New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-14

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large crowd or colorcd people abreast of the
Mechanics Institute, In the street and on the han.
4nette, standing ia front on the banqnette no.
llced row commencing, and the crowd Of negroes
IN front Of the Institute driving some persons lie.
fore them towards Canal street bricks were
being thrown and some shots fired then heard
whistle, and crowd gathered on Canal street.
ana facing me negroes, who then rctreatcd to.
wards the hall and Common street. amidst firing
IN every direction. then went inside and stafd
III some time, when | looked out again. saw
some persons, white and black. lying in the street.
ana some policemen coming out Of the Institute
three OF them wounded. ] saw the police with
persons in custody and protected them from the
crowd (olgned) JAMES FOLEY.
JOHN T. MONROE, MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS, SWORN
When it was rnored in this city that the con.
Ventlon of 1864 would attempt to reasonable
attached very little attention to the movement
The proclamation of Judge Howell, consequent
on the extremely irregular proceedings OF the
meeting held by u lew of the members of that
convention, did not very materially add to my APP
prehensions. 1t was only when Judge Abcll in
his charge to the grand jury, declared the con
Jemplated meeting TO be reasonable in its char
aCter, and an unlawful assemblage that thought
me scheme Mt all serious. Under the opinion Of
the Judge, then conceived it to be my duty to
take measures to preserve the public peace; for
which purpose ! deemed it to be incumbent on
me to cause the arrest Of the participants in the
proposed unlawful assemblage. Not knowing,
however, the opinions Of Gen. Sheridan, the de-
partmeut commander, and being anxious to avoid
misunderstanding with the United States mil
itafy authorities called on that officer and rep
resented my views to him; telling him that
thought it my duty as q conservatOr Of the peace,
to arrest the members Of any unlawful Assem-.
blage, having for their aVoweG object the subver
sion OF the state government. told Gen. Sher-
ldan that might desire to have another interview
with him on this subject, to which the general
replied that lie should be very happy to confer
with me on this subject, either personally or by
letter. AS soon as the governors election pro-
c!amati0n appeared addressed a note to Gen
Sheridan, informing lin that, conformity with the
attorney general, desired to have an interview
with him, III regard to the approaching meeting OF
the convention; but the answer was returned that
Gen. Sheridan had left the city and that Gen. Baird
was IN command. Immediately, thereupon, ad-
dressed a note to Cen Baird which, together with
that officers answer, has already been published
] inferred from Gen. Bairds letter that he was
favorable to the meeting Of the convention, and
that lie would not permit the city authorities to
pursue the course | had suggested. In order,
however, TO arrive at a definite understanding, on
Saturday morning, July 2oth, called on General
BaHj, in company with Lieutenant Governor
voorhees, In response to our inquiries. General
Baird gave us distinctly To understand that lie
would not permit the city authorities to act, or
suffer the State officers to execute the warrants
under indictments whichit was proposed to frame
before the grand jury. He stated dI lctly that he
would arrest any police officer that might attempt
to arrest member Of the convention, or any sher-
ifs oficcr that might endeavor to serve such a
warrant as | have referred to, eyen under the in
struCtlons OF the court. Finally, however, it was
agreed that the warrants should be placed in the
hands Of the sheriff, and that officer should not
attempt to execute them, but should 60 to tue
general and AJAX him to indorse on the papers his
reasons lor interfering; after which the papers
were to be forwarded 10 Washington. or their con
tents to be t1egraphed, for the Information Of the
President. considered that, as matter OF
course, when Gen. Bairdassumed the guardianship
OF the convention, he would use his soldiers
to keep the peace espeeiaya as lie had prohibited
the intervention Of the State or city authorities
and as he promised to send a small number Of
white soldiers to maintain order, l thought
the soldiers would be more effective
with negroes than the police could be
On Saturday night a number of ngente-
men met in my Office, by my invitation, to
consider the state OF affairs, and to consult as to
the best course to be pursued. On learning from
the lieutenant governor the result Of our inter
view with Gen. Baird the gentlemen present were
unanimously Of opinion that we could not attempt
to enforce the law agreed upon with Gen. Baird 4
that difficulties and riots were to be averted II
possible; and that in the excited state of the pub
lie mind it was desirable for me to issue pro
clamaton eXhorting the people to be calm, anC
not to assemble in crowds in tue street. feared
collision a. the result OF the extremely intemper
ate language used by the orators at the radca
meeting on Friday night hut anticipated that the
presence of the United States soldiers wOuM b,
sufficient to prevent riot. accordingly issuet
the proclamation on Monday morning. On thu
day my orders 10 the police were that they SHOULD
remain at their respective stations. / directed
two on three police officers in citizens dress, t
remain in the neighbOrhOJd Of the convention TO
the purpose of reporting what might occur: and
especially, the arrival Of the imtary force, whicl
had been promised by Gen, Baird and which wa
anEiOusiy expected by me. | was much disap
pointed that the soldiers did not come. SoOl
after IL o'clock it was reported to NE that dis
turbances had occurred. repaired 10 the vicinity
in company with my secretary, Mr., Overall, an(
on discovering the state Of affairs | and Mr.
Overall took a cab ana drove to Gen. Baird
headquarteTs. | stated 10 the general that rio
had commenced, and that as he had prevented III
from using my police to avert it, feared that
could not be suppressed without muchloss Of life
unless he should Immediately furnish some troop
to assist the police ! told Gen. Baird that | con
eidered that his failure to fulfill his agree
ment made him responsible for all tn
blood that had been or might be shed. Tn
general then requested me to do everything in m
power to restore order, and promised that III
troops should be sent as soon as possible; remark
ing at the same time that the reason they had nc
been already sent was that he had been deceive
as to the time of meeting of the convention; h
believing that the hour was 6 P. NJ, whereas
was IL NJ. He said that in order to ascertain tn
fact, he had driven to Judge HOwell's residenc
and there learned that tie judge had gone to til
convention Notwithstanding the generals prOmia
the soldiers did not arrive until the riot had bee
completely suppressed by the unassisted efforts
the police. Several hours afterwards martial la
was declared by General Baird At this tim
about two hundred persons rioters, and person
supposed to be meters of riot and among the
citizens, including one whose arrest had myse
caused for abusing a prisoner in the hands of Il
officers, were under confinement at the First al
Second District police stations. The first act {
the military was to release all of the persons, e
Cept few negroes, who were detained until Il
next morning and then set at liberty. | can Co
fidently state that had it not been for the interf