Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-02-21
Report of the Congressional Com
mittcc on the New Orleans Riot.

Report of the Congressional Conn
mittcc on the New Orleans Riot.
The majority Of the Congressional
committee to Investigate the July riot
in New Orleans, consisting OF Mr.. Eliot
of Massachusetts and Mr. Shellabarger of
Ohio, have made full report. Mr. Boyer
OF Pennsylvania the democratic member
of the committee, makes q minority re-
port. The committee examined l97 wit
nesses at Washington and in New Or
leans, of whom A. were introduced by
citizens of New Orleans The majority
report opens with an account of the eff
forts made to revive the constitutional
convention Of 1854, but no opinion is
expressed as to its legality. The cir
cumstaoces of the riot and blOOdshed at
the Mechanics Institute, where the con-
vention attempted to meet, are related
substantially as they have already been
given. The first shot was fired at a pro-
CeSsion Of ColoTed men marching towards
the institute to protect their friends, the
members of the convention, who had
promised equal suffrage az the fruit Of
their efforts. Having repeated the shock
ing facts of the tragedy, the committee
come to the conclusion that "the riotous
attack upon the convention, with its ter
rible results Of massacre and murder,
was not an accident 1t was the deter
mined purpose of the Mayor of the city
of New Orleans to break up this conven-
tion by armed force"
The committee quote from the Presi-
dents st. Louis speech, charging that
the riot was instigated by radical men,
bers of Congress, and say that they hnd
no evidence OF this. They then proceed
to arraign the President for the encour-
agement his dispatches gave to the con-
trivers of the riot. Having quoted his
despatch to Lieut.. Governor VOORHEES,,
that "the military will be expected to
sustain, and not Obstruct or interfere
with the proceedings of the court" they
say -
1.-THE President knew the condition of
affairs in Louisiana in July last. He
knew that rebels and Thugs and dis
loyal men had controlled the election of
Mayor Monroe, and that such men com
posed, chiefly, his police force he knew
that Mayor Monroe, then an unpardoned
repel had been. after his election sus-
pended from discharging the duties of
his office by military order he knew
that he himself had subsequently par
doned him; he must have known the
rebel antecedents Of Albert VOORHEES, and
A. s. Heron he knew that riot and
| blo0dshcd were apprehended he knew
| that military orders were in force and
vet without the knowledge Of the Secre-
tary of War or of the General Of our
! armies. upon whose immediate respOnsi-
| bilitv those military orders had been
issued, he gave directions by telegraph
which. enforced ~ it was intended they
| should lie. would have compelled our
| soldiers - aid the rebels against the
! men in New Orleans who had remained
| loval during the war and sought to aid
| and support by official sanction the per-
| sons who designed to suppress by arrest
| on criminal process and under color Of
| law the meeting OF the convention and
| that although this convention was call
ed with the sanction OF the Governor,
| e V one of the judges Of the Supreme
! Court of Louisiana, claiming to act as
| president of the convention. The effect
! of the action of the President was to en-
! courage the heart, to strengthen the
hand aud to hold up the arms of those
| men who intended to prevent the con-
vention from assembling. In their dis
| closed intention to arrest, by police or
sheriff, the members sof the convention,
they were assured of his support and
aid and it was believed, with good
reason. that whatever steps the Mayor
should take, in his Office and under color
of law. to suppress the meeting of the
convention, would have the sanction OF
the President"
If the telegram OF Gen. Baird to the
Seer. tarv OF War, of July %, had been
communicated to the President, We
know. from the Geographic message
which he sent on Monday, that such di-
rections would have been given as
would in fact, have required Gen. Baird
to sustain by military force, what was
called the civil authorities-that is to
saw the mayor and his police. Ii, then,
the armed police had engaged in the
work of slaughter which destroyed the
convention. the soldiers of the army Of
the United States would have been
charged with the responsibility OF the
act The fact that the telegram from
Gen. Baird had not been communicated
70 the President has been the subject o.
comment, ana we give in this connec'
: tion the statement made by the Secre
; tary of War in relation to that matter
+ Mr Stanton had heard nothing Of the
: convention had no knowledge Of Mr.
Rosters presence in Washington or III
3 tarview with the President; had no
bpen informed of the Presidents tel
, egraphic correspondence, and sa" nc
reason why Gen. Baird should have ne"
instructions. or why conference with tht
President was required.
]. The latter pars of the report Is oc
, cupied with consideration ofthe pc