New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-16
Johnsoa's Real Reasons for the Removal.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEW
ORLEANS RIOT.
The Senate Refuse to Consent to Stan.
toms Suspension

Secretary Stanton. The report is lengthy,
and the extract published in the Chroaicls
is too long to be inserted in full In the
REPUBLICAN,, but we give below the portions
most interesting TO our people.
The committee show conclusively that
the reasons for the removal of the secretary
of war were net as alleged by the presi-
dent, considerations of the highest char.
acter," but were because Mr.. Stanton mani
tested a disposition to carry Outin proper
manner the reconstruction laws Of congress,
and not place distractions in the way Of
their enforcement. The latter was what
johnson had determined upon, and he
hoped to succeed by means OF more sub
servient secretary of war. He, therefore,
very curtly requested Mr.. Stanton 10 re-
sign, and upon receiving refusal suspend
ed him for failure in proper respect. The
reasons thus assigned by the president are
characterized by the committee as fimsy
pretexts. That as no metive existed for
the suspension or removal of Secretary
Stanton up to August last, and none could
be discovered by the committee from the
evidence presented, they conclude the re-
moval was without sufficient cause.
The following is the portion of the re-
port which relates to the New Orleans riot;
Another and special ground OF complaint
alleged against Secretary Stanton in the
message is that be omitted to communicate
| to the president the Gelegraphc dispatch OF
General Baird, dated 2Sth July, 1866, rela-
| tive to the state convention of Louisiana,
then about to meet at New Orleans, and
| that the secretary did not send General
| Baird instructions, as required After
| quoting Mr.. Johnson's message on this point
l very fully, the rep0rt states that these pas
sages from the message show plainly enough
that the purpose of the author is to prove
that he had no opportunity to prevent the
riot and slaughter of that bloody day, and
is therefore free from the responsibility Of
which he speaks, and that his failure to pre-
vent them is clearly chsrgeable to the sec
retary's delinquency in not sending General
! Paird instructions, and in withholding from
him (the president) the dispatch recited
Although il is not incumbent on your com
mittee to inquire into the presidents re-
spOnsibility in respect TO this lamentable
| event, vet il in demonstrating the ground
lessness of this charge they find il necessa-
~ TO show the presidents responsibility
surely he will have no reason to complain
for the charge itself naturally challenges &
careful consideration of the facts.
First-Is there reason for supposing thai
Mr.. johnson would, in case this dispatch
had been made known to him Immediately
on its receipt by Mr. Stanton, have taken
such steps as would have averted the riot
Secsnd-Was MIR. Stanton in fault for MOI
sending instructions to General Baird o.
such charaster as to have secured the
same end?
Third-Was he in fault for not communi
eating this dispatch to the president?
After quoting the dispatch as sworn tC
by General Baird, the report says: "Thil
is the dispatch, werd for word, as furnished
and sworn to by General Baird" Ia th'
copy thereof inserted in the presideAt'i
message, the words Sat once" are foant
between "me" and "by." The copy fur
nished by General Baird implies little o.
no urgency, while that furnished by tht
president Implies it strongly. The CEN
parative expressions are as follows;
Please instruct me by telegraph.
BAIRD.
Please instruct me at once by telegraph
PREsIDMNT's MEssAaE.
The report does not attempt to aceoun
for this discrepancy, merely mentioning th'
fact. The report details OF length the 0ri
gin Of the convention, the facts relating
thereto being taken from the report of tn
select committee Of the house of represent
atives on the New Orleans riots.
The circumstances of the assanlting O
the convention are then detailed, and tn
committee are of opinion that there was n
lack Of authority upon the part of Governe
Wells to issue the writs for filing vaean
eies. The report accuses President John
sen Of being aware Of the existence G
Mayor Monroe's letter to General Baird G
25th July, and also of the intention of tn
rebels to disperse the convention. Know
ing these facts, the committee asks VIII
President johnson did not make arrange
ments for preventing the riot, as the cor
vention owed its existence primarily to th
president As commander-in-ehief OF th
armies he could have discovered it, an
failing TO do that, they state that he wa
bound to protect ii against violence. Eve
had he ceased to regard 1t as a lawful as
sembly he should have protected its mem
beFs as private citizens.
After replying to the charges Of Judg
Abell against the constitutionality Of th
committee, be avails himself of the visit .
Joseph Aaolphus Rozier, Of New Orleans
to Washington, and the interview OF tina
gentleman with the president, and much 0
his testimony is given to show that be an,
the president agFeed as to the character Q
the convention and the manner in which il
members should be treated
The committee quote the dispatche
which passed between Mr.. johnson ant
the authorities Of Louisiana at the time 0
the riet, and ar8 OF opinien that the Pfesi
dents telegram to Voorhees,, Of July rs
1866, was a plain order to use the troop
against the members Of the convention. il
support Of this view the committee refer Il
the feelings entertained by the presidsn
toward the convention, and quote bis speecl
81 st. Lcnls, delivered sth September, 1856
in Wkich be deaon2eed it in bitter terms
After quoting the portion Of Mr.. Johnson
speech concerning the New Orleans riot
the committee add, surely no one cal
now doubt that at the time Of sending hi
dispatch TO Voorhees,, Mr.. Johnson regarde,
the reaaaembling Of the convention as al
inaurrettion--a rebellion-and its mem
bers as insurgents or iraitors.n This Ian
Ruage adds irresistible strength to the cen
ciasion we have already agriyed at. tha
Mr., johnson intended that the miiltar,
should be used to put down the eonYentiar
They were to act a part ia this reckies
and bloody work; ana we fnd him fthre
months afbsward jus,ilying that protest
After describing the eject Of hfr, John