely
suggest, for your private consideration,
whether some of the colored people may
not be let in, as, for instance the very
intelligent, and especially those who have
fought CALAMITY in our ranks They
would probably help in some trying time
to come, to keep the jewel of liberty in
the family Of freedom. But this is only
suggestion, not to the public, but 10
you alone. Truly yours,
n. LINCOLN.
We do not not affirm that this assembly
had the power TO pcrpc,uatc itself; and
whether this late convention was strictly
lawful assembly is a matter of little
consequence it could have done no
harm and would have been of no conse-
quence pr 'bably, except as an expression
of opinion. Its Importance as Il conven-
ton does not appear, but it was made
the occasion of disgraceful riot and
bloodshed. We cannot sufficiently de-
precate the unwise action of President
johnson in maniiesting his sympathy with
rebels as opposed to loyali,ts. If that
convention was unlawful we have RENE
dies in the supreme court. The Fenian
Senate was an unlawful assembly yet the
president did not interfere, but very prop
erly regarded it as of too little consequence
for dispersion by United States troops. In
the present instance similar course
would have prevented the appearance of
sympathy with rebels. The final results
might have been the same, but the means
would have been more dignifcd, and his
proiessed sympathy with loyalists would
have been Tree from the charge Of insin-
certify. But instead of pursuing his own
policy i'll such cases, he FASTENED to tel
egraph to and thus recognize usurped
power tor the communication of his wish
es. Instead Of sending his orders to Gov.
Wells, the official representation of the
State, he sent his commands to member
of Gov. Wells cabinet his Attorney
Gen'l-an act in itself revolutionary. In
that dispatch his opposition to the Conyen-
ton of loyalists is emphatically expressed.
We do not suppose he designed it as an
encouragement to violence but there can
be no doubt as to its effect. "Forty
men killed and many others wounded"
shows the extreme care which should be
exercised by those who have influence
when dealing with such an excitable ele-
ment as a southern populace. The fol-
following letter Of Gen. Banks is interest
ing as giving the opinion of one better
posted on the subject than most of us at
the North can be from his former relations
to the Convention.
"WAsInNGroN, ID. c., }
Aug. |, 1866.
To tie Editor of the National Republican
SR-A communication published in
your journal this morning, signed VIM.
ii. e. King, gives an incorrect represent
alton of The condition of affairs and the
cause of the recent massacre in New Or
leans. Its incorporate tone discloses and
defeats its purpose. Nevertheless, know
ing the history to which it refers, l deem
it my duty TO say that in my opinion it is
unjust to the loyal men of Louisiana and
unworthy of credit.
The convention was the ostensible and
not the latent cause of the outbreak. 1t
was a peaceful and lawful assembly.
One word from the recognized authorities
OF the United States, in New Orleans