New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-12
THE NEw.oRLEANs MASSACRE.
AR. poYrR's MINORITY REPORT

Nv TELEGRAPH TO TsE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Feb. H. Representative Il. NJ.
Boyer OF Pennsylvania, who dsse,ts from the con
customs Of his colleagues says that The avowed object
OF the Convention was amendment OF the existing
Constitution Of Louisiana in such manner as 70 secure
their party the absolute control Of the offices IN the state
negro suffrage, and the Acknowledgement OF snceht
number Of those who had been connected with the late
Rebellion These were the leading measures by which
the desired ascendancy was TO be obtained Mr. Boyer
proceeds to show the egalty OF the Convention saying
the Government which In force in Louisiana under
the Constitution OF 1884, the 3oh OF july 1866 even
from the Radical standpoint, by that acqueseence and
the consent Of Congress, a state de J"Te nc
well as q Government de fdeto, and binding as snch
upon all persons within its Jurisdiction Inc Convention
lists counted upon Congress- cooperation Under Ordinary
circumstances, a small body OF men assembling 1Or tnO
nrnoe OF changing the government Of state with 30
little color of law might be treated harmless body
and be regarded entitled to butt pubic hoce but
I'm mis- case the time and circumstances eXtTaor
binary and wen calculated to excite serious apprehe
sion. Judge OF the Supreme Court was at tne Hau Oh
H. the Governor Of the state encouraged It, IL was
given out that Congress had been consulted and wond
lend it's assistance Preceding the action OF the CONVEX
tion Judge Howell proceeded TO Washington to consult
In person with the leading members OF Congress lie
informed the Committee That he consulted WIN
members Of Congress, aud named the Hon.
Messrs Boutwell,, Stevens Kelly, Banks Grin
nell, Norris Paine, and others. me result Was
that he returned to New-orleans, and went ON with
tie movement. The encouragement which Howell testi-
fled he received at Washington was made known TO tue
friends Of the Convention, perhaps with shaggetaton,
and on the oath of July, SIX days before the meeting
telegram sent from NewOrleans TO the washington
correspondent of The Neo I0'H Ihes staslng alnons
other things that Howell had returned with assurances
that Congress would support the Convention, &c Inc
Endorsement and support Of Congress appears 70 nave
been the topic Of conversation among the Con
vcntionists before the 3Oth OF July ~, A.. ,... ia
Mr. Boyer in reyewinglthe origin OF the rots sald
the Conventionsts Appealed TO tne mesr S,td
at will be- remembered he says that these dtlnonstr
tons were made the heart Of the city, yet the speakers
harangnes wers over procession Of between 1900 and
5000 cooTed persons, between 10 ana IL Oeloch 40 h
61oneb several Of The principal streets to the City Hall
There the crowd addressed by Dr. DOstle ana eA
ssai them After this no disturbance place and the
crowd poaceahy dispersed Yet soldiers were engaged
asks these a1ts be cited striking evidence OF the
federation Of frye speech IN the city OF New-VreasI
The causes OF the not might be sought for elsewhere
II the acts and the declared intention OF The Conven
onsts and the illegal and violent character OF their pro
ceedlngs which produced the excitement and brought
about the collision The character and antecedens Of the
Conventionsts not such TO make them the ae-
prescription threatened by such men through the ae
ton Of the Convention must have been peculiarly GAZING
affected by their proceedings IL had al
ready been shown that no interference was naue WIN
could not be- pursued with inpnnity and arrests might
properly and lawfully he made to arrest the progress OF
sncrfialrr Mr. Boyer does not agree with the majority
that The riot was deliberately planned by Mayor Monroe,
aud refers TO the evidence To show That The IIst snOs
Voorases Rebel belongs the credit Of having supplied
the place OF his official superior IN originating timely pre-
cautionary measures which carried out, would have
prevented the not and which failed from no fault Of hisi
III reviewing the comments OF the majority OF the Com
mtee on tho Of the President Mr.. Boyer says:
Tho President needed yndication. II IL were not on
account OF the partisan ISLANDERS with which ne had peen
uuscrupulously assacd during the late eiecu9h ~
gt justly be deemed AN offense against good taste 70
him IN thus connection His acts so faT as they asd
Committee. exhibited him In no other light than as
Chei MAGISTRATE ac.9aod by sincere desire 70 com
troyerts the views of the majority that the ot ~ 70 pe
attributed % those who charged with hostility 70 the
Union, and with prescribing those rom business VINO are
loyal 10 the country. MI Boyer submits the Iono"he
Frst: That the riot Of the 3Oth OF July local dis
turbanee originating In local circumstances OF great prov
Ocaton and uowise theiresut OF any hostility or dis
affection on the part OF the community Of New Orleans
toward the Federal Government IL was not IN any utt
Rebscn nor can it be said TO Be any indication even in
the renotcst degree q disposition on the part o. 1e
Of Louisiana hostities In any form with the
established authorities, either state or Federal
Secondfit wonld be q monstrous injustice TO hold the
people tho OF Louisiana accountable for the aets
Of those engaged In riot confined to small portion OF
the City OF New Orleans and for that cause 10 abrogate
by any act Of Congress the Civil Government OF that
state now in peaceful and successful operation would Dc
tuition aud gross outrage upon the principles OF nee
Third: The riot was provoked by the ineendisry
speeches revolutionary acts and threatened violence OF
the Conventonists such under similar circumstances
would probably have led 10 riot IN any city IN the
Union
on which expected to be suppressed by the military
before IL had seriously endangered the white leaders aP
ists This would afford an for Congressional in
vesgatlon resulting In Congressional legislation, favor
ing the ultimate design OF the e0nspators namely the
destruction OF the existing civil government Of louisiana
Fh: As respects that part OF the resolution OF the
House which makes II subject OF investigation by the
Committee, whether and TO what extent those acts
were participated In by members OF the organization
claiming 10 be the government OF Louisiana the follow
ing conclusion submitted: In proper OF the
and I'm degree whatever Ii the riot OF the 3Oth
OF July attributable to the Government OF Louisiana. III
there be any members Of the Government of Louisiana
whose Official personal acts the remOest OF
the riot tobe traced the chief among them are Judge
r. r. Howell who AZ the usurping President OF the MI
nOry an extinct Convention headed the conspiracy %
overthrow the state Constitution which, Judge OF the
Supreme Court he had sworn 10 support, aud Gov |
j. Madison Wells who lent To the conspiracy his official
sanction but the day OF danger deserted his post with
effort preserve tho public peace And there
be members Of the Fedeal Government who are ndi
reotly responsible for the bloody result they those
members OF the present Congress whoever they may be-
who encouraged these by their cOHnses and prom
lsed 10 them their individual and official support