The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-07
The New orleans Massacre.

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| bloody massacre is passing away, we
are getting more nearly at the truth,
and are learning more fully the facts.
The mails are bringing us the papers
containing the particulars of the
scenes, which took place around and
in the Convention Hall. and in the
streets, and they all go to show that it
was deliberate and wanton slaughter
of men, who were exercising the right
Of free speech and action, simply be-
cause of their loyalty. We heard ia
the first dispatches of bodies of armed
and organized negroes parading the
streets and threatening violence, yet,
when the riot is over, and the dead
are gathered up, and the wounded
placed in hospital, we hear of hardly
any but negroes and loyal white mem
If there were armed negroes, intend
ing violence, why do we not see some
of the results of this armed violence2
The truth of it is plainly seen in the
sufferers by the mob, and in the state
ments of our Federal officers.
1t was preconcerted plot on the
part of the rebels to murder all the
white men who had made themselves
conspicuous for loyalty, and the ne
groes, who had the manliness to stand
up for the rights for which they had
fought under the national flag, and of
which they had been assured by Gov
eminent obligations.
The pretext for the riot was the re-
assembling of the State Convention,
which, it was alledged, was illegal, re-
evolutionary and reasonable. But it
was through the action of this Con-
vention that the State Government
had been organized, which the Presi-
dent had again and again recognized
as valid, and if it had no legal exist
ence or authority, the State Govern
ment itself was an irresponsible orga a.
zation. But question of the legality
of the Convention cannot enter into
the consideration Of the justification
of the riot. On this point we make
an extract, which presents the ques-
ton concisely, from the Cincinnati
Commercial, which has some reputa4'
ton hereabouts. with the Democracy
for eandOr::i ssi.ioi3 ana esiaa p sui
The papers are discussing the legality of
the Convention, = broken up by a mob Of
New Orleans roughs and police. It's legali-
ty or illegality has very little to do with
IL. If legally convened, no power in the
State had a right to- obstruct its proceed
ings. II illegal, sthe Courts would set them
aside. No harm, IL any harm was intend
ed, could result to the State so far as its
existing Constitution and civil organiza-
ftion are concerned. The main. Indictment
to the mob was that 1t was q Convention
composed of the men who had been ur1a
finchingiy loyal during the war, and such
Conventions, the National I,ltelligeneez
some days ago declared f'Twopld. not be-
tolerated in any Southern state" That is
the main fact, and no amount of pettifog-
ging about the irregularity of the call ana 1
illegality of the Convention will CONCEAL
or dwarf its ugly preportions. H4x Al I'll
However may he settled the matt
ter of the propriety of the assembling I
of the Convention, all who have giveAal
the riot any Thought, must very plainly |
see that the President could have pre-,
vented the massacre, if he had done his I
duty. twas very evident on the day |
before the riot that danger was brew
ing, and that it was the determination
of the .reughs yand,orebelhsoldiers to |
break up the Convention by force.
The United States military author
tiles were sufficiently strong and ready
to prevent any outbreak, And had
not Mr.. JOHNSON issued orders to,
Gem BAIRD to leave matters to the /
civil authorities, Gall rebels,) and to
withdraw all interference, no serious
trouble would have occurred. 1t 4
is another of the fruits of his poll
cy of restoration. It is a policy.
which, if successful. viii result in re 4
storing the rebels to full power, and Z
the determination of all loyal -senti-
lnent, free speech, and liberty of ae-
ton in the South. TOD