The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-08-30

been taken by the civil authorities to arrest
and try and all those who were engaged in
this riot and those who have committed of
fences in violation of law Can ample JUS
tice be meted by the civil authorities to all
offenders against the law Will General
Sheridan please furnish me brief reply to
the above inquiries, with such other informa
ton as he may be in possession off
Please answer by telegram at your earliest
convenience. ANDREW JOHNSON,
President United States.
OFFICE q. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
H'DQ'Rs WAR DEPARTMENT.
The following cipher telegram received
4: 90 P. NJ, Aug. 6, 1866, from New Orleans,
La: Aug. 6, IL NJ, 1866:
HIS Ercezlency AndreD johnson, President U.s.:
l have the honor to make the following
reply to your despatch of Aug 4th very
large number of colored people marched in
procession on Friday night, July Goth, and
were addressed from the steps of the City
Hall bv Dr. Dostie, Ex-Governor Hahn, and
others. The speech of Dostie was intemper-
ate in language and sentiment. The speech
es of the others, so far as l can learn, were
characterized by moderation. [ have not
given you the words of Dostie's speech, as
the version published was denied but from
what l have learned OF the man, believe
they were Incorporate.
The convention assembled at twelve 02)
NJ. on the thirtieth, (3Oth,) the timid mem
bers absenting themselves because the tone
of the general public was ominous OF troub-
lie. l think there were about 26 members
present In the front of the Mechanics In
stitute, where the meeting was held, there
was assembled some colored men, women and
children, perhaps IS or 20, and in the Insti-
tute number of colored men, probably $50.
%l,ora 1Irrt,t 1nxra hoo
a pistol in the possession of every tenth man.
About P NJ procession of, say from
60 to 100 colored men marched up Burgun
dy street and cross Canal street towards
the convention, carrying an American flag.
These men had about one pistol to every ten
men, and canes and clubs in addition
While crossing Canal street 4 row occurred.
There were many spectators on the streets,
and their manner and tone towards the pro-
cession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by
whom 1 am not able to state, but believe it
to have been by policeman, or some col
ored man in the procession. This led to
other shots and a rush after the procession.
On arrival at the front of the Institute there
was some throwing of brickbats by both
sides. The police, who had been held well
in hand, were vigorously marched to the
scene of disorder. The procession entered
the Institute with the flag, about or s re-
naming outside. A row occurred between
a policeman and one of the colored men, and
4 Shot was again fired by one of the parties,
which led to an indiscriminate fire on
the building through the windows by
the policemen. This had been going on for
a short time when white flag was display
ed from the windows of the Institute where
upon the firing ceased, and the police rush
ed into the building.
From the testimony OF wounded men and
10 +1,n
policemen opened an indiscriminate fire up
on the audience until they had empticd their
revolvers when they retired, and those inside
barricaded the doors. The door was broken
in and the firing again commenced, when
many of the colored and white people either
escaped through the door or were passed by
the policemen inside but as they came out
the policemen who formed the circle nearest
the building fired upon them, and they were
again fired upon by the citizens that form
ed the outer circle. Many of those wound
ed and taken prisoners, and Others who were
prisoners and not wounded were fired upon
by their captors and by citizens The wound
ed were stabbed while lying ON the ground,
and their heads beaten with brickbats in the
yard of the building, whittier some of the
colored men had escaped and partially ses
creted themselves. They were fired upon
and killed or wounded by policemen. Some
from the scene. Members of the convention
were wounded by the policemen while in
their hands as prisoners, some of them NOR
tally
The immediate case of this terrible affair
was the aslemblage of this convention. The
remote cause was the bitter and antagonis-
tic feeling that has been growing in this COM
munity since the advent of the present May
or, who in the organization of his police
70 nd
of them known murderers. People of clear
views were overawed by want of confidence
in the Mayor and fear of the thugs, many of
whom he had selected for his police force. L
have frequently been spoken to by promi-
nent citizens upon this subject, and have.
heard them expires fear and want of conf
dence in Mayor Monroe Ever since the in
tiation of this last convention, I must con-
denim the course of several of the city papers
for supporting, by their articles, the bitter
feeling of bad men. AS to the merciess man.
ner in which the convention was broken up,
feel obliged to confess strong repugnance.,
1t is useless to attempt to disguise the hos
tility that exists on the part Of great many
here towards Northern men, and this unfor
tunate affair has so precipitated matters that
there is now a test of what shall be the stat
us of Northern men-whether they can live
here without being in constant dread or not !;
whether they can be protected in life and
and have justice in the courts If
this matter is permitted to pass over with
out a thorough and determined prosecution
of those engaged in it, we may look out for
frequent scenes of the same kind, not only
here but in other places. No steps have as.
yet been taken by the civil authorities to az
rest citizens who were engaged in this mas
sacre, Or policemen who perpetrated such
The members of the convention
have been indicted by the grand jury, and
many of them arrested and held to bail. AS
to whether the civil authorities can mete out
ample Justice to the guilty parties on both