The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-02-22
THE CALIFORNIAN.
The NelC Orleans Riot.

- Pcie va WV N'ii'iHie
tee ON the New Orleans Riots has at
length been made and minority report
from Mr.. Boyer, the democratic member
OF the committee. The great length of
tie reports torbids their appearing in full
III our columns.
The committee was engaged in its labors
from The 10th of December to the I'd of
February; and examined 1917 witnesses
The report rchcarSes the history of the
convention and the riot, and quotes some
Of the cy idcnce given before them. The
committee say this riotous attack upon
the convention, with its terrible results of
massacre and murder, was not an acct
dent. 1t was the determined purpose ofthe
Mayor Of the city of New Orleans to break
up tins convention by armed force" This
the committee proceed to demonstrate.
They show the state OF feeling on the
part of the state and the city officials, and
rccitc their interviews with Gen. Baird,
and the consequent action taken by
them.
The committee then quote part Of Presi-
dent .iohn>onS speech at ST. Louis, Sept.
S,h in which he asserted that the convcn-
ton itself and the inccndiary speeches
made by its friends were the causes of the
riot and they say they can find no evil
dencr warranting any such charge. They
show that the President knew the condi-
ton OF affairs i'll New Orleans, and that it
was contemplated to arrest the members
OF the convention, and telcgraphed to
Albert VOORHEES,. It. Governor of Louisi-
ana, dated July IS, 1866: ''Ihe military
viii be expected to sustain and not OBJ
struct or interfere with the proceedings Of
the Court. \ dispatch on the subject of
the convention was sent to Gov. Wells
this morning.
The committee says
The effect Of this dispatch was to as
sure 1t. Governor Noorhies and those
WHO were acting with him that they would
lave the support OF the President in their
proposed action. 1t is maintained by the
President that Louisiana is political
state within the Union, in the same sense
with Massachusetts and Oaio But he
knew that the Governor of Louisiana was
at his home in New Orleans: that the
legislature was not in session and that his
own power under the constitution was up
on the application of the executive 'to
protect the state against domestic violence"
and he overlooked the Governor OF the
state, known to be loyal, and commune
catci directly with the 1t. Governor and
Attorney General, known not to be in
sympathy with the Governor, and by his
action gave such directions as, if carried
ont rs understood by the parties who re-
ceivcd them, would have arrayel the mill
tarv power OF the United States on the
side OF Mayor Momoe's policy in their pro-
posed arrest of the members of the con-
vcntion.
The President knew the condition of
affairs III Louisiana in July last. He
knew that rebels and thugs and disIoyal
m2n had controlled the election of Mayor
Monroe and that such men composed
chiefly his police force. lie knew that
Mayor Monroe, then an uEpardoned rebel,
had been after the election suspended from
dlscharglng the duties of his office by mill
tary order: he knew that he himself had
subsequently parloned him, and must
have known the rebel antecedcnts of Al
bert VOORHEES, and \. $. Heron; he knew
that riot and blood-shed were apprehend-
cd 3; he knew that military orders were in
force, and yet, without the knowledge of
the secretary Of war Of the general of our
armies. upon whose immediate response
b;lity those military orders had been issued,
he gave directions by telegraph, which, if
enforced, as it was intended they should
be, would have compelled our soldiers to
aid the rebels against the men in New Or
leans who had remained loyal during the
war. and sought to aid and support by
official sanction the persons who desired
to suppress by arrest on criminal process
under color of law the meeting of the
convention, and that, although this con-
Ncntion was called with the sanction Of
TIL Governor and by one Of the judges Of
the supreme court OF Louisiana, claiming
to act is the President of the convention
line effect of the action of the preSi-
dent was to encourage the heart, to
strengthen the hands, and to hold up the
arm, of those men who intended to pre-
vent the convention from assembling. In
this disclosed intention to arrest, by police
or sheriff, the members of 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. :"
The committee then discuss the question
of the legality Of the convention, and de-
clare that it was not an unlawful assembly
in the meaning of the law, and did nothing
that was unlawful.
They then discuss the condition of af-
fairs in Louisiana aud the legislative mea-
surcs required. They say the oppression
Of loyalists both white and colored is fully
proved, and congress ought to suspend the
present civil government Of Louisiana and
establish aproyisional military government
until such time as the state is controlled
by loyal men. For such legislation they
say there is imperative necessity and
congress has the right to make such legis-
lation
TIE MINORITY REPORT.
The report of Mr.. Boyer, reviews the