New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-03

the police accompanied by the mob and Q
member Of the State Legislature, Mr.. James Phillips,
ia identified as prominent in the attack.
Finally the assailans obtain full possession Of the
building The negroes in The hiding are brought out
and dispatched; Others perched for safety cross beams
and raers are pickedcG like game by '0eaimed shots
The .ohites taken TO the staf0RhoEses toh b0ps and
abuse, and at last just The adrdning 6ayOHets are
seen 10 Rsten on the Leree tAe riot is Orer, for deh
Of victims
On the subject Of the character of the negro pro-
cession whose il-timed and unfortunate appearance
was the immediate occasion OF the outbreak, the
Board are unable to see any evidence in support Of
the hypothesis that it was anything deserving the
name of an armed organization. Most oil its mem
bers had such canes and clubs as negroes carry on all
holiday excursions and perhaps dozen had pistols
No doubt many of these we're carried with the idea
that an attack upon themselves was BY no means I'M
probable but that the procession itself could DE re-
garded as body organized to fight would seem to
persons of military experience to have been as
proved by events over thirty negroes being shot dead
during hs firing, phe the supposed organization can
not succeed in killing ia return single assalaM-
Young Cenas the only man killed on that side, beng
supposed TO have received stray shot from his own
party. II is true that, according to one witness,
armed organizations are alluded to as existing BY Dr.
Dostie: but if this procession may be considered q
fair specimen, the Board cannot consider the civil
Government Of Louisiana as in mnch danger Oh
being overturned thereby. The only evidence tendng
to show previous hostile intent on the part OF
the negroes is that of Nj sauye, the
planter, who, by the way, is the only witness VINO
hears the screams of murder the white men, and
who testifes TO having been told by one OF his SER
wants that white man had been on the plantation
taking names and telling the negroes to prepare for
war; and that the negroes Of the procession said
they had been ordered TO cone TO defend the Conyen-
ton. Whatever the purpose with which these ne
groes came il is evident they intended no offensive
action The Rev. Mr.. Henry is told by the process
sion of negroes that they are pledged to have no
trouble on their part.
On the personal inspection Of the Hall by this
Board there were found and around the door, the
marks of six pstolshots which had been fired by the
beseped upon their assalants That the arms were Of
small calber, appears from the fact that two which
struck the pine panel Of the door, but one had sui'
Gent force to penetrate il. On the opposite wall
which received such bullets Of the assaants as missed
their AIM % shots were counted. The fact repeatedly
testified to- that the police when emptying their re-
yoyers were attacked with chairs and driven from the
Hail. the Board considers establishing beyond the
shadow of doubt that except the three pistols in
s hands of the processiOn Of nsgrOes the bestgsd party
ssre totally Hndrmed
OF the further occurrences Of the day OF not, the
Board would respectfully call attention TO THE BRUTAL
TREATMENT, AND ALMOST NHUMAE NEGLECT OF THE
WOUNDED AND DEAD PRISONERS AT TIE VARIOUS
srATIoy.HoUsEs BEFORE THEY WERE, BY MILITARY
ORDERS REMOVED TO THE HOSPITALS. The evidence
Of Lieut. Col Crosby Major Sheridan, and DIR. Avery
on this point shows as HORRIBLE SCENE OF SUFFER-
Re AND NEGLECT AS COULD LAVE BERN PRESENTED ON
LOST BATTLB-FIELD.
They would also call attention TO the evidence on
the subject of the renewal Of the attack negroes
and the shooting Of them in their dwellings by both
citizens and police late on the same night, in Vic
tory.st.
The Board will state il as their firm conviction, that
But FOR the declaration of martial law, and THE
PRESENCE OF TIE TROOPS FIRE AND BLooDsHEo
WOULD HAVE RACED THROUGHOUT THR NIGHT IN ALL
NEGRO QUARTERS OF THE CITY, AND THAT THE LIVES
AND PROPERTY or USoysTs AND NORTHERN MEN
WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MERCY OF THE MOB The
oossERvAroRs OF THE PEACE BEING FOR THB TIME,
THE YsTIGAToRs OF VIOLENCE NOTHING WOULD
HAVE REMAINED BUT IN ARMIsG FOR SELF DBFEEsR,
AND A SCENE MIGHT HAVE ESsUEp UNPARALLELED IN
THE HISTORY THE AGE. As in the Gordon riots in
London and the more recent draft riots in New-York,
the affair would have passed beyond the power OF the
orgnators into the hands of that class whose only
object would have been plumber and destruction ire
spective of party. in the Boards opinion the prop
ery of the Southern merchant not less than the life
of the negro and the Unionist that night under
the protection of the Federal bayonet alone
On the subject of the action Of the Grand Jury in
the indictment and arrest Of the members OF this
Convention and their subsequent investigation into
and report upon the Of not, the Board do not
feel themselves called upon to express an opinion,
but would merely call attention to the evidence.
There seems to say the least tobe direct opposition
in legal opinion as to the validity Of such action, and
the presence upon the panel of one who, so far rom
being registered voter, was registered and unpar-
doned enemy, only three months returned, would
seem 70 cast suspicion upon the mannerin winch
that panel was made up. But this Board do not con-
slider themselves as authorized or called upon to revise
the action Of the Grand Jury. Whether theirmanner
of action was according to law aud the substance Of
their reports supported by facts are questions which
the legal profession and the community at large VIII
decide for themselves.
Finally, the Board would state that in their opn-
ion, the whole dr and current Of the evidence tends
irresistbly to the conclusion that there was among
the class of violence known to exist in this city and
among the members Of the Confederate associations
before alluded to, preeOncsrted plan and purpose Of
attack upon this Convention prOrded any plausible
preert therefor could be found. Threats to members to
..-. LII .oarns warnings to friends 10 keep