The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-02-21

and one died after removal. A. v Ward saw
.twenty-seven dead bodies taken from the
'workhouse.
The committee find that but one "citizen"
was killed, and his death was accidental. Not
one of the police force lost his life, and but 10
of them wounded, none of them seriously
The committee report that the massacre was
not provoked, or invited by the members of
the Convention, or their friends. This is
shown by the fact that they were so surprised
and unprepared when it came. Much has
been said about the mass meeting Of the. pre-
Tiousnight and the ndamatory addresses then
delivered. But one witness appeared before
the committee to testify that Dr. Dostie urged
the negroes to come to the Convention armed,
and he says he stood at distance ana could
hear but imperfectly. Witnesses, one of whom
stood near Doste and listened closely to his
speech testify that nothing Of the kind was
said. DIR. Dostie did say to the colored peo-
pie
"Now, friends, go home, peacefully quietly,
make no noise, disturb no person." But .
said he 81 learn"-which was true, too-''that
there are proving bands out to waylay you.
| If you are insulted by any Of these bands of
men, pay no attention to them; go home right
by them without saying word to them; but
if they strike you, kill them"
And Mr.. S. G. Fish says, of his personal
knowledge that Dr. Dostie, on the morning OF
the Convention, left his revolver, which he
was in the habit of carrying, with his barber.
CONCLUSIONS.
The committee find that cit was the deter
miRed purpose Of the mayor Of New Orleans to
break up the convention by armed force. This
is proved 10y both the antecedent and subse.
quent events. The police were massed at the
station houses; the fire companies assembled
near the Institute; pistols and cartridges were
| in great demand; badges were assumed; it was
a preconcerted and generally understood af
fair. The citizens of New Orleans are largely
implicated in the guilt Of their magistrate
groups ofthem stood on the streets, and en-
couraged the murderers by cheers for JEFF Da
Wis and Andrew johnson. And no one has ye
been punished by the city authorities for any
thing which occurred that day, except the sur
viying members of the convention, who arr
now on trial under a law Of 1906, for breacl
Of the peace.
The committee review the action of Presi
dent Johnson in the matter, and conclude ths
it was Illegal, in that he had not been asked t,
interfere by Governor Wells, and unpatriotic
in that knowing the reasonable antecedent
of Monroe, Hayes Heron and Voorhees,, h
yet ''without the knowledge of the Secretart
Of War or the General Of our armies, upol
whose immediate responsibility those militar,
orders had issued, he gave directions by telc
graph, which ifienforced. as it intended the
should be, would have compelled our soldier
to aid the rebels against the men il New Or
leans who had remained loyal during tn
war"
The attempt of the President to throw TIL
responsibility of the massacre upon Congress
is very futile. The friends Of the Convention
asked prominent members Of Congress to in
troduce some measure encouraging or sane
tioning it. They were promptly refused
Judge Howell testites that he visited Wash
ington, and that the result of his interview
were not ''satislactory,' A telegram wa
sent to Mr.. Stevens, asking whether the con
yentiOn should assemble, and what it SHOULD
do. Every member of the Reconstruction Com
mittee appeared and testified that they wrot
no letters TO New Orleans, nor gave advic
about the convention, and that General Bairt
was deceived, there is much reason to thinI
Intentionally, with regard to the time Of tn
conventions meeting, and that on this accoun
the troops arrived too late to be of service.
They discuss at some length the legality 0
the Convention, concluding that there wa
certainly nothing Illegal in its assembling an
that it had not done any thing Illegal upto tn
time Of the massacre. They then discuss tn
condition of things in Louisiana, which is in
briefrule Of ex- rebels, and a prescription c
] Union men; assert and attempt by extende
argument to establish, the right of Congress t
interfere by legislation, and say that accord
ing "to the Judgment Of all who have felt til
presence OF rebelrule and have stood firm an
fearlesaly for the Union when treason wa
nearest to success, whose Judgment, given uT
on oath, is based upon facts within persona
Experiences; who give opinions resting O
knowledge, and speak Of what they have see
and known, the present civil government {
Louisiana, existing without sanction of Ma
tional law, should be suspended by an act
Congress, and provisional government et
tablished and maintained by military power
until the time has come when Louisiana is cor
trolled by loyal men, and may be restored t
her former practical relations to the Union
without endangering its security and peace.
Secretary Stanton explains the suppress
ion" Of General Baird's telegram to him q
follows He did not know the facts in th
the President and persons in New Orleans. O
the presence in Washington of New Orean
man to confer with the President. Seeing n
necessity for new instructions TO Genera
| Baird, he dismissed the matter without carry
ling the dispatch to the President.
o.