The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-15
{ From The New Orleans Picayune
The Late Riot--Report of Lieut.. Governor
VOORHEES,, ATTORNEY GENERAL HEBRON, AND MAYOR
MONROE To TIE PRESIDENT


The Late Riot--Report of Lieut.. Governor
VOORHEES,, ATTORNEY GENERAL HEBRON, AND MAYOR
MONROE TO TIE PRESIDENT
new ORLEANS, August 8, 1866.
To His Excellency President Andrew johnson:
srR-Your exeelency is already in possession Of the
main facts as regards the conspiracy which byrevivinG
the convention of S64, purposed to subYeTt the civil
government OF Louisiana.
An informal meeting of twenty-uine member5-one
hundred and fifty being the whole number, and seven
ty-sx quorm-proceeded to depose the president OF
the conventions who considered the convention itself
extinct ana himself tasctas ofico, and TO elect H. X
Howell as president pro tenn They adjourned to
meet again. and proclamation was issued by the presl-
dent pro tenn converting the convention TO meet on
the G0th July last, and directing his eXceleney the
governor of the State to issue writs OF election TO HI
vacancies
/ So far, the whole matter was looked upon as
harmless experiment although mschieYousy intended,
the people being confident that the governor would not
condescend to notice this proclamation, and shat II
case the convention would commit any ACT OF inter-
ference he would at once have it dispersed.
Unfortunately however, after the lapse of nearly
month the governor issued wrts of election to fill up
/ Gty-one vacancies in that body This document, to
which the secretary Of State refused to give his attes
taton undes the seal Of State was issued under the
atestation of the private secretary OF the governor
The people of the State became alarmed when no
doubt could be entertained as to the fact that their
chief estrae had given willing aid and assistance to
subTert the government the preservation OF which
WAS especially entrusted to his keeping. On Friday,
the 9th of July, large meeting was held in the ball
of the house of representatives. proieSsedly for the
advocacy of universal suffrage, but in reality to organ
ize for the meeting Of the convention on the Monday
following. The object Of this meeting was to arouse
the passions and peudces Of the colored population,
50 as to make them the victims Of riot by urging
them hcadong into a conflict with the State and mu-
nicipa authorities. On the other hand, were de-
termincd to prevent riot and boodsheed by pursuing
such course as would battle the neiarons calculations
of those agitators. Our Iemedy-and the only rene
DIV aust be by recourse TO the usual process of law,
and even then to proceed in such way to tasteE
upon them the responsibility Of all collision whatever.
The case was submitted to the grand Jury by the
attorney general and in the meantime the lieutenant
governor and the mayor called upon general Baird to
ascertain whether if warrant issued upon regular
Indictment placed in the hands of the sheriff for
the arrest of the members of the convention, the mill
tary would interfere The answer that the sheriff
himself would be arrested; and that the convention,
meeting pcace0bly, could not be iutcrered with by
the officers Of the law.
1t is proper here to state that the mayor had preyi
ousy addressed note to Gen. Baird inquiring whether
he would be nterered with by the military in case he
would proceed to dispense the convention unaw
: full asscmbage. The answer to this communication
was that the meeting Of the convention being peace
able it could not be suppressed by the mayor; and
+ that the military authorities would prevent the inter
+ ference of the civil authorities.
the city authorities, under those circumstances did
not intend to interfere to prevent the meeting of the
convention but he proposed, that in warrant Of
arrest were placed in the hands of the sheriff. the lat
ter before attempting to execute it, would call upon
the general who theTeUpOn would indorsc his obicc-
tons and the matter would at be submitted to
the president. This arrangement satisfactory to
both parties. On the day the attorney general
and the lieutenant governor teegraphed to the prcsi
dent to ascertain whether the process of court for the
IL IL & ~, ,r,1ll
(, hwarted by the military. The was that in
stead of o5sracting the military expected to sus
tain the courts
II On Sunday, the Doth, the State and municipal au-
hores called upon the press to advise the people
TO the proper conduct to be held the next day to
avoid all collision and riot and the mayor issued his
e proclamation to the same effect. The press Of the
l city with the exception of the radical organ, gave
wise and sautary counsels to the public, inviting all
Y good citizens avoid congregang about the capitol
and TO demcan themselves with prudence and discretion
r On the morning of the 3Jth the lieutenant governor
called upon general Baird TO communicate to him thC
e. presidents dispatch and also inquired from the gene
Is raj If he would not have some troops in the vicinity
the ball to preserve peace and good order. Genera
" Baird answered that application had been maze By
members Of the convention for that purpose and thai
his reason for not complying that he did not wisl
i'd to appear to side with either party or to uphold Tx
IS convention. The suggestion was then made that tt
rs have too large police force the spot might be
G. strucd as meant to overawe the members aud that
inasmuch as the civil authorities did not intend inter
S ferng with the convention until instructions were re
ccived from the president above agreed on wa
Is proper to have troops to cooperate with small police
Of force to preserve peace and prevent all possible
r tcmpts to bring about collision This suggestion
r met the approval of the general who then stated tina
I'd he would give immediate orders to have the troops
Mt readiness.
Before the end of this interview it was again agree
st upon between general Baird and the lieutenant Cover
nor that whatever of arrest might be place.
a. in the hands of the sheriff would be submitted to hin
ic before any attempt to have texccued and that apo
the Endorsement OF the generals objections, the matte
he would be referred to the president.
or The mayor being informed of this arrangement
D. sent bua small police force to the vicinity of the hall
and the troops that to act in conjunction with The
N police we're eagerly expected.
At noon, information having reached the licutenan
governor that In the third district there was a com
cs mcuccment Of eerycsccncc, and that large number
Of negroes were coming towards Canal street, from
10 above and below, he immediately sent a dispatch t
~ the general conveying this intelligence and urgn!
o that the troops be sent without delay. About ont
hour afterwards the riot broke out, ending in the dis
persion of the convention the capture at the rioters
including several members of that body.
d, 1t is not our purpose argue the question Of fact
v as to the actual commencement of the collision and t
III fix precisely the mode and manner in which it orgna
e ted We will, however remark that the collision wa.
D. in every instance brought about hy the armed mol
,s sustaining the convention. Suffice it 10 say that the
civil authorities took all the precautions possible tt
If prevent the outbreak; that they applied during three
to DAYS previous have the aid of the military pre-
I'd serve order at the place where omeet the
II, tiou that the authorities State and municipal haC
ut come to an understanding to act in concert with th
~ military for that purpose; that the citizens mor
IL than the police contemplated to prevent the conven
is ton from holding their meeting peaeeabIy, aud adjourn
ing and dispensing unmolested; and that the warran
at for their arrest would have been submitted the mil
ary agreed upon, although the presidents dspatc
C. to the lieutenant governor, aud the subsequent t.
the attorney general, were imperative that the militar
must sustain and not thwart the courts.
The military authorities had been for the three DAY
previous to tile riot in constant communication wit
s. the attorney general the lieutenant governor and til
mayor, with the view of preventing the impending
ar- riot The efforts unsuccessful, and could no
"? countcract the effects Of the ncendiary counses an
nc appeals Of those Who for sinister purposes, had
" view this very result in order to reach political han
pc vest That the civil authorities have done their dut
is in this respect is patcnt-that could have bee
to done by them impossible, they not Above
to remove the cause Of the riot by taking the propt
~