The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-04

sonal request to some Of the clubs, whose names
had been publicly associated with acts Of violence,
that they should aid in preserving instead of as
sisting in violating the peace of the city and on
one occasion ! visited club, called the I" In
nocentsn ct the request Of their president and
vice president, and addressed them to this effect,
after which no disorder occurred In that section
COOLING DOWN.
A dav or two after the consultation with Gov
ernor Warmoth and General Lee, at which those
gentlemen expressed their intention OF advising
the negroes not to vote, the public excitement
quiet, the Democratic clubs pledged themselves
TO aid IN securing to every registered voter tne
right TO cast his vote, and then had no fear that
any man would be molested In voting on the day
Of election.
- GENERAL APPRovALs.
During all the excitement consulted freely and
constantly with the authorities, State and munich
pal and had then and have still their fullest ap-
provsl of my action. also consulted often with
Brevet Brigadier General Hatch, cnief OF the
freedmen's bureau of this State, and desire TO ex-
press my thanks for many valuable suggestions re-
ceiyed from him when most needed. Though the
safe-keepng OF several parishes in the State had
been delivered over to the military sun feit IL
my duty to endeavor to act in and through the
proper civil authorities wherever II could be done.
/ further advised with the Democratic leaders and
prominent citizens of all shades of opinion, who
each and every one seemed DESTROYS that the peace
preserved.
leading Republicans Of the State, made earnest
efforts to preserve public order. Among the mem
bers of the Republican party. with whom con-
suited were Gen. A. L. Lee, editor OF the of1cial
metropolitan board of police, Gen. McMillen. Gen.
sypher. Senator Kellogg, and Gen. West, deputy
United States marshal.
SPECIMEN MARTYR.MoSGER.
The difficulty was not with such gentlemen as
these. But the aid they gave was greatly coun-
terscted by the indiscreet and unwsrrsntable
course pursued by other and unworthy members
of the Republican party, who caring little Tor the
government of the United States and less for the
permanent reconstruction of the State, sought
only their own personal ACCOMPLISHMENT, aiming
to do the most offensive things in the most ofen.
sive way, and seeming to desire collision and
bloodshed as necessary political capital. VI This
stripe were some Of the members OF the Republi-
| can campaign committee. In consultation at
| my headquarters, in which DIR. Southworth, con.
| trolling member of that committee, took part, at
which consultation l, myself, was not present, but
| one of my staff officer was, 1t was commended BY
| some of the Republicans present that the negr oes
should be advised not to 60 to the polls, the idea
| being that if they did 60 they would be slangh-
| tered. Southworth replied that his committee
| would advise the negroes to vote, adding Let
| them be Slaughtered. The more there are killed
the better II will be for our party" This spirit.
am sorry to say, but too often controls the action
| and conduct of many who assume to act In the
name and for the interest OF the government OF
as cover for their misdeeds. have found that
men of this description, though willing to see the
blood of others shed at q distance, conceal them
selves with marvellous alacrity and skill at the
| approach of any real or fanced danger. South
| worth. who wanted the negroes slaughtered at
the polls, is shining example OF this kind, and
was actually in hiding at my headquarters at the
| time he made the remark have quoted.
SENTIMENTS OF THE CITIZENS.
II Is but just to say that the great body OF the
| people of New Orleans are law abiding and en-
treiy friendly to the government of the United
States. Certainly there are exceptions; the evil
dence of it is written in blood. But the friendly
feeling of the people generally toward the gov
| eminent has been evinced in many ways; N none
more marked than in the respect showE to the
military Oh all occasions. Officers of the army
| generally. and my staff especially, always found
their uniform ample protection against either vio-
lence or the slightest disrespect, and simple re-
| quest from them was sufficient to disperse large
and excited crowds Of people. The Democratic
clubs of the city, numbering, il is said, over l6 900
voters. and including many OF the most worthy
citizens and the largest property holders, formally
rendered to me their services In aid OF the military
| to preserve the peace of the city. That offer was
| respectfully declined.