New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-12-05
Major General Rousseau's Report
Reply from Mr., Packard, President
State Central Committee.
New ORLEANS. La, I
December 5, 1868. {

December D, 1865. J
B THE PUBLIC: 81
The report of Major General Rousseau
General Grant, on the disturbances in
1s State, contains so many evident un-
uths, that justice to the Republican party
Ouires that it should receive immediate
ptice. .a.
The Republican State Central Commit
which meets on the fourteenth instant,
the Republican State Convention,
dch will probably convene shortly there
r, will doubtless make more extended
icism and decided condemnation of its
correct conclusions and false statements,
an l am now called upon to do.
It is sufficient for the present to correct a
" Of the more prominent misstatements.
Major General Rousseau says:
until the receipt of reinforcements from
hneral Gillem the entire number of troops
nv disposal in and around the city of
ew Orleans was only 463 men. After the
eeipt of the reinforcements from Missis-
,bpi / had but 500 men available for SER
be in the city,"
at is q matter of public notoriety that
eyious to and during the disturbances in
city the regiment Of Major General
wer was lying idle at Ship Island within
elve hours travel from New Orleans, and
4 It General Mower and the Republicans
this city were anxious to have it imme-
htely ordered here. General Rousseau
used to issue the order on the pretence
II because it was colored regiment tits
Fsence would exasperate the people.v
he implication that the police force
pssted only of "243 negroes and 1870
lie men to take charge of the city of
w Orleans" is also VIGOROUSLY untrue,
at the time referred to, viz: the twenty.
h of October, there were actually 38S
lie and i7S colored policemen on duty.
Board of Metropolitan Police will
npeak for itself in a report which will
i'd to the Generals reputation.
ID he following statement is also untrue:
IA The colored clubs habitually drilled:
,. white clubs did not, because with the
ority of them dri II was unnecessary"
he white clubs did generally drill, while
colored clubs did not, because they
n e without arms, their leading colored
n being generally ex-United States SOL
/. rs. ana having been disarmed by Dem
Mic citizens under the administration of
or General Rousseau Of the United
!, IS army.
nd so Is the statement the Generals
Il Fse was or is approved by the six Re-
Ta Sliean gentlemen named among the
an, neral approvals." One of those gentle
wrote and proposed the very resolu-
na strongly censuring the Generals
sg rse, which was adopted by the Repub-
Via, State Campaign Committee. and tele.
il Pied to the Northern press. The plain
i11 is, that the Generals course DUR
asa the late riots is strongly condemned by
Han hundred and ninety-nine in every one
sand of the Republicans OF Louisiana,
mes bu2h very few may hesitate about
expressing their opinions on the sub
from notifies Of personal interest or
na Due General says:
Q To watch and control as far as possible
IA sides and to preserve the public peace
tiAout influencing IN any way the result
i1I election, was task of no little diff
10y and DANGER
would have exhibited more "freedom
political bias" and acted more as "be-
an officer of the United States army"
q 10
as well as Republicans should alb
from voting, or If he had sustained
ID ssaied as much as the assailing party,
be had cared and talked less about
difficulties and dangers surrounding
ELF and his command.
le Generals political bias is illustrat d
IA be fact that he allowed the assailed
to be generally disarmed by their
lants throughout the State. as in the
rs OF st. Bernard to which he refers,)
e c0lored men killed but one white
L and the whites killed more than thirty
2 e, and where the blacks were disarmed
IN % whites in the presence of United States
lh srs, and lett to the mercy of their ex-
and armed opponents. In some of
Their parishes this condition of things
"a have occurred because he had not the
r. b to prevent it, but have yet to learn
be disapproved of it, or tried in any
Ds TO prevent it, Let IL be Observed that
General no ,1here and In no instance in
Oa Bport giueS the number Of Republicans
eel In st. Bernard or elsewhere. Why
If be is so impartial?
neral Rousseau says: "The disturbed
II lion OF the public mind was brought
ma by no action of mine" Perhaps
put it might have been prevented by
pt and proper action on his part. He
Ia, nily did not find it necessary to make
ehdly visit to Republican clubs to
=" them TO preserve the peace, al
ou q be did make personal requests to
N o. the clubs (Democratic), whose
had been publicly associated with
on pf violence, that they should aid in
&c giving instead Of assisting in violating
8esce of the CITY,"
gertheless, while the General has M
of rebuke for those whom his own
ian shows were the guilty parties, he
mes gratuitous attack on the Republic
!. arty and what he styles the "indis-
and nnwarrantable course pursued
EFT IN and unworthy members appa-
: d Aluding to those Republicans who
-, ID with him and with some of the
emen he has named about the pro-
OF gof advising Republicans not to vote.
irm' report concludes with the surpris-
atements:
Is but just to say that the great body
people of New Orleans are law
ng and entirely friendly TO the Gov
row INT Of the United States"
rth bcers of the army generally, and my
Especially, always found their uniform
ae' protection against either violence or
wa4 .lghtest disrespect, and simple request
Cor ilsn aoas sufficient TO dispense large
fcited croaods Of people"
iiHs eed Then it is very pertinent TO
Bs.eEhy the city Of New Orleans was for