New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-01
NEW ORLEANS THURSDAY FEBRUARY l. 1872

appeared in the Tines He had answered
this deputation that he had no more au
thority TO do that than they had he coulf
not do it. He had told these gentlemen hi
would use canister to stop riot if neces
sary. He might have said to the crowd
You would not call on your own General
in that way''-he was not positive.
Subsequent to this, he had notified
Colonel Carter that the troops would be
withdrawn; but his letter was published on
Sunday, introduced by what he construed
into an intlammatorv appeal to the citizens,
and one that tended to invoke violence and
create disturbance. He therefore notified
Colonel Carter that he must consider the
first notice as if it had never been made
He had determined that no act of his should
be understood as a cause of any hostile
demonstration. The troops were then held
in readiness, as before, to stop any violent
action. Before any of these threatened out
breaks, Marshal Packard had called upon
him and requested the use of troops to as
sist a posse comitatus from his office in
making arrests of the Governor, Lieutenant
| Governor and certain members of the Leg
islature. under the enforcement act. The
| request was verbal. This he had declined
| on the ground of interference in legislative
proceedings, and the marshal had desisted.
He never had used the troops to cover an
arrest by either party, and had Withdrawn
| them whenever such an attempt was made.
The General had acted under general in
structions from the War Office. He was
afraid he was not SO familiar with the acts
of Congress bearing upon his duties as he
ought to be, but had knowledge Of them.
He had been in communication with the au-
thOries at Washington, and rendered copies
OF the dispatches sent and received. He
had been actuated in giving protection to
afford it to the business men. Had not pro-
tected either party in this controversy, and
did not believe any respectable paper ex-
pressed any such view unless it were po-
litical or partisan journals. He did not
mean to infer partisan papers were not re-
spectacle, but from the very nature of what
they wish to accomplish they would give a
wrong cOlOring to official acts. He believed
lie had been sustained in his endeavors to
prevent riot by the whole community
During the whole examination the General
referred to voluminOus correspondence,
never trusting to his memory for dates or
deeds. but invariably selecting the fact
where it was written.
Captain Barr, commander of the Wilder
ness, was called as the next witness. At
the time the Senators went on board the
Wilderness, he was not on board, being de-
tanned in the city by severe neuralgia.
The vessel was in command Of The ''execu-
tive officer The Senators had been re
ceived ON board the cutter by order of the
collector. He was subject to the order of
the collector, except in cases where the
safety Of his vessel was in danger, when he
could use his own discretion to obey these
orders or not. At tie time the Senators
went on board he did not know their char
acter or the object. He was not told it was
for the purpose of breaking a quorum
knew nothing about it, or the merits of the
controversy. He had been told to cruise
about, but he had never gone outside the
limits Of the State. The gentlemen went
on board with the intention, as he under
stood, to stay but one day. and then return.
'for an excursion The cutter, after the
Senators were on board, anchored on the
Algiers side Of the river. and subsequently
moved up and down. His Executive
officer" knew of the course of the ship.
Champagne and other delicacies had been
received on board and freely used. Again
he did not know who furnished them: all
that he knew was that he didn't pay for
them. He was aware after the Senators
had gone on board, by public notoriety, of
the purpose in view. He was not hailed by
police tug, nor followed by one. The de-
sign of receiving the Senators on board to
secrete them so that they might be kept
out of the way of the sergeants- at arms, he
was acquainted with at the time the Sena-
tors went on this excursion, but he had
been told of it several times since the af-
fair. He did not see through the politics of
the question, and was unaware Of the
claims of each of the factions He had
been approached by a man whom he did
sad he could make $4,000. On being |
asked how, the reply had been to bring
the cutter on this side of the river and land |
them. He could not describe his appear |
ance. and witness need not tell what his !
reply was to that suggestion. On being |
asked if he knocked this man down. the |
witness answered that it was dangerous
thing to knock a man down in New Or
leans.
Colonel Casey, the Collector, was the
next witness. He had given the order to
use the revenue cutter for this excursion
but did not recollect whether it was in writ
ing or verbal At the time it was not sup
posed they would stay ON board more than
a single day. 1t was expected that, on the
return of the absent Senators, a majority
would be had to defeat the election of Lieu
tenant Governor, and declare this extra
session of the Senate illegal. The Senators,
prior to their departure on the Wilderness,
had not been secreted in the CustOmhOuse-
not that he was aware of-the Customhouse
was large building, and such might have
)een the case. The witness stated that the
lesign was to break a quorum, and to keep
,ut of the way of the officers of the Legisla-
ure. He reiterated the assertion that he
lad given the order, and that such was the
,bject. He had not instructed the depart
nent at Washington of this use of the cut
er at the time Of its occurrence. He did
hot <,f, 1o., IL; |