The New York herald., 1867-02-12


wa DOT be allowed 10 vote unless specially pardoasd ~ the
promp, returns viii be made Of said the Score
ary st.le, AL whaa this Proclamation, without
s,,xe % y band a. the city Of New Orleans this
II day OF July n. 1880 and Of the fndependence OF the
9-''1 '' '''''' !. MADISON WELLS.
II is IN evidence before the committee and we find
the fact 10 be- that the only action contemplated at the
meeting of July 80 tho ascertainment officially OF
existing vacancies and II quorum Of members should
appear proposed 70 postpone all further acton
unu such vacancies should be hlled and the writs Of
election for the choice OF members from unrepresente
represented These elections ordered to be held
the Sd day OF September The whole State being
sented was then intended TO consider articles
In amendments Of the constitution and have them sub
milted to the whole people for their action. n sp-
proved by the people the constitution thus amended
10 be submitted 70 Cougrees
was the subject or warm discussion among ceran por
tons OF the people OF New Orleans and the day OF
ailoat and threats OF violence made II is not believed
that tho mere tact OF assembling the convention would
have occasoned disturbance but the ultimate purposes
and hopes OF the convention, s avowed by the mem
bers Instrumental in its assembling, were feared and
denounced
The convention Of 1884 was initiated by military
order II had adopted . constitution which had boon
submitted to the people Of that portion OF Louisiana
which within the control Of federal arms and had
been ratified by them Civil government had been or
ganlxed under the provisions oil that constitution But
all provisional and incomplete, and regarded
by the military authority from whom proceeded until
the time should arrive when BY the action Of Congress
Louisiana would be restored TO her former practical
lations to the Union Until that time claimed that
the convention might be recalled provided in the
could be ordered being left indefinite by
the terms OF the resolution and being limited only the
State into the Unon after which the normal State
condition would be established and the usual forms Of
State action become possible and regular"
II understood that two subjects of vital interest
would call for discussion and decision-bolh Of them
affecting the election from -,one in limitation of the
right OF applying certain classes OF rebels who had
waged against the government and one enla rging
the right so as to enfranchise citizens who had been
during the rebellion at all times loyal TO the Union,
but who had been disqualified as voters by reason OF
their African descent II was tho apprehension that
amendments of the State constitution in these respects
would be recommended by the convention aud finally
ratified by the people, which created popular excite
ment
Obviously no such amendments could be proposed for
discussion In convention until quorum OF its members
should assemble and the proof before the committee
Is ample that intention existed to take any action
then until after the elections had been held and
delegates chosen from unrepresented districts This
could not arrive until after the Sd OF September
but was deemed safer by the parties who were op-
posed to the agitation discussion OF either Of these
questions to interrupt at once the proposed conven.
ton
convention and Others white and colored occurred at
and the hall of the Mechanics Institute on Dryades
street, commencing Canal street. at the
of Burgundy street, between eleven and twelve O'Clock
on the morning of July 30.
1t is difficult give in their order narrative OF
they between that time and the time
when the convention had been dispersed and the last
murders in and around the hall had been committed and
the military arrived upon the ground This was at about
The first fired in the street at procession of
coored who were on their way to the Institute
This was procession Of friends Of the convention They
they carrying TO the hall Many Of them had
and walking sticks, but were otherwise unarmed. The
procession joined its march by many who fell
into the ranks with their working clothes on They
entered upon Canal street from Burgundy street,
and soon after reaching Canal street a "car
boy showed one OF the negroes in the procession
he shovel him the coored man fell he got up and
struck the carman; as he did the carman fred at
and was .,fred al the procession; this carmsn was
young man, thcn and Afterwards employed as special
officer; his name was Anthony Elmore; some confusion
occasoned by this affair." and Of the colored
arrested but the procession moved on toward the
institute; at and near the door Of the hall there
renewal Of the disturbance and shots were fred by
police, and some brckbass found In the street were
thrown by colored men.
Al twelve O'Clock the Convention was called to order
prayer offered by Rev. Mr. Horton, and
ordered 10 enable the Sergeant-aArms to summon alb
sent,members who wore within tho city.
Soon after the ordered other shots heard
in the street. There were ct this time In the ball. u
estimated by Of the Witnesses between hum
had been made By the members Of the convention or
those in the hall a that time, to resist attack An a.
tempt 70 arrest on legal process would have been sub
that up to this time although q will bs hereafter
shown threats had been made and warnings given Of do
convention then present that an attack would be made
upon hem 1t was believed by some that arrest might
Ss e s nss
referred to, which had entered Drysdes from Canal
street. had reached the Institute The President Of the
eadne from lobby outside Of tho hall 70 the street
Judge Howell went into the Governors room which is
N the door below tho hall Al he passed down the Uni
Sfataa 6a0 nadh IN n
vas being carried up salra Judge Howell had here an
interview with Captain Caxiarc, one Of the ofcsn on
General Baird TO ascertain II the convention which he
lad believed would meet at six r NJ, was then In
ton. Judge Howell states that he" Captain Cazarc)
,ad met ana adjourned" he SAID don't you meet at
ix O'Clock Ireplisd that ws would not; that II We
courage some disposition 70 disturb u.s. that We would
stater than three o'clock; that We expected 70
embls again about halfpast ono O'Clock and before
his time was increasing In front Of the Mechanics
institute building but Captain Cazaro and parted
y ~ ss ns immod,ssoly returned 70 the
up stairs but had scarcely got into the room when
tho firing was renewed Immediately in front Of the
building and apparently continued for two three
minutes good deal Of consternaon appeared in tho
room where We wore The room was about one third
once and see II We could devise any means 70
prevent tho disturbance from extending. l went
through the back way, and passed the
the opposite side OF the street; when got into
the front occupied by the Governors Privats
Secretary the street entirely clear in front Of tho
building down nearly Canal street; there .
OF persons who seemed TO be kept back by limo Of
policemen, while In the other direction my left was
another crowd headed apparently by larger number Of
policemen than on my right the Governor Was not
hsre-he had left eleven o'clock sat down 70 write
to General Baird informing him OF what going on,
but had scarcely written three lines when this crowd
on my left began to simultaneously the build
ing, and commenced firing into the windows; they
seemed TO be shooting into the side we'll at the
'front.' windows; moved from therc Of course, and the
crowd from below at this moment began to move up;
there general confusion and excitement; was ad
vised by the Governors 70 Nke my position with
others In his fathers room, which occupied the
lower foor Immediately under ono SIDE OF the hall he
remarked that they saw me in there they would cer
tanly shoot me; was not an eye wtfess 70 anything
more that occurred after that 20 attaks In the build
ing; remained in the Governors paror during the
whole day; missiles OF various kinds brcrbats bolles
30, pretty frequently came into the room whore We
were there open lot just at the side the build
ing and could occasionally sec, through TIN curtains
what going therc there was an almost uninter
rupted firing and yelling In that lot for some lime; the
lot learned afterwards, was occupied BY amiy Of
negroes