The New York herald., 1867-02-12
NEW ORLEANS RIOTS.
Reports of the Congressional
Investigating Committee.
WHO INSTlGATEO THE DISTURBANCE.
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR.
60 90. &C.
MAJORITY REPORT.


>~~~~~~~~-~~-~~~~-~~~~~~
Mr. Eliot and Mr. Shelabarger being majority Of the
select committee 70 investigate matters connected with
the New Orleans Of July go 1885, and 70 report
such legislative action the condition Of affairs in the
State of louisiana required submit the following no
port
On tho 9th day Of December 1885, the House Of Rep
resentatives passed. the following resolution.
BY speaker whose duty shall be 70 proceed 70 New
s =. with bloody ros IN
sy & sn pro
termination o the riotous the
q s d'
tent % s IN y s
g.n..tcn CLAIMING e ss the government Of aud
such d asrs seor II s a; may ss rsae
On the 10th Of December the committee was appointed
They entered upon their duties the following day
and proceeded to examine Witnesses, citizens OF Lous
their abors here until the 18th of December On
the 22d Of December the examination OF
the Sd Of January, 1867 il was resumed at washington
on the 10Th OF January, and finally closed the I'd Of
The whole number Of witnesses examined is one hun.
dred and nineyseyen, OF which hundred and fifty
nine were before the committee at New Orleans or
these forty examined at the request OF the
citizens OF that city.
There has been occasion during national history
whore riot has occurred destitute of ustabe cause
resulting in q massacre nhuman and fendke as that
which took place at New Orleans the 30th OF July last
The character and position Of the gentlemen, members
OF the convention when had originally assembled in
1854 who were the subjects Of the attack in common
with the unoffendng negroes whose political condition,
claims and rights it was their ultimate purpose to con-
slider and determine give 70 the events of July sgnif
and national importance.
The massacre was begun and finished in midday. and
such proofs Of preparation were disclosed that
constrained to say that an intention existing some
where dsperse and to slaughter the members of the
convention and those persons, white and black, who
present and were friendly to its purposes,
mercessly carried into full effect What parties had
formed thai intention, and what other persons know
ngly unwittingly co-operated with aided them,
the committee has endeavored to ascertain.
The direct Of the riots, which resulted in the
massacre Of several members Of the convention and in
the slaughter Of many citizens Of Louisiana, was the
reassembling OF that convention pursuant to call made
by Hon. r. X. Howell acting as President pro tempore.
The convention Of 1854 had becn held the first Mon
ton issued By Major General N P banks while in COM
mand OF tho Department OF the Gulf That portion Of
the which related 70 the convention as
sh. the organic law Of the state be made to
spirit q the sss vel =. e maintain and preserve the
ss aqS o h
ton with be held tho first Monday Of April 1884, The
Il !. S tho
1s % OF % M
sessions until the 3eth Of july whom adjourned sub
jec 70 The call Of the President" Among tho last pro-
ceedngs Of the convention the following resolutions
s ynss s. ss..:nsS :asSTS Be
sa is e 'en sssh s
for ns s N e n . shall . N
elections held any vacancies that may exist n
sss sonv'nson In whore the same may 30 praos
Resolved That in Of the ratIacaon Of the
ar. :s:'sn e ,soonvoas As coSys1.i0n IN is
tas Of making additions %
:s e: s o. the u % s.. the
Z sgs S .sS' !. .o~.
during .:.. The sd5sSrn%sIi .d 1 ,i s.,. =, rn,..
agreed By the convention, which submitted to
the action Of the people residing within military
them BY vote OF s$s yeas to 1855 maya The consti
tuition thus ratified has remained in practical operation to
Of beam
The Acts connected with the action OF tho people in
ratyng this constitution the character of tho proceed
ings before and during the time the polls open,
and the question whether and TO what exent the con-
sttution thus acted upon became the organic law Of the
State, have not been examined considered by the
committee The constitution has in fact operated and
is provisions have been accepted and observed.
BY the terms Of the resolutions above cited II
mado the duty OF the President TO roconvoke tho Con-
in order 70 take the steps for the formation OF
. civil government for the state The constitution
having been held to be ratified a. stated that occasion
existed for recalling its members excepting that
which Is found nshe first clause Of the resolutions TO
Wit THAT when this conversation adjourn Il shall be at
the call Of the President whose duty shall be to re-
convoke the convention for any cause
Early the summer Of 1865 conferences and meetings
were held in New Orleans, informal in character, by
parties believed power remained Presi
dent recall the members Of the convention for further
action Mr. W. r Fish, one Of the members Of the con-
venton, tssti6es that "most Of the members, the
So snss SouShs Tn. Of the
convention, Hon. +. H. Durel, although Il would ap
pear from bis testimony before the committee tina. he
virtue Of his once 70 reconvoke the convention declined
for which he deemed sufficient to issue proc
Acou 0nf
he fosnay resigned his Office; but at meeting Of dele
gates hesa the 2oth Of june 1865, Judge Dure de-
the 70 ss s e Judges
Supreme Court Of louisiana elected President pro
The following proclamation was issued BY HIM
PROCLAMATION ~ \. 4. HOWELL
sysss Soosrs:: nov ;.:iS.
-
harmony with The IN
liberty 20 all citizens alike and restore the state 70
ample sasrsness sssn. any disturbance Of that
sy ,st adopted &c The @
said SonSen.ion sdjouras shall call The Prss
% :ss Ss S o IN
2. The ss ., 20 s, m % to ss hsd 70
shs where the same may Sc N and an N. a.,
june @ ss ms%Ss o saa
for ss S 'd ~ Il:
people q .h: state asm:nS ns rsase%epe % q n ne
said convention ana ruqueseu ana uuly hush'1cu
designed 10 act pro for the purpose OF
conyoking said convention and Ia conjunction with his Ell
eeny the Governor OF the state 70 issue the REQUISITE proc
laaons reconvokng said convention and ordering the
necessary elections possible; and .,
Whereas further important thst the proposed emend
United States should DO acted
in the State with the shortest pro ctical delay
Now, therefore, Rufus X. Howell President pro sen OF
the convention aforesaid BY virtue OF the power and an
tnov thus conferred on mo- and In oI tne
said resolutions adjournment do this pr0cama
on reconvoknR the said convention Yo the revision and
smsssamsn, O ,he oons.llqcn q Loui.iana and do
hereby notify and request all The 70 sad conven
ves hechancs Institute building In the city Of New Or
leans on the NTH Monday t0h day. OF July lS66 at the
hour OF twelve O'Clock NJ and do further call upon his
Exceency the 0overunr state issue the
wn OF ecuon eect tecRates said convention In
parishes not now representa- therein
Done and signed At the city OF Oreana this
o. July A. D. 1855 and Of OF the United
States the ninety -nrsi : =
sPas ms &C. action rsifl u Jaass Howell wa,
sornor J. Madison Wells, who orderes VIII ~ s,sc %
10 issue By proclamation dated July %, 1855. a. fol-