Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-13
A REBEL PICKETT.
THE PHILOSOPHERS TELLS HOW
CALIFORNIA WAS SAVED.
The Master Roll Of Seven Hundred
How General Wright stopped
the Arrests Of Innocent Men.

EDITOR GLOBE: During every Presi
dental campaign, commencing will
lS64 the old cock and bull story about
the rebel secret plot to "take California
ont of the Union,' has been told with
some variations and additions each time.
As | was noted rebeisympathizer all
during such period, talking and writing
much ON that side, the News Letter. Van
guard, Press ithc predecessor of the En-
amincD and other papers in the city and
interior all the time tccming with my
"disloyal' sentiments, it is presumable
that had there been any plot Or conspir-
cy lookiu. to the seizure of Alcatraz ;
Fort Point, the Navy Yard and the Ben
icia Arsenal, and converting the Logis-
lature to vote an ordinance of secession,
as has been asserted, | would have been
advised of such action and had hand
in it. But there WAS no such action
taken nor intended, except OH the con
tingency to be presently mentioned. The
story is pure action.
Bloody Collisions Feared.
We did, however, apprchcnd bloody
collisions among ourselves, rs the con
tiict East grew fercer and knowing
that we would have a considerable ma
jority of fighters on our side throughout
the State, unless in San Francisco, in
such event (sincc large class of for
eigners among us declared they would
remain neutraD our Solicitude was
about the lack of arms and ammunition,
military organization and the uncer-
taintya us to ra&lyIng centers should our
opponents inaugurate a conflict, which
many of them strove in every manner
to do, since relying upon the L. S. mill
tary and fortified posts to give them an
advantage over us. Col. Stevenson no
doubt speaks correctly about General
J0hHstons sentiments and actions, as
does his widow, in her very interesting
interview had with your reporter; but
he and others greatly err in attributing
praise to General Sumner for keeping
California in the Union or preventing
bloody strife here. The reverse is true
of him. lie remained in command on
this coast but a short time when he was
fortunately ordered East, and was sue
cccdcd by an otficcr-Gcn. Wright-who
was the man, and no other,
Who Saved California to the Union,
or rather prevented bloody war among
us, which was about being precipitated
under the bull-headed. prejudiced and
impoltIc Sumner, by reason Of the evil
influence Il large class of such rabid,
tanatical aud hyena-like "loyaists"
were exercising over him. These men
had prepared lengthy list of suspects,
including nearly all Southern-born men
OF any prominence and many Democrats
of Northern and European birth, who
had condemned the action of the Repub-
liean party for initiating war against
the South This was the ''muster-roll of
seven hundrcd' that Colonel Stevenson
alluded to, as he no doubt helped to
prepare it, he ought to have frankly
said so, instead Of conveying the i'm
preston that it had been prepared by
those on it. In fact, this list, | infer,
was subsequently much increased, from
what General Wright, Colonel Drumm,
his Adjutant, and Colonel Andrews, the
Provost Marshal, told me, and from what
General Wright intimatcs in his card or
notification, published at the tine (some
time during the summer of 1862, which
put quietus to the "loyalists'" bother
alton of him with his long
Roll of Rebel Sympatiiixers
whom they were importunins and even