The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-30
General swayne's Report ON the Mobile
Riot,

Much has been said about the riot and the
Democratic papers have endeavored to palm
the cause of it upon Judge Kelly General
Swayne's report, the correctness of which no
one who has any respect for himself or any
love TOR truth will for moment doubt, sets
all this matter right. The truth is-and no
sophistry can get round it-'freed ON of speech
and public order have been greatly outraged in
that city by an element which is active in the
spirit ofthe rebellion and presumes upon the
sympathy of the police in this regard" There
it is in nutshell, and the General might have
gone farther and said that this element pre-
sumes on the sympathy of the Argus and other
copperhead journals But we have not space
this morning TO multiply words upon the sub
ject, nor is there any necessity for it since the
whole matter is made so plain by Gen. Swayne
in the following brief, clear, truthful report:
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF ALABAMA,
Montgomery, Ala, May 20, 1867
Major General John Pope, Commanding Third
Military District, Atlanta, Ca:
General: Herewith have the honor to trans
NIT to you the report of Col Shepherd, Fiji
teenth United States Infantry, commanding
officer at Mobile, upon the recent riot in that
city. immediately upon hearing of the out
break, proceeded to Mobile i'll company with
ant Judge dvocate-Gen ard made per-
sonal inquiry into what had occurred. So far
as / can learn, the disturbance was not appre-
hended or deliberately planned, unless possibly
by small party OF ruffians, such as are usual
ly found in cities. Nor do find that after it
commenced, it was participated in by a large
number OF persons, but that, ON the contrary
the scene was hastily abandoned, except by the
police and such parties of freedmen as gather
ed together for defence or from confusion or
excitement. 1t seems that the speaker having
for some time been interrupted by persons
who should have been Immediately removed,
single arrest was made. This was accompani-
ed by the discharge of pistol, after which a
number of shots were fired at the stand occu-
pied by the speaker and his friends After
momentary lull, large number of additional
shots were fired. apparently without vindictive
purpose, the weapons so far known being
pointed in the air. 1 do not find that
a greater charge than timidity or ineffici-
ency can be sustained against the police
authorities OF the city of Mobile
At the same time freedom of speech and pub
lie order have been greatly outraged in that
city, by an element which is active IN the spirit
of the rebellion, and presumes upon the SYM
pathy of the police in this regard. This is sup
ported by the antecedents of the police, and by
the fact that single arrest was effected on the
night of the disturbance; sincere and earnest
apprehension was expressed to me lest a COLI
sion of races, extended and disastrous and in
volving with the fate of the colored people that
OF tne Union men IN sympathy with them,
should grow ost of the impulse given by the
recent outbreak. To prevent the possibility of
this, directed the post commandment to assure
the maintenance of public order, to place
guards at the headquarters of the different fire
companies, to prohibit out of door assemblies
after nightfall, to suspend the entire police
force, and reappoint only such as were known
to be trustworthy, and to punish summarily all
disturbances of the peace. For the final sup
preston of the disorderly element above refer
red to, and to give confidence and support to
those who have been heretofore the allies of the
government respectfully recommended that
the control OF municipal affairs be transferred
to persons well known for their continuous low
ally to the United States.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedlent servant, WAGER SwAYNE.
Major General.