The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-28
GEN. ROUSSEAU AND THE ELECTION.

During the last few days the telegraphic
accounts from the North have been burdened
with reports purporting to emanate from
Capt Keller, of Gen. Rousseaus staff, which
reports represent Gen. Rousseau to have con-
Cured with the New Orleans Radicals in their
assertion that the negroes could not have
voted at the recent election without danger.
We do not know how far these statements
may be justified by anything that Capt Kee-
Ter may have said ; but we do know that they
were, as usual, with reports from Radical
sources, entirely at variance with the truth.
Gen. Rousseau's conduct has been so emil
nently impartial that it was simply impossi-
BILE for him to have given countensnce, even
by implication, to the trick by which the Rad
zeal leaders expected to suppress the voice of
the people of this State. He knew, as every
observer knew, that the chances for per-
fectly quiet election were better on the third
of November in New Orleans, than in any
other city in the United States, and
he knew, as every one else knew, that the
policy and interests of the Democratic party
required peace and order on that day. What
he did say was that, if the troubles which
existed several days previous to the election
should continue to the day of voting, there
would probably be general collision between
the two parties at the polls. This, of course,
was very reasonable deduction from the
facts. 1t was nothing more than to say that
if the fighting continued it would go on,
and if it occurred on the day of election it
would take place. But Gen. Rousseau did
not intimate his opinion, in the conversations
which he had with the Radical leaders, that
the Democrats were responsible for those un-
fortunate disturbances; nor does it appear
that he encouraged the Republican managers
in their design of advising the negroes not to
vote. Within a few hours after these inter-
views were held, and, indeed, before the
Radical leaders had time to issue their order,
the agitation subsidized, tranquility was re-
stored, and the prospect of trouble at the cleo
ton entirely vanished. If, under these cir
cumstances, the Republican chieftains had
again consulted with Gen. Rousseau. he
would probably have told them that if tran
guilty should be maintained there would be
no disturbance, and that if everything
should be peaceable on the election day there
would be no fighting. He would, likewise
have declared the reasonable inference
from the facts to be that tranquility would be
maintained and that the election would be free
and fair. But the Republicans did not want
to hear, or to know the truth. They had re-
solved to make themselves the victims of
danger which had passed away, in order to
claim damages for political injuries which had
never been indicted on them. This deter
mination was to reap the benefit of majority
vote by assuming majority which they knew
not to exist but which they might claim to
have been kept away from the polls by dam
ger which they pretended to anticipate, but
which they knew to be fictitious So far as
their attempt to involve General Rousseau in
their responsibility for this unmanly subter-
fuge is concerned, the effort will totally fail
The generals known opinions and his i'm
partial conduct throughout his administration,
would be sufficient refutation of this latest
Radical calumny but the terms of that very
report, from which they pretend to derive the
evidence of their statements are conclusive
against them. The following extract shows
that Gen. Rousseau, SO far frem believing that
it would be dangerous for the negroes to vote,
really thought just the contrary {:
During the heat of the excitement, about the
27th of October, Gov. Warmoth, Gen. A. l.. Lee
and myself we're speaking Of the probability of q
collision at the polls en- the Sd November. Their
opinion, in which concurred, was that if the ex.
element continued up 10 the day OF election there
would be fierce fighting at the polls, and a gen.
ersl row all over the city. 1t was remarked by
both of these gentlemen that the better course
would be to advise the colored people not TO vote.
This was done, and hence the small Republican
vote cast In this city and In many of the parishes
of the State. 1t can hardly be necessary for me
to more than remark that this was matter over
which could exercise no possible control.
The leaders of the Republican party having ad-
vsed the negroes to stay away from the polls,
they stayed away 1t was neither in my place nor
in my power TO hunt up the colored voters who
purposely remained in their houses and drag them
to the polls. Nor is 1t necessary for me to say
that had no share In producing the public ex.
citement which induced the Republican leaders to
advise the negroes not to vote. The disturbed
condition Of the public mind was brought about
by no action of mine. My duty was simply to aid
in checking and suppressing violence to the full
extent CT the limited means at my command, and
to prevent the public peace from being broken.
day or two after the consultation with Gov
Warmoth and Gen. Lee, at which those gentle
men expressed their intention of advising the ne
groes not to vote till the public excl ement cooled
down, the city became comparatively quiet. The
Democratic clubs pledged themselves to aid 10 Sc
curing to every registered voter the right to cast
his vote and then had no fear that any man
would be molested in voting on the day Of election.