Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-08-08
The President and his Friends,
the New Orleans Rioters.

the New Orleans Rioters.
Our readers will remember how, when the
draft was progressing in New York City, sud
bowling and 6endish mob, encouraged by the
deuunciaiions which Gov. Seymour and the
Democratic press Of that state had hurled
against the and the draft, took possession
of that city, drove out every officer engaged in
executing the law, burned the colored orphan
asylum, hunted, they would wild beasts,
every poor colored man who appeared on the
streets, and seemed for time to hold the city
and its vast wealth and business completely at
their mercy, Gov. Seymour took occasion to
address the surging, angry crowd of Infatuated
devils, and softly and soothingly called them
"My friends" 1t was disgraceful and humil-
iating beyond measure, that the governor of
great state should thus show his sympathy with
a furious mob, and practically take their side
in the swlessness and rapine and bloodshed
which they had inaugurated.
This example of copperhead governor of
state, has been followed, to the inexpressble
shame of our country, by the President of the
United States, who has Just taken sides with the
rebel rioters in New Orleans, and given his
sympathy, countensnce and support to the men
who have been numbering by the score the
peacabIe Union citizens of that city. We have
given the facts elsewhere, and every unbiased
mind can but see, that President Johnson delib-
erately and knowingly interfered in Louisiana
on the side of the rebels, and by that interfer-
ence and the courage which it gave to these I'M
reconstructed traitors, made the riot OF the 3Oth
of July possible. And this done by An
drew Johnson, who one year ago said: Tres-
son must be made odious and traitors pun
i.hed."
Has President Johnson any excuse or apollo
gy to offer for this course? If be has it must
be found in his despatch to Attorney General
Heron. Yet Mr. johnson, of all men, cannot
justify his course by such pleading. Less than
a month ago the following correspondence was
published respecting Tennessee:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July IA, 1865.
Lieutenant General Grant, Washington d. c.
Some of the members of the House of Rep
resentatives of the Tennessee General Assem-
bly, conduct themselves in g very refractory
manner, absenting themselves to prevent q
quorum, thus obstructing business. The Gov
ernor cannot manage them with the mesns at
his disposal. and has applied TO me for mill
sary assistance. Shall furnish it?
GEORGE H. THOMAS,
Major eneral COMMANDING
The following answer was Immediately given
WASHINGTON, July II, 1866.
Gen. Grant will instruct Gen. Thomas that
the facts stated in his telegram do not warrant
the interference of the military authority. The
administration OF the laws and the preservation
of the peace in Nashville belong properly to
the state authorities and the duty of the Uni
ted States forces is not to interfere in any way
in the controversy between the political author
tiles of the state; and Gen. Thomas will
strictly abstain from any interference between
them. b. Nj. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Secretary Stanton, OF course, was instructed
by President Johnson, and the President then
said that " the administration of the laws and
L" the preservation of the peace in Nashville
"belong properly to the state authorities and
"the duty Of the United States forces is not to
" interfere in any way in the controversy be-
"tveen the political authorities of the State
But it was Gov. Brownlow who wanted help
traitors and their friends in Tennessee. Then
President johnson turned coldly upon the Un-
ion governor, and refused him any help from
federal bayonets. But in this New Orleans af-
fair the rebel OK was likely to be gored. John
aon's friends, the rebels, wanted help, and he
made haste to order the federal bayonets in New
Orleans to sustain the civil authorities Does
any one fail to see the sympathy which denied
troops in the one case, ssand made indecent haste
to offer them in the other Is not Brownlow
a Union man and supporter of Congress, and
is not Mayor Monroe rebel and supporter
of Mr.. johnson
But this is not-al of the inconsistency of the
President For several months he has repeated,
In every variety Of form, and on every conceiv-
able occasion, until the iteration has become
ridiculous, bis opinion that the rebel states
were fully restored to the status quo ante belim,
and entitled to the undisturbed enjoyment of
all the rights of other sovereign states in the
Union, including the right of representation.
This declaration of faith is the cornerstone
upon which he has proposed to organize his
bread-aud-butter party at Philadelphia, and in
his zeal he has called men traitors disunionists
and revolutionists, who held and acted upon the
contrary theory. Yet in the face of this declara-
ton, he at first impudently catechises Gov.
Wells of Louisiana respecting his course in re-
ia,ion to the convention, and afterwards ignores
his existence entirely, and communicates with
the rebel Attorney General and the rebel Lieut.
Governor, instructing them in respect to what
shall be done with this constitutional conven-
tior. Is it not plain that President Johnson is
a state rights man, when to be SO helps the reb-
els, and repudia,or of state rights, when to
do 50 brushes Union men Have we not here
the most conclusive evidence, that his clamor
about the complete restoration of the rebel
states is only ciap-trap, and that, while he de-
MES TO Congress the right to interfere in any
way with the Southern states, he makes haste
himself, Cd ,he slightest provocaiion, to assem-
bic or disperse conventions at his pleasure, and
to recognise or refuse TO recognize governors as
he finds them the friends or the foes of his
policyi b.
IL il Be answered to this criticism of the Pres
idenfs course. that Republicans have no right
% Offices thas The President treats the South as !
ssiu in Federal control, il is sufficient to reply,
shAs in that view bic interference is wrong, be-
sanss Is y 10 aid of rebels, haters of liberty,
Tiossn and murdersrs, and against the only
men who love liberty at the South. II he has