National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-02-15
The Few Orleans Riots.

rc,ort to the House OF Representa-
tiycs. The report gives Gull details .
ii tins most brutal and inhuman .
murder of peacable and unresisting |
citizens, at the insti@ation OF par
doned rebels; and shows to what !
extent Andrew JohnSon'spolicy tow |
ards rebels is responsible tur this,
and similar outrages on loyal men
in the late insurgent states, 1t |
FIXES the responsibility for this mur /
der of loyal men upon Mayor Mon
roe. Lieut.. Coy, Eoorhces, and AT
;orncy General Heron, acting IN
de- sanction OF the President.
sir. johnson. in his speech at ST. I
Louis, while ''swinging around the |
Circle" charged Congress with insti-I
eating the New Orleans riots, and
asserted that the convention which
was assailed, was planned and urg
ed by radical Congressman; that
previous to the convention, speeches
We're made, in New Orleans, by men
who favored the convention, simeon
,.ia,y Ia then character, exciting the
black population to arm themselves
and prepare for shedding blood
That !'the convention did assemble
ia violation Of law, and the intention
of that convention was to SuperSede
the recognized authorities of the
state of Louisiana" and 'eVery drop
of blood shed is upon their VCon,
grcss) skirts
The Investigations of the commit
tee not only show that these asScr-
tons were false and groundlosS, but
that Mr. Johnson was fully aware OF
the facts Of the case at the time; and
the blood shed may more property
I've said to be upon the hands of Mr.
Johnson, rather than upon tn {
hands of Congressman. The cOH
Iuitte maintain that the convention
had a legal right TO assemble, thai
10 unlawful acts We're committed by
If, and the only incitemrnt for the
massacre was the fact OF its beiue
composed Of loyal men, and it's ob
iect to secure the rights of loyal eli
izens; and no speeches were mad
by members Of the convention, e
others, urging the blacks to arr
themselves or i'll any way TO reSia
the authorities.
In regard to the action Of III
President, We cory thc to!loWin
f.om the report,
The president was appraised Of III
exact state things at NeW Or.cau,
lie knew chat Hon. Il. X. Howe
Pre- ,idcnt pro TEN. of the conven
ton, had issued proclamation for III
rc.assemhling OF the convention
He knew that Governor Wells. tn
acknowledged Chief Executive q
the State OF LOUISIANA, had issue,
writs OF election to I'll the Vacm
ties in the convention, and that ccI
tiicates of election We're to be fO
warded to the Office of the Secret;
ry of State. He knew than thc>
writs Of election could not he con
piled with until after the 1Oth ,
July. when the hrS, Weeting WAS
take place, and that some time mus
elapse before the convention CGul
be full and the whole State repre-
scented. lie knew that Coy. Well
was at New Orleans and that i
concurrcd and was co-operatn
with Judge Howell in asscmblin
the convention. He know tina,
was contemplated to arrest Il
members of the convention upt
criminal process. And being asl,t
IT'S the military to interfere to pr
vent process Of Court p the Pre-,
dent replied by Geographic not
not addressed to the Governor
the State, but to the Lieut.. Cove
nor, as follows:
The military will be expected TO sustain u
not ohs'mc, orinterfcfc with the procccdil
ofthc Court, \ dispatch on the subject pl I
Convention vas sent 10 GOV. Wei, rus MOI
Ing. tSisnedi ANDREW JOHNSON
"The effect Of this dispatch was
assure Lieut.. Gov. Voorhees, an
those who were acting with him thi
they would have the support OF III
President IN their proposed action.
Ii is maintained by the presidcl
that Louisiana is a political Stat
within the Union in the same sen,
in which massachusetts, and Ohi
are. But he knew that the Cove
nor Of Louisiana was at his home
New Orleans that the Legislaiui
was not in session, and that his oN
power under the Constitution w
upon the application I" of the l.
cntive" TO protect the State again
domestic violence y and yet ]
overlooked the Governor Of Il
State, know to he loyal, and col
municated directly with the Lieu
Governor and Attorney Genera
ton,v,, ,,pt Ca IN IL, cyiupnthN Wii