Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-09-01

telegraph at your earliest convenience.
ANDREW JOHNSON,
President of the United States.
OFEIcE U. s. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
HEADQUARTERS WAR DEPARTMENT,
The following telegram received $50 A.
NJ, August 9th, from New Orleans, August
9th 1866: ~ tlI vi ,fA IN |
His Ercelleney Andrew johnson, President Of
the United States:
l have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your dispatch of August 4th, and
will reply speedily. -gi Jle
PHI. SHERIDAN,
Major General commanding
OFFICE U. g. MILITARY DEPARTMENT., TO
HEADQUARTERS WAR DEPARTMENT..
The following telegram received at $50
A. NJ, August 0, from New Orleans, La.,
Aug. 8, 1866:
U. s. Grant, General, Washington ID. g.:
have the honor to report quiet in the
city yesterday and day, but many un-
founded rumors afoat, which excite the
timid. The exciting reports will be in cir
culation for day or two yet.
P. II. SHERIDAN,
Major General commanding.
OFFICE OF U. 8. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
The following cipher telegram received
4.30 A. NJ, August 6, 1866, from New Or
leans, La, August 9, 12 NJ, 1866.
His Ercellency Andre,o johnson, President Of
the United States: --'
/ have the honor to make the following
reply to your dispatch of August 4:
| A very large number of the colored people
marched in procession on Friday night, July
81, and were addressed from the steps of the
City Hall by DIR. Dostie, Ex-Governor Hahn
and others. The speech of DIR. Dostie was
intemperate in language and sentiments.
The speeches of the Others, so far as can
learn, were characterized by moderation.
l have not given you the words of 'Dostie's
speech, as the version published was denied,
but from what have learned of the man l
believe they were Incorporate.
The convention assembled at 10 NJ, on the
30th, the timid members absenting them
selves because the tone of the general public
was ominous of trouble think there were
but about twenty-six members present. In
front of the Mechanics Institute, where the
meeting was held, there were assembled
some cOlored men, women and children.
perhaps eighteen or twenty, anG in the in
stitute number of colored men, probably
$50.
Among those outside and inside there
might have been pistol in the possession
of every tenth man. About 1 r. NJ. q pro-
cession of say from sixty to one hundred
and thirty colored men marched up Blrgun-
dy street and across 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 a row occurred.
There were many spectators on the streets,
and their manner and tone towards the pro-
cession unfriendly.
A shot was fred, by whom am not able
to state. but believe it to have been by po-
iceman at some colorcd man in the process
sion. This led to other shots and q rush af-
ter 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 vigorous
ly marched to the scene of disorder. The
procession entered the institute with the
flag, about six or eight remaining outside.
A row occurred between a policeman and
one of the colored men, and shot was fired
by one of the parties which led to an indis
criminate fire on the building through the
windows by the policemen. This had been
going on for short time when white flag
was displayed from the windows of the in
stitute, whereupon the firing ceased and thu
policemen rushed into the building.
From the testimony of the wounded men
} and Others who were inside the building
the policemen opened an indiscriminate fir,
upon the audience until they had emptiet
} their revolvers, when they retired, and thos'
: inside FABRICATED the doors. The doors wer,
broken in and the firing again commenced
when many of the colored and white people
either escaped through the doors or wer,
passed out by the policemen inside.
But rs they came out the policemen wht
, formed the circle nearest the building free
upon them, and they were again fred upol
by the citizens who formed the outer circle
Many of those wounded and taken prisoners
: and others who were prisoners and MOI
wounded, were fred upon by their caption
and by citizens. The wounded were stabbed
} while lying on the ground, and their head
beaten with brickbats, in the yard of til,
, building, whittier some of the cOlored mel
| escaped and partially secreted themselves
: They were fired upon and killed or wounded
by policemen. "''
; Some men were killed and wounded
several squares from the scene. Members o
the convention were wounded by the police
, men while on their hands as prisoners, som,
. of them mortally. The immediate cause o
this convention. The remote cause was til,
OiItSi uutuSoHiotlC lcciiuK WuiCu
been growing in this community since tn,
advent of the present Mayor, who in tn,
organization of his police force settled man.
) desperate men, and some of them known
murderers
People of New Orleans were overawed b,
want of confidence In the Mayor and the fea
l of the Mhugs, many of whom he had select
ed for his police force. l have frequentl,
been spoken to by prominent citizens oil
} this subject, and have heard them express
fear and want of confidence in Mayor Mon
f; roe, ever since the intimation of the last con
} vention mobement. / must condemn til,
course of several of the city papers for sup
porting by their articles the bitter feeling o
. bad men.
AS to the merciless manner in which tn
convention was broken up, feel obliged t.
4, confess strong repugnance. II is useless (,
attempt to disguise the hostility that exist
on the part of great many here towart
Northern men and this unfortunate affai
has SO percipitated matters that there is nov
test of what shall be the status of Northern
, men whether they can live here withou
being constant dread, or whether they cal
J be protected IN life and property and hav,
, justice in the courts. If this matter is per