New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-06
The Riot of New Orleans aud the French
Papers.
Iron the Paris Times, Sept. l5.l

To publish all the documents that we have re-
ceiyed through our exchanges and the politeness
of our subscribers in reference to the riot and the
reports thereupon, would require more space than
we are allowed to spare Yet it is not possible
for us to remain silent before such falsehoods as
are published in the Messenger Franco. American,
and republished by the Journal des Debats of the
18th inst,
Knowing, by the reputation he has ACQUIRED
amongst his colleagues, the editor of the French
New York sheet, we declare at once that we have
not the intention to honor his sheet or himself
with more than mention for our men has too
much respect for its duty and we do not desire to
stain the columns of the Paris Times with quota
ton or extract, which we know to be, to say the
least, stamped with falsity. But we have such
good opinion of their colleague of the Partisan
press, that we deem it necessary to afford him the
facilities to correct his ideas and to complete his
knowledge about the fact he republished in his
issue of the 18th inst
To that effect waving our personal acquaint
ance with some Of the parties incriminated in
Gen. Sheridans letter and report to the officers of
the federal government we shall publish only
the following quotations, taken from the Northern
papers, whose means and sources of information
are as much trustworthy and reliable as those of
the Messenger Let us remark that we consider
them more so. The military testimony shows
beyond dispute, that the plan for reassemblng the
delegates, with the ayowed purpose of recon-
structing the constitutional machinery of the
State, was the primary cause of the excitement
which eliminated in riot. Gen. Sheridan regarded
the scheme as pregnant with danger to the public
peace, and he more than once expressed his con
domination of the aims and political character of
| its authors. They were, in his opinion, revolu-
| tionists, whose movements needed continual
watching, and upon whose arrest he had resolved,
should any overt act justify his Interference.
/ Governor Wells, of Louisiana, who issued the
message calling for a meeting Of the conyen-
| ton, is himself blamed in General Sheridans
report, who represents him as "vacillating,n as
having shown very little of the man, and SO
m j
be changed also it would not be amiss.i
| 1t must not be forgotten that that which might
be attempted with impunity in New York might
be pregnant with mischief in New Orleans. Of
this the local officers were the proper judges.
They saw an attempt to bring together those
whom Sheridan represents as ttpolitical agitators
ard revolutionary men, !" to do what the same dis
tngnished soldier asserts was liable to produce
breaches of the public peace.n
They considered the assemblage Illegally con
vened for an unlawful and Revolutionary purpose.
Ihey knew, moreover, that the convention was
madee an occasion for addressing infammatory
haFangues to negro crowds, for advising negroes
to arm themselves, and for fomenting i'll feeling
between different classes of the community. There
was neither violence nor precipftancy on the part
OF the civil authorities. So much at least, is adj
mitted by Gen. Baird, who, in dispatch written
after theSoccurrence Of the riot, says: 6 The lieu
tenant governor and Mayor Monroe had freely
consulted with me, and, was SO convinced that
It was SO strongly the intent Of the city authorities
W PAOaGEfS Lu6 PedC6 10 prevent military
interference, that did not regard an outbreak as
thing to be apprehended.n Gen. sheridan,does
not so fully aequit the authorities of blame. How
ever, it must be remembered that Cen Sheridan
vas absent from, the city at the time, while Gen.
Baird was in constant communication with the
authorities almost to the moment of the distur-
Dances.
If Mayor Monroe receives no favor at the hands
OF Sheridan, it must not be forgotten that Hahn,
nostie and other leading men Of the convention,
are Gals also set down by the general as bad menu
to give any further explanation as to the relia-
biIty which must be placed in the military reports
published in the Paris newspapers. We have
plenty more at their disposal, amongst which the
whole proceedings of the Grand jury with all the
testimonies. We only regret that the limited
space at our command does not permit US to pub
lish it. However if the Steele, the Opinione Ma
tonale and the Journal des Debats, are willing to
act with impartiality the question, we are per-
feetly willing to furnish them with the necessary
documents. Furthermore, we shall be courteous
to the end. If they prefer it, we will furnish |
them with the translation There is a good |
chance for them; will they take it? Let them |
answer Tor themselves A. E. LASSALLE.