Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-03
from the New York Herald, August l ]
The New Orlaama RiOn.

The public are familiar with the objects
and proceedings of the State Convention
of Louisiana, which assembled la New Or
leans on the 9th of April, 1854, Ostensibly
for the purpose of revising and amending
| the Constitution of the State, and after re-
naming insession two and half months
almost new Constitution was produced
which was submitted to the people and
adopted by the popular vote.
An attempt was made during the present
month by some of the Radical members to
revive the dead Convention, as it is called,
for the purpose of ratifying the amendment
to the Constitution of the United States,
and the President, Mr.. e. II. DurelL was
requested to issue a proclamation recon-
voking the body. When the Convention
was first called only portion of the State
was within the Union lines, and therefore
great number of the parishes were un-
represented. Mr.. Durell, taking the ground
that when the Convention, on the 23d
of June, 1864, adjourned, it ceased to have
any legal existence, and its members were
out Of office, refused to comply with the
demands of the Radicals. A meeting was
then called, and President pro tenn. ap-
pointed, as before stated, who issued proc
lamation reconvOking the dead Convention.
Governor Wells was solicited to issue
writs ordering elections to fill the vacan-
cies in the restored parishes, which he con-
sented to do; but fixed the day Of election
on the Sd of September next. There were
twenty-one unrepresented parishes in 1864
which were entitled to fifty-two represen-
tatives. The Radicals, however, were de-
termined to assemble on Monday last; but
it is stated it was their intention to adjourn
until some day subsequent to the one ap-
pointed for the holding of the elections.
There were number of the members of
the Convention of 1854 who conceded In
the views taken by the President and re-
fused to meet with the Radicals. One Mr..
j. B, Bromley thought that no good could
be accomplished by re-assembling, and he
is reported as saying that he went to New
Orleans with General Butler to fight against
the rebels, and that he had no idea now of
joining in any insane and revolutionary
movement. Another, Judge Abel, of New
Orleans, not only refused to- Join the So
called geonspiratOrs, but,in hisjudicial ca
feet that the officer of State, who endeavor-
ed to change the Government through the
action of the members of that Convention,
subjected himself to prosecution for per-
jury, He branded its members as s'politi-,
cal apostates and military deserters; the
meanest and basest of mankind, venal,
cowardly aud treacherous." tl5'o s9lt
The President pro tenn, Mr.. r. r. Howell,
of the re-assembled Convention, it is,stated,
had been on visit to Washington, and
had received instructions from the Radical
members of Congress. Immediately upon
his return to New Orleans call was issued
for meeting oil citizens who were in favor
Of universal suffrage, OF the reconstruction
policyof, Congress, and of amending the
Constitution e0f the State to give equal
rights to all without distinction of color.
This meeting. was held on Friday night
last, and contributed toladd to the excite
ment which was then prevailing. y,,,rysr,
The causes which created the disgraceful
riot on Monday lass are thus briefly set
forth. Bad and horrifying as it was, the
Radical Journals of this city. were not CON
tent with the facts as they came over tho
wires, but greatly exaggerated the state
ments. One of them announced that two
handred negroes had been killed, and that
the hall where the Convention, was held
was literally flooded with s,the blood of
Union men, while the simple fact was that
only two ofthe members had been serious
iy wounded, one Of whom has since did.
Another paper stated that dead negroes