The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-09-05
SEPTEMBER 5, 1866.

| ~ s.
your duty, and that it is your intention TO
disperse this unlawful assembly If found
within the corporate limits of the city, by ar
resting the members thereof and holding
them accountable 10 the existing municipal
law, provided they meet without the appro-
baton of the military authorities.
You also inquire whether this projected
meeting has my appreciation, 50 that you
may act accordingly.
In reply, 4have the honor to state that the
assembIage to which you refer has not, 80 far
as am aware, the sanction or appreciation
ofany military authority for its meeting I
presume the gentlemen composing it have
never asked for such authority to meet, as
the military commanders, since have been
in the State, have held themselves strictly
aloof from all interference with the political
movements of the citizens of Louisiana
For my own part have carefully refrained
from any expression of opinion upon either
side of the many questions relating to the
reconstruction of the State government.
When asked if intend to furnish the con-
vention a military guard, I have replied,
"No; the Mayor of the city and his police
will amply protect its sittingsn If these per-
sons assemble, as you say is intended, it will
be, presume, in virtue of the universally
concede right of all loyal citizens of the Uni
ted States to meet peaceably and discuss free
ly questions concerning their civil govern
ment-a right which is not restricted by the
fact that the movement proposed might ter
inmate in change of existing institutions.
If the assemplage in question has the legal
right to remodel the State government, it
should be protected in SO doing; tit has not,
then its labors must be looked upon as q
piece of harmless pleasantly, to which no one
ought to object.
As to your conception ofthe duty imposed
by your oatn of office, I regret to differ with
you entirely. cannot understand how the
mayor of city can undertake to decide so
important and delicate a question as the le-
gal authority upon which a convention,
claiming to represent the people of an entire
State, bases its action. This doubtless will
be decided upon in due time by the legal
branch of the United States Government
At all events, the Governor of the State ould
seem to be more directly called upon to take
the initiative in step Of this kind, it it was
proper and necessary.
What we most want at the present time is
| the maintenance of perfect order and the sup
preston of violence. If, when you speak of
the projected meeting as one calculated to
disturb the public peace and tranquility,
am to understand that you regard the num-
| Der of persons who differ in opinion from
those who will constitute it so large, and the
lawlessness of their character so well estab-
lished, that you doubt the ability of your
small force of police to control them, you
| have in that case only to call upon me- and 1
/ 70 Of
troops now present in the city, but, if neces-
sary, the entire force which it may be in my
power to assemble, either upon land or wa
| ter.
Lawless violence must be suppressed and
in this connec tion the recent order of the
Lieutenant General, designed for the protec-
ton of citizerls of the United States, deserves
careful consi( leration. 1t imposes high obi
cations for military interference to protect
those who, having violated no ordinance in
the State, ar engaged in peaceful avocations
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedlen'
servant, A. BAIRD,
Brevet Major General,
Commanding Department OF La.
NATHANIEL BURBANK,
First Lieut.. and acting Asst AdJt Ger.
OFFICE u s. MILITARY TELEGRPH,
[Copy.l H'DQ'Rs WAR DEPARTMENT.
[Cipher.
The following telegram received g.: 10 T
NJ, Aug. 1, 1866, from New Orleans, La.
Aug. l, 1856.
| u s. Grant, General:
You are doubtless aware of the serious
riot which occurred in this city on the Both
A political body styling itself the convention
| of 1884 met on the 30th for, as it is alleged
the purpose of remodelling the present con
stitution of the State The leaders were pc
litical agitators and revolutionary men, ant
I the action of the convention was liable t
produce breaches of the public peace. ha,
made up my mind to arrest the head men
the proceedings of the convention were cal
cuiated to disturb the tranquility of the DE-
partment, but that had no cause for actio
until they committed the overt act. In th
meantime official duty called me to Texas
and the Mayor of the city, during my at
sence, suppressed the convention by the us
of the police force, and in SO doing attacke
the plembers of the convention and part
Of 200 negroes with firearms, clubs, an
knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrt
cious as to compel me Ito say that it wa
| murder. About 40 whites and blacks wei
| killed, and about 160wounded. Everythin
is now quiet, but deem it best to maintai
| a military supremacy in the city for fe
Asys, until the affair is fully investigated.
believe the sentiment of the general cor
nnunity is great regret at this unnecessa'
cruelty, and that the police could have mat
sany arrests they saw tit without sacrlflclI
lives. PHI SHERIDAN,
Hr..,~ n -. ,,xl Norovn udiuy