The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-13

ginal despatches.-JerSey city Times.
The Rebel Grand Jury Attempting 60
FOrestall Public Opinion.
NEW ORLEANS, August 1.-THE Rebels fearing
the terrible results to them from the lawful and
emphatic investigation now being made by the
Military Commission appointed to investigate the
massacre OF our Union men, have, through
tempted to forestall public opinion by
published report based on the er paIte evidence
OF prominent Rebels, most OF whom were
directly or indirectly participants in the mas
sacre, and are consequently interested in
screening themselves from the punishment they
so richly merit. That the murderer should be
acquitted on his own statement, without hear
ing the testimony of his accusers is an apt
illustration OF Rebel Justice, and plainly shows
The straits TO which they are put IN order 10
cover up then intamy. The New Orleans
tribune comhenting on this report OF the
1--WE are forced to believe that the character
OF SAID reports is strictly partisan, partial, in
complete and highly deropatory to the true
character OF Jurors in whose hands are intrusted
the rights and liberties of every person in the
community. We can produce abundant testi-
mony to show that the disturbance was caused
by those who were opposed to the meeting OF
1he Convention, and II the Grand Jury Is not in
possession of the same we can furnish it. The
statement that the blacks were exhorted to
eXtCrminate the whites by any one in sympathy
with the Convention Is utterly false, and
him who utters such a preposterous lie. We
defy the combined intamy and treachery of our
murderous opponents to make such appear on
= fair and impartial investigation. We know
that the blacks were told to 90 TO their homes
quietly, and disturb or molest no one, but to
stand in their own defense if any one interfered
with them. Such was the language OF the mur.
dered Dostie on Friday night. the 9th of July
We have published the statement ofseveral eye
witnesses, and one OF member of the Conven-
tiOn, which clearly shows that an audience
quietlV seated in the hall and unarmed were
6Ted upon repeatedly, and some OF them killed,
on the 30th inst, and that murder, and not
arrest, was their object"
I'VE append a letter received by Judge KELLEY
from distinguished citizen of New Orleans, in
which truthful version of the late riot and its
cause is given. The writer is a gentleman
high in the legal profession, holding an import
ant public office, and one whose word can be
relied on in every respect. AS we do not believe
in the prevalent practice OF printing priUats
letters without the authors consent, we with.
hold his name.
New ORLEANS, August 2, 1866.
Hon. William ID. Kelley, Philadelphia, Pa
Dear Sir:-As you already know, Monday last
was day of violence and murder, resulting in
the establishment of martial law in New Orleans.
The press OF the city and all those interested
will endeavor to make the Constitutional Con-
Vention responsible for the disturbance; but
assure you that a fair and impartial investiga-
1ion OF the whole matter, which General Baird
is determined to make, will relieve it from any
connection Herewith, except as a party wan
tonly assailed.
The spirit of the Rebellion was and still is
here, and imprudent persons on both sides only
afforded preteXt for its fearful and predeter
mined outbreak.
The Convention was called to order a few
minutes after IL O'Clock ON Monday Goth July,
1866. Prayer was offered by the Rev. J. w. Hor
ton, Of the Baptist Church. The roll was called,
some thirty members only being present. The
Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to bring in the
absent members, and a recess of one hour was
taken, from 1890 to 1'3O p. NJ.
BY this time the crowd in and around the build
ing, consisting principally of colored persons, had
become quite large, and a procession of freed
men passing along the adjoining street was the
immediate occasion for the outbreak, which
soon became an indiscriminate slaughter of
negroes by Rebel police and semi-organized
mob, most, il not all, of whom are ex-Rebel
soldiers. The Memphis riot was Tar surpassed,
excepting the fires. When the negroes in the
street were dispersed (Which was quickly done)
some taking refuge in the state House building
the police made an assault upon the Hall of
Representatives, where some of the members
of the Convention were still collected with
many quiet spectators, and, after two or three
intellectual efforts, obtained entrance, and began
firing upon all in 1t, killing and woundiug
many, including several members of the Con-
Vention and two ministers OF the Gospel who
were there as spectators. One OF the clergy
men was Mr.. Horton, who, being present, had
been invited to open the meeting with prayer;
the other was Mr.. II. q. Jackson, OF the MethO-
dist Episcopal Church, cola oorer OF the Rev.
DIR. j. p. Newman in this field of missions.
They are seriously, if not fatally, wounded and
beaten.
For over three hours, until General Baird
could bring his troops from the barracks below
the city. the city was in the possession OF an
iniuriated police and mob, composed largely of
returned Rebel soldiers In the evening the
General wisely and necessarily proclaimed mar.
tal law, and Is now holding the CITY, It's COndi.
ton requiring it; but the publication on Tues
day OF President JOhnscG's despatch to the
State Attorney.GeneIal Ga Rebel Brigadjer Cen
eTd) has carried dismay to the Union people,
and the conviction now exists that we are
turned over to the Rebels and that the loyal only
are to be made to suffer in consequence OF seces-
sion and rebellion. Such is the reward of loyalty
10 the Government of the United States. Such
abe definition and punishment of treason. The
State Governments are given into the hands of
Rebels, drunken with the blood of their fellow
cOuntrymen and hate of all UniOniStS the loyal
are prescribed, prosecuted, oppressed, and when
they turn to the only hope of relief, they are
hunted, shot, beaten, murdered, and the rem
nant again delivered over to their remorseless
unforgiving enemies. What announcement is