The Portland daily press., 1866-09-03


idan's manliness, it tells from beginning to end,
the whole story Of the great copper-iohnsen
massacre at New Orleans. a aQ lta
s 3aSaiit [Cipher telegram
sH 81 New ORLEANS, Aug. 8--12 M
His EGceIlcncy. ARdfcU Jothso0, l'Tes'deat o. Me
JFni;ed Stdies: ~
i have The honor to max, the following re-
= ply to your despatch of Aug. A: A very large
number OF the colored people marched in the
procession on Friday night, July Y, and were
addressed from the steps Of the City Hall by
Dr.. Dostie, Ex-Gov. MAIN and others. The
speech Of Dostie was Incorporate in language
and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so
far as L can learn, We're characterized BY mo-
Iteration. n 4, l.ss,. ,-,,re,s. s.l tfs
have not given YOU the words of Dostie's
speech, as the version published, was denied,
but from what learned of the man believe
they were incorporate. The Convention as
senbled at 10 NJ, on the 30th, the timid mem
beers absenting themselves, because the tone OF
The general public was ominous of trouble.
think there were but about twenty-six mem
bers present. In front of the Mechanics Insti-
tute, where the meeting was held, there were
assembled some colored men, women and chill
dren, perhaps eighteen or twenty, and in the
Institute number of eolored men, probably
- Among tiross outside ana Inside thore might
have been Rlse0l IN 5e Ge eVs
from sixty to one hundred coiored men, march
ed I'D Burgundy street and across Canal street
toward the Convention, carrying an American
flag. These men had about one pistol 70 every
ten men, and clubs in addition. While cross
inc Canal street a row occurred. There were
MANY spectators on the street, and their man
ner and tone toward the procession unfrlendly.
A shot was fired by whom am not able to
state, but believe it TO have been hred py q po-
liceman, or some colored man in the process
ion. This led to other shots and rush after
the procession. On arrival at the front OF the
Institute there was some throwing OF prick
bats by both sides. The police who had been
3 held well in hand, were vigorously marched to
the scene of disorder. ~. - s.-z
The proces ion entered the Institution with
the flag. about six or eight remaining outside.
I, A row occurred between aspOliceman and one
of these colored men, and q shot was again fir
ed by one of the parties, which led to an indis-
eriminate fire on the building through the win
: dows nv the policemen. This had been going
? on for a short time when white flag was dis
, played from the window of the Institute,
I vwhSrerpon the firing ceased and the police
rushed into the building. i1ta
& From the testimony of wounded men and
others who were inside the building, the po-
icemea opened an indiscriminate fire upon the
audience until they had emptied their revolv-
ers, when they retired, aud those inside barrl-
caded the doors. .'ee
The door was broken in and the firing COM
menced again, when many of the colored and
white people either escaped through the door,
were DaSSGu OUT Dy tuc lOnCtucH luSlue,
but as they came out the policemen who form
ed the circle nearest the building, fired upon
them, and they were again fired upon by the
citizens that formed the outer circle. Many of
those wounded and taken prisoners and others
who were prisoners and not wounded, were FIR
ed upon by their captors and by citizens.
r. The wounded were stabbed while lying ON
the ground and their heads beaten with brick
bats. In the yard of the building, whittier
some of the colored men had escaped and par
olx .NI
on and killed or wounded by policemen. Some
! men were killed and wounded several squares
from the scene. Members of the Convention
were wounded by the policemen while in their
hands as prisoners-some OF them mortally.
The immediate cause of this terrible affair
was the assembling of the Convention. The
remote cause, the bitter and antagonistic feel
ing which has been growing in this commune
lty since the advent of the present Mayor, who,
in the organization of his police force, selected
many desperate men, and some OF them
known murderers. People of clear views were
overawed by want of confidence in the Mayor
and fear of the Thugs, many of whom he had
selected for his police force. sNa'-7
have frequently been applied to BIZ prOmi-
nent citizens on this subject, and have heard
them express fear and want of confidence in
Mayor Monroe ever since the ntimation of this
last Convention. i must condemn the course
of several of the city papers for supporting by
their articles the bitter feeling of bad men
q As to the merciless manner in which the Con-
vention was broken up, / feel obliged to confess
strong repugnance. ~1s-.l
1t is useless to attempt to disguise the hos
atility that exists on the part of great many
here towards northern men, and this unfortu-
nate affair has SO precipitated matters that
there is now test of what shall be the status
of northern men; whether they can live here
without being In constant dread or not; wheth-
or they can be protected in life and property,
and have Justice in the courts.
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