The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-18
Cur Washington Letter.
pEc1AL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DAILY NEWS. ]
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THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT

THE NEW ORLEANS RIOT.
WASHINGTON, January Notwithstanding that
the New Orleans riot has boen theme and thco-
ry for an infinite degree Of Radical loquacity,
and what, with multiplicity of military and civil
reports that have been previously evoked concern
ing that muddled affair, the country has right to
think that investigation in that quarter, Mt least is
thoroughly "played OUT" and so it would be, had
the late investigation Of tho Congressional trio
sent thither to attempt nominal prolonsation of
this inquiry been really devoted to that cnd-but it
lranspircs that there was quite different matter
in view, not so much affecting the destruction of
DR.. Dostie and his riotous crew. as looking to a
support of tho very effort--the overthrow OF the
prevailing govcrnmont-by which the latter came
to retribution. This week. perhaps tomorrow, I
am informed that the House Z Committee on Terri
tories intend reporting the Bill providing for the
reduction Of the present Southern States govern
mental organizations to tho Status OF territorial
rule. It was in anticipation of this emergency that
the New Orleans Committee was hurried off III tho
holiday recess to attempt the pretenso Of re-inves-
ed by the whole country so socn as the report shall
appear. The Committee will 20 through the farce
OF submitting the evidence taken by them in rea-
tion to tho riot, but the great volume of their re-
port is to decry the assumed perversity and malg
nifty Of Louisanians, and bemoan the fate Of the
so-called Southern loyalists," with allegations
that thoy are prosecuted and ostracized by all tho
masses Of Sont ern society implicated in the re-
beliion This, it is hardly necessary to say will be
the entering wedge adopted by every Representa-.
tive retained to submit an argument i. favor of
the territorial scheme and il is now belng sharp
ened aud perfected with that special reference.
Sei.ral gentlemen of New Orleans are now in
the city, who were called by tho Committee to ap-
pear as Witnesses. From them I gather thnt tho
entire conduct of the pretended Investigation was
most domineerne and offensive The worry first
thing the Committee did was to employ as door
keeper and messenger, man named Molhcre,
formerly Of the Confederate service, moro latterly
q convict for forgery, and finally one of Gen. But
lers detectives during the immaculate administra-
tion of that redoubtable ofcor in New Orleans. In
addition to- this disagrceable action the Committee
whenever the dcponent before them did not happen
to be negro or one of their Southern loyaist pets
One fact however, was doduced in reference to tho
riot which forms fitting preface to the history of
that affair, and comes now to light for the first
time.
In examining Federal army officer, who had
served fiyo years in the late war, and been sta
toned year or two in New Orleans, the Commit
tee unexpectedly drew out The fact that he was
known to the existence OF a letter from two mem
bers of the Congressional Reconstruction Commit
tee addressed to Michael Hahn Dostie, and others
of that ilk about month before the riot, in which
the latter were enioined by the writer's that they
must ssgo ahead and do the best they could. Loui-
S1lna was TOO relnOIe ITOu1 COnSfeSslou1 llnueHCo
to come under the immediate direction Of the Re
construction Committee, but TINT, IN any event, q
convention for the reformation OF the State Gov
ernment of Louisiana must be held as speedily as
possible" As this bit of unexpected evidence was
evoked Messrs. Shelabarger and Elliot, OF tho
Committee, became very nervous, tho Inter gen.
tleman in the excess of his Zenl to suppress the
unpal.table truth, moro than once exclanIng to
the wtliess: "Be careful sir; we shall hold YOU to
strict account. You are talking Of something
you know nothing about !"
But the murder would out and though this part Of
the evidence will no doubt be ignored by the above
in the minority report to be submitted by Mr. Boyer,
Of Pennsylvania, The lone Democrat on he Commit
tee, and, more than this, the letter from the Re-
construction Committee, referred too, will thon be
given in full q copy having been uncarthed from
some mysterious source in New Orleans. II is Of
great length, and most incautiously conlmittal Of
the general. line OF plots aud conspiracies which
had been raised to subvort tho State governments
of the South, and particularly relating to the man
agenlent Of the coup enjoined to be attempted IN
Louisiana. Who shall say that investigating CONF
mittees nre not efcacious, when it transprcs that
trinity OF corrupt judges evoke tho truth and abb
solve the innocent, when no justice WIS Intended?
This last chapter in that book of foles," dcdica
ted to the New Orleans riot and Congressional
action thereon, conlos greeting most opportunely.
Not even with the martyred and immaculate Dos
tie and his comrades can the Ois4S OF the blood
shed of tbs New Orleans riot now be reposed.
Here comes the documentary evidence to show
that they did but too faithfully the bidding OF
committee, in the iniquitous work OF calling the
revolutionary convention of the 31st Of July last.
'sWho ls to blame 2? is query that the whole coun-
trv now can answer.