Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-08-15
TnE RAFTsmAn's JOURNAL.

were met with insult and jeers which brought
on a collisions. A shot was fired but ended
in nothing serious The next act of violence
was the arrest of colored man by police
man in front of the Institute, but for what
offense am unable to say. The crowd of
colored persons assemb bled became excited
at these occurrences, the same as body of
white men would do under the same circum
stances. Some took the side of the police
men, others tn side of the prisoners; brick
bats were thrown and one shot fired, the
testimony going to show that it was done by
one of the colored crowd. 1t was answered
Immediately by several shots from the crowd
of policemen at the corner, and followed up
by rapid firing on the crowd of blacks, who
returned the fire as fast as they could. but
being overpowered and driven from the
street, they took shelter in the Mechanics
Institute. If the object of the police was
simply TO preserve the public peace, why
did they not after the men had taken refuge
In the Institute, return to their original po-
sition at the corner of the streets which eff
tectually cut off egress from the front, and
placing guard to watch the rear of the
building, await the arrival of the military,
who were known to be on their way Their
only reason for this course is that it did not
suit their purpose, They accordingly ad
vanced in front of the building and beseiged
it on all sides, and every negro who attempt
ed to escape was murdered. The erowning
climax of these murderous and bloody acts
is well known. When the white flag was
hung out as token of surrender, the police
arrested the membersof the Convention and
other white citizens, and brought them into
the streets, where the most prominent for
their Union sentiments were shot, stabbed
nd IN ba f.l,St taTf nd
of the entire police force of the city. Why
did not the Mayor or his Chief station a
guard at the door, and forbid any person
from entering. and await the arrival of the
military. By this means the last, most de-
liberate and horrible phaze of this bloody
tragedy would have been avoided. 1t is
also notorious that the police failed to arrest,
or TO attempt to arrest even one of the riot
Gus citizens, who, according to their often
repeated statements were continually attack
ing, wounding and killing persons who had
surrendered and were in their custody.
think | have fully shown that it was the de-
sign Of those opposed TO the Convention to
break it up by force The inference TO be
drawn from the letter cf the Mayor that
such course was resolved on, and the mass
ing of the police and their willingness to
rush into the fight, | think fully establishes
the fact that the causes Of this exhibition of
violence and mob law must be traced further
back 1t is the embers Of the fires of the
rebellious feeling which plunged this coun-
try into dessolating war, which flames are
not yet extinguished, in the breasts of the
| former slave holding aristocracy, who failed
| in their first effort to destroy the Govern
ment. They seek now to regain political
| power in the same old spirit. My deliber-
ate conclusion is that if the military forces
| be withdrawn the lives of the Union men
who proved themselves conspicuous in main
tanning their allegiance will not be safe.
| The security both OF the Government, and
| the Union men of the South depend in
my opinion, upon the ratifcat ton of the con-
! stitutional amendment proposed by Con
gress, and the enfranchisement of the loyal
black man, that he may become educated
and qualified for that important privilege
If the advocacy of these measures identify
me with the Radical party, as it is called,
in my opposition to the President, must ac,
cept the situation, besides [ cannot change
my conviction in respect to the principles
and measures | deem necessary to perpetu-
ate the Union
Signed MADISON WELLS,
Governor of Louisiana