The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-08-18
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND THE
VIZ =, MASSACRE.

III = ~&-1SL04S bO0NG4H. AHU i.
! ,.,iy.,,- XII p MASSACRE. :,
=, we.are beginning 10 understand more
l04!y the recent massacre In New Orleans
and the causes preceding it, The more
feRldence We accumulate, the more We are
convinced Of tie justice of the Judgment
that the President must be held directly
Irresponsible for all that has been done in
New Orleans. He engendered the suiri,
which broke forth in riot. murdered Ioy-
alists, and fhaliy raised the Confederate
flag -H13 1oHei si. -aT:-~za - liss !.
r The President began his work of inter
ference, Jaly 81, when he asked Gov.
Wells to INFORM him under and by what
authority It assumed to represent the
State of Louisiana. This was before the
massacre. Gov. Wells was Governor of
Louisiana. and, according to the Presi-
dent 3 frequently proclaimed theories, as
much sovereign in his way as the Presi-
dent himself. The menace 10 Gov. Wells
was as much a usurpstion as though the
President we're to address letter to Gov,
fFenton to know under aud by what au.
/ thority he summoned the State Eegisla.
tufe. : Gov. Wells disobeyed the Pfesi
deGt and Issued his proclamation for cleo
ti6ns to be held to choose delegates to the
Convention TO fill avsca ncies-all that, he
/ could do by the letter OF the law, There
upon, July 90, the Attorney General and
/ the Lieutenant Governor-unwiIlingt to
obey the law or to permit the matter 10
tgo to the courts to test its constitutional
ity-agaiu photographed the President,
stating that riot was feared; that the
Governor was guilty of the horrible crime
of ''being in league with the Republican"
that it was intended to indict the mem
bers by grand jury, and asking whether
the President would interfere with the
indictment. To which July 90, the
President replied that "the military will
! be expected to sustain and not obstruct
or interfere with the proceedings of the
/ courts" In other words, $50 ahead,
| gentleman, indict or what you please; no
soldiers shall modest you" This was on
Saturday. Mayor Monroe proclaimed
his purpose to suppress the convention.
He summoned policemen-polieemen, be
it known, who were selected for their
valor in rebel armies. This police force
and the mob acted together with bloody
harmony, and did the work of suppression
thoroughly. 71i 80 sra. e-I > SVEN.
a When the Convention assembled, the
President issued his order to Mr.. Heron,
q member of Gov WelIs's Cabinet, In
the first place, that order deposed Gov.
Wells for not obeying the President. In
the second place, it placed Gen. Sheridan
under the control of State oficergo In
the third place, its language was not that
of calm executive officer, performing a
fsolemn ministerial duty, but of violent,
taDgry man, speaking to angry, people.
''Usurpation will not be tolerated. '-''the
tpeople must be first consulted all I'll
legal or unlawful assemblies" must Re
suppressed! Let, it be remembered thai
these words were written to community
of rebels-lo men who were seething with
anger and hatred, and who cherished nc
more darling idea than being permitted
to gain, in the streets of New Orleans,
4 that revenge which the valor of Sherman
and Sheridan prevented them from gain.
ing in the field. They were in, safe ma
ljority. They were armed, They were
commanded by the Mayor and sustained
by the President of the . uited States.
7 The negroes and Ioyalists were uparmed,
and the soldiers of the nation were com.
: PEELED to ground their muskets and look
on at the massacre, The work of massa
j. ere was easy. indeed ,-,-....-s.,.-, .r..
3, Il is impossible to resist the logic oil
this whole proceeding, It was common,
ced July by menacing Governor Wells,
Ia Governor of "a 'spEerigH State; it was
, continued by deposing him; aud, to make
p the work surer. by placing the army. al
the control of rebel officer. IF the Pres
ident had sent manly dispatch 10 Gen
Baird-to preserve at all hazards and pro.
tect every 1Oyalman, leaving the COnyen.
ton to be dealt with by the courts, and
the people to do what was best wher
peace came, but still to make peaee--th,
} country would have felt that the affai
J was merely riot, and suppressed as al
riots should be. But when the country
seen in Memphis aud Alexandria-direct
personal sympathy between the President
and rioters, can it release the Presiden
from most fearful responsibility ?-Neu
York Tribune. --'a 70 % 7a.-s' s'<s ..a
s li -zI- 49, -a--4.- --.- d ....- e.