Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-10

BYTELEGRAPH.
THE DSFliCHES OF THB ASSOCIATED PRESS
NOON DISPATCHES.
n Z w ORLEANS.
Review Of Bloody Monday.
Indictment of the Mayor,
Police and Citizens.
VINDICATION OF PEACEABLE AND
LAw-LOVING NEGROES.
History of the Convention.
ITS ORIGIN--ITs WORK.
ITS DUTY.
History of the Convention
ITS ORIGIN---TTS WORK.
ITS DUTY.
Address OF the Governor OF Louisiana
TO the loyal People Of the State.

The bloody tragedy enacted in the city G
New Orleans on the Both day of July, 1866
in which more than three hundred citizen
we're killed or wounded, has to the credit G
humanity, created a profound sympathy il
the breast of every man throughout tn
length and breadth of the country.
| The remote and immediate causes of thi
outrage demand a thorough investigation
and explanation; and as the Chief Magis
trate Of the State, feel a solemn duty rest
ing upon me to give plain, unvarnisheC
statement of its origin and progress. II
doing this, 1t becomes necessary for me L
commence in the year 1864 at the reorgani
Zation of civil government in that portion
of Louisiana which had been wrested from
rebel authority. | regret that l shall il
this connection be obliged to speak of nv.
self 1t is not to crafty any feeling of van
ity that do 50, for fully realize that an
but an Insignificant atom in the great cause
of maintaining and perpetuating the union
of these States.
The political history of the country
teaches us that under the policy of the Late
lamented President all the loyal citizens Of
Louisiana, in the parishes then within the
| Union lines, were invited and authorized in
the proclamation issued by the military Gem.
mandant of this department to hold an
election on the 22d day of February, 1864.
for the State Offices The election was held
and then, being refugee from my parish,
| which was in the rebel lines, in consequence
of my Union sentiments | was nominated
by the Free State party, as it called itself
and also by the extreme Radical party, OF
which THOs. J. DURANT was the acknow-
lodged leader, as their candidate for the Of
fee of Lieutenant Governor. The first
named ticket, headed by MICHAEL HAHN.
for Governor, was elected. Gov, HAHN
served until the 4th of March, 1865, when.
by his resignation, succeeded to the office
of Governor. .r
In the meantime, and by virtue of the
military authority, an election for delegates
to State Convention to amend and revise
the Constitution of 1852, had taken place.
The Convention had met, framed a Consti-
tuition declaring slavery to be abolished,
which Constitution is now the fundamental
law of the State.
1t is further well known that the Conven-
ton did not adjourn sine de- but subject to
the call of the President for any cause.
\ Legislature has also been elected and
was in session at the time of the assumption
by me of the duties of the office of Governor.
Shortly afterwards the collapse of the So
called Confederate States took place; and by
the surrender of the forces in the TRANSMITS
sissippi Department the entire territory of
the State was restored to the lawful authority
Of the United States. When this event took
place what was my conduct towards the pop
ulation of the twenty-eight parishes re-
claimed? Although | had been prosecuted
and driven from my home by the rebel
authorities l suppressed all feeling Of rancor
so natural to the human breast under the
circumstances. In the belief that a majority
had been seduced from their allegiance to
the old flag by the wiles of the artfll dema-
gogues who brought on the rebellion, de-
termin@l to try the effect of kindness and
Cancellation in winning them back TO their
first love. l addressed them proclamation
cOngratulating them on their restoration 70
the protection of a government of law and
order, and declaring that as far as 1 was con-
cerned / was willing to forget the past.
begged them to submit cheerfully and unre-
seryedly to the new order of things, and as
sured them that although a State government
had been organized, yet l was anxious that
general election for State officers should be
held, in which the whole State could partic-
ipate. L fulfilled every word of my promise
l appointed men recommended by them to
fill the Offices in the several parishes. l
signed their applications to the President of
the United States for special pardon. l
persisted in my course of Cancellation, not
the warnings and remon-
strances Of men who believed that nv policy
would be unavailing in accomplishing the
purpose intended, and who predicted that at
the very FIST election, these men, in every
parish where they held the power, would |
prescribe every man from Office who had not
been in the rebel army, and fought for the |
Rbel cause.
These predictions have been realized to
the letter, at every subsequent election, with |
the exception of my own case-and it is |
well known, for it was publicly avowed, that
| was put at the head of their ticket simply |
because it was thought could be useful in |
securing a representation Of the State in |
Congress. 1t is further well known that the
platform reported by the committee appoint
ed for that purpose to the Democratic Con-
vention held in this city, was reiteration of
the doctrine of the right Of secession, and it
was only through the exertions of few of
the more cautious and polite Of the party
that this platform was made to assume the |
form in which it was adopted.
At the same Convention a well known
citizen and life Democrat was publicly CEN
'ured by resolution because in a speech de-
ivered before that body, he said that seces-
'iOn was worse than crime-it was blum
Ter.
Notwithstanding my nomination by the
Democratic party, another candidate was put
N the field in opposition to me, who had Of
iciated as Governor under the rebel rule,
md who, had he been in the country and
ignifed has assent have no doubt would
nave been overwhelmingly elected.
When members Of the Legislature met in
Extra session in the month of November,
1868, convened by me for the purpose of
'aising money to restore the broken levees,
md to take measures to redeem the credit of
he State, found they were more intent on
,alling convention 10 change the Constitu-
ion oflS64, than to promote the material
interests Of the people. Their chief objection
o that instrument was the character of the
men who framed it, and the abolition there
~ Of slavery.
Having failed at the extra session to pass
bill calling a Convention, the attempt was
enewed at the regular session held in the
month Of January, and more than half Of the
ime Of that body was spent in discussing
hat question. Finally a committee was
ent to Washington to consult the President,
nd the Legislature only abandoned the
MEASURE through his advice. l considered
Constitution inexpedient, and for that rea-
on opposed it. l had learned enough of
he real sentiment of the people to convince
ne that if a new Constitution was made. it
would be less in harmony with the views Of
he President and Congress than the Consti-
ution Of 1864, The result Of which would be
o lessen the chances for the admission of
ur Representatives. urged these views on
he members Of both HoHses Of the Legisla-
ure, but they had no effect with the ma
ority.
I deprecated the city and parochal cleo
ions, for the reason that feared the result
because Of the character Of the men that
would be elected because | had seen enough
f public sentiment % convince me that
lone but those who had served in the Con-
ederaie army and who had gone in the Con-
ederate lines would be elec.ed % Office. /
orezaw that such result would be justly re-
arded by the people Of the loyal States as
hGwing a defiant spirit and as still glorying |
n a cause that had been crushed by them
nth such fearful loss Of life and expenditure
{ treasuse.
With numerous and repeated evidences Of
he continuing Of an intoleraut and rebel
r.,,re E.sf,fforF II the ]