The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-04

condition Of Louisiana. Among the prominent
Witnesses examined before the investigating
committee on the 2sth and 2sth ult. we're the
Mayor OF this city, Attorney General Heron, r..
W. Taliaferro, jacob Barker Joseph Ellison, }.
II. Ilsley, and the judges of the Supreme Court
Letter from Governor Wells TO senator
Trumbull.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEF ARrMENT,
New ORLEANS, December 81. = Hon. Lyman
Trumbull, Washington, d. C.--Sir-A duty to
NJ self, as the Executive OF the State OF Ioul-
sisna, as also to the loyal and well-meaning cti-
zeDs, force upon me the necessity OF addre sing
You this communica ioD. General Sherd dan,
both IN his report relative to the riots in New
Orleans, and HE more recent report OF affairs In
his department, has availed himself OF the occa-
sion to cTitic'zein somewhat harsh terms, as /
think, my official conduct and acts.
In his reports fret referred 10, although he
was net Ia the city at the time of the riots, the
General was prOli1c In his faulthndng OF my
want Of energy. and while in his eeneI al report
he discaims all interference in political matters,
yet he vent 90 lar as to recommend that be
removed from Office; by what authority the
General did not vogchsaie TO state; pat sup
pose he meant that was to be deeapitated Dy
the President of the United States, who has
already injured me by addressing his communt-
cations to a subordinate officer Of the State
The charge made BY the General OF my want
of enerRy on the outbreak of the riots, think
not only unwarranted by the facts, but 1t
appears to me design to shit the RESPONSE
bility from his wn shoulders, who according
! to his own statement anticipated bloodshed if
the Convention met. and yet took no measures
TO preserve the peace. For my own part,
was at my Office until Ii O'Clock on the morn
ing OF the meeting of the Convention, and
! though q large crowd was assembled IN and
around the building, did not anticipate any
| violence was going to be committed.
| left for another part OF the city on business,
| and was not aware OF the bloody atrocities until
| they were ended. If had remained, what could
! have done? My own life was IN danger, and
should have been beseged by the infuFiated
mob of police, as the members Of the convention
/ were, and perhaps Ia,len victim TO their ven
geance, as it is we'll known | was sought for by
Them, and expressions of regret were heard
/ that should have escaped.
Not satisfied with his faultfndine OF my con-
4 duct ON that occasion, the General travels out
OF the record, as think, to attack the mem
! bers OF the Convention, and says there were
"badn men among them. The private character
| of the men composing that Convention was
not a subject of Investigation by me, and
cannot see what bearing it could have had on
the question of legality OF the objects OF the
Convention. According to the opinion of the
Rebels every member of the Convention was
"bad, n and ought to have been hung long ago.
Perhaps the General lent too willing all ear to
these reports, which may explain his prejudice
against the members of that body, who, what.
.. ever may be said Of them individually col
lectively framed constitution which the late
lamented President Lincoln pronounced to be
the best that had ever fallen under his observa-
tion. .es.s
In his second report the General, consistent
with his professions to have nothing to do with
politics, devotes a considerable CHAPTER thereof
to history CT the relations EXISTING between me
as Executive and the Legislature. He asserts
that made frequent appeals to him for military
support, and he states:"And the military
assumed the position that politics was outside Of
the profession, and that IL could not be called
on legItimately to serve the interest of either
side.n freely admit have had several occa-
sions to invoke military aid and support to
enforce my acts as Governor, and for she protec
tlon of the rights of loyal citizens.
So Ear the General perhaps unwittingly, pays
me high compliment for the strength bi my
loyalty and the hrmpess OF my character. Does
the General do himself equal Justice in asserting
his neutrality % contained in the extract OF his
report quoteds As there are but two political
. parties and principles in Louisiana, the one
loyal and the other disloyal was 1t not the duty
otthe Ger eral to have protected those who were
true to the Government? According to his own
! ADMISSION, the General knew that the Legisia,
! ture, which was almost exclusively composed o.
ex-Rebels was making war upon me; that all,
or nearly all, the authorities OF the State were
AGAINST me, and yet the General did not regard
it as his duty ITO serve the Interest Of either
slde.r can assoc the General that his indif
; ference to ths appeals and applications oi
Union snien for relief OF grievances, under 0
sense Of his duty, no doubt to maintain post
ton of,neutrality, excited deep surprise and
( regret IN the breast OF many loyal citizen.
I Had the General given aid and support on all
occasions to the side of loyalty, the massacre al
the Mechanics Institute would never have
occurred. II was the idea that the military
, would not interfere that induced Mayor Monroe
. TO organize his police for that bloody days
work. ~
+ But giving the General the full benefit of hi
absence from the city duIlng the riot. 1t may bs
pertinent to inquire IL he has displayed propei
energy himself since that occurrence Ia bring
ing the guilty parties to justice. The enclosed
copies OF CORES pondence win show what ectloi
: | took in the premises, and humbly think tha
II General Sheridan had shown any portion 0
that vigor that has characterized his operation
/ as a military commander IN the deld, in en
4 forcing the provisions of General Order No. "A
: tie guilty parties would have been arrested AM
:, met with proper punishment.
n do not arraign General Sherld0n on th'
!, charge OF neglecting his duty or delIberatel
|, designing to let the parties escapes. but whei
: line Of duty to attack me, he should not be sur
= lar scrutiny at my hands.
Ny regard and ahmirati0n for his services il
!, the late w8r induced me 10 refrain from taking
4 any notice OF what conceived TO be an unius
q and petulant attack on me In his despatche
! concerning the riots. The renewal OF u " hl
r general report compeis me 10 defend myself b
: this explanation.
Trusting you viii pardon this intrusion o.
ycur valuable time, and giving you full authort
10 make such use OF tins letter rs you may THU
n proper, have the honor to subscribe myself
o With high respect, your obedient servant,
Q J. MADISON WELLS, Governor OF Louisiana.
! ----T---------anns-------