Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-09
8radford geporter.
ToWanda, Thursday, August 9, 1866.
Union State Ticket.
FOR GOVERNOR
GEN. JOHN W. GE AIRY,
OF wEsTMoRELAND COUNTY.
THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.

the conflicting accounts which are furnished
of the recent disturbance of the peace, and
murderous riots in the city of New Orleans,
and have come to the conclusion, that while
the white loyalists and the blacks, may have
been imprudent, and guided too much by
Incorporate zeal, it is still very evident,
that they did not intend to disturb the pub
lie plan, or modest any one No instance
is given where they made an assault upon
single individuals, or upon collections of
individuals, and only in few instances did
they attempt to defend themselves, seeming
mostly TO have subm tilted t. the brutality
and murderous purposes Of their assailants,
the rebels who so lately fought against the
government. The details given Of these
rioters demonstrations by the most deter
mined and desperate rebels established
these facts, and perhaps one of the stron-
gest incidental proofs of this version of the
case, is found in the commanding fact, that
but two of the rebels are reported killed,
and about twenty wounded, while not less
than thirty freedmen were killed and over a
hundred wounded, besides killing and woun-
ding Of numbers of the white loyalists.-
Now, if the union men, and their allies, the
how comes it, they were NEARLY all unarm-
ed, and unprepared for such an engagement.
If they, intended or an assault upon
their rebel enemies, they would have pre-
pared themselves, and in that case the xii
ling and wounding would not have been
nearly all on one side, for the unionists in
the melee were fully as numerous as the
rebels. Then the notorious fact that the
lower orders of the rebels, throughout all
the rebel states, have shown hellish dis
position towards the freed negroes, iniur-
ing, wounding and killing them, at all
points, is another cOndemning circumstance
against the New Orleans rioters, as are al
50 the facts as they have been developed
by investigation, connected with the late
riots in Memphis Indeed, it is pretty
clearly established that the more despera tie
of the rebel soldiers, since they have been
disbanded, seek every occasion, and raise all
kinds of pretexts to shoot free negroes, and
get up mobs and riots to this end The
rebels and copperhead presses attempt to
make it appear that blacks had prepared,
and commenced the riots because since the
fray, they have been armed and leaces have
been found where arms were stored for
their Use but the truth is, that all these
arms have been secured by the freedmen
since for self defence, having been threat
ened with their vengeance by the lawless
robbers, who are in the ascendancy in New
Orleans
That our readers may have all the ma
terial facts and attending circumstances of
these riots in New Orleans we will proceed
to detail them.
In 1864, convention was held in Louis
auia by the loyalists to frame free con-
stitution for that state After this conven-
tion had accomplished this purpose, it ad-
iourncd for an Indefinite period, but not f.
nally. Judge Howell the President of that
convention, lately issued call for the re-
assembling of that convention and the
Governor of the State issued procama-
tion calling on the districts that had no
delegates to elect such, in order that the
whole state might be represented in the
convention The Proclamation runs in these
words
Whereas, R. X. Howell, President pro tenn. of
! the Convention for the Revision and amendment
| of the Constitution of Louisiana, has issued an
| order reconvoking the said Convention, to meet
in the City of New Orleans Oh the Both day ofJuly
inst, and
Whereas. In the same document, and in conform
ity to a resolution of that body, he has called on
the Governor of the State to issue wrs OF election
for delegates to said Convention in all parishes
not represented therein
Now therefore l, J. Madison Wells, Governor
of the State of Louisiana, do issue this my procla-
nation, commanding that an election be held on
Monday, the Sd day of September, 1866 by the
qualified voters for delegates to the aforesaid Con
ventiOn, as follows:
Then follows a list of the names of the
parishes with us districts (which are to elect
delegates, and the number each shall choose.
| The Proclamation closed as follows
And do further command all Sheriffs Com
missioners of Elections and other officers therein
concerned. to hold the said election herein or
dered. the proceedings to be conducted according
to law, and person will have the right to vote
unless he has restored his citizenship by having
taken the OATH before competent authority as
prescribed in the Amnesty Proclamation of the
President of the United States. either of January
J. 1864, or May %, 1863
All persons excluded from general amnesty by
being embraced in any of the articles of exec ption
contained therein, will not be allowed to vote, I'M
less specially pardoned by the President.
Prompt returns viii be made of said election to
the Secretary Of State-for all OF which this focla
nation, without further notice, will serve as au-
tLority.
Given under my hand at the city ofNew- Orleans
this 9th day of July, A. d. 1865 and of the indie
pendence of the United States, the ninety-frst
j. MADISON WELLS,
Attest; \. c. SNETHEN,
! true copy. Private Secretary.
By this prGclaElation, few, if any of the
rebels could vote, and this would keep the
loyalists in the majority in the Convention
and as it was clearly the object Of the 10y
alists to ratify the late eongregessional
amendment to the Federal Constitution, the
rebels, great and small were intensely ag-
gravated First, BECAUSE they were not al.
1oro1 70 vote Jovyn a.. yu;or ,,on I,- +bo