Year: 1866




and despatched; others perched for safety cross
beams and raters are picked off hike game b. we'll.
with blows and abuse, and at last, just the ad-
vancing bayonets are seen to glsten the Levee,
the riot" lie over for lack of victims.


On the subject OF the character of the pro-
cessOn whose lll-umed and unfortunate appearance
b. ard are unable TO see any evidence in support Of
the hypothesis that II anything deserving the
name OF an armed organization. Most OF Its mem
beIs had such canes clubs aa negroes carry on
ali holiday excursions, and perhaps dozen had
pistols.
idea that attack upon themselves was by no
means improbable; but that the procession itself
could be regarded as q body organized to fight
would seem to persons of military experience to
have been dlsproved by events over thirty negroes
being snOt dead during the firing while the sup
posed organization cannot succeed in killing in
return single assailant-young Jenas, the only
received O stray shot from his own party.


1t Is tue that, according to one witness, armed
organizations are aluoed TO as existing by Dr.
DOstie; but If this procession may be considered
fair specimen, the Board cannot consider the civil


government of Louisiana "a IN much danger Of
ing 10 snow apIevlous hostile intent the part of
the negroes is that OF Mr.. Sauve the planter,
the scr, ans OF Murder the white men and
who testies TO having been told by one OF his SER
vans that white man had been on the plantation l
taking names and telling the negroes to prepare
Tor wars" and Il at the negroes of the procession
SAID they had been ordered to come to defend the
Convention. Whatever the purpose with which
these negroes came 1t Is evident they intended no
offensive action; The Rev Mr.; Henry is told by
the procession of negroes that they pledged to
have no trouble on their part.


On the personal inspection of the Hall by this
Beard there were found on and around the door the
marks Of SIX pistol-shots which had been fired by
the besieged upon their assaian's That the arms
were OF small Cabre, appears from the TACT that of
two when struck he pine panel OF the door, but
had sufficient force to penetrate it, On the oppo.
site wall which received such bullets of the assai-
ants as missed their ann % shots were counted
The fact repeatedly testified to- that the police when
emptying their Ieyovers were attacked with chairs
and dr.V from thn all 10 rd aOn "a
establishing beyond the shadow OF douot that,
except the two or three pistols in he hands OF the
procession OF negroes, the besieged party were


o. the further occurrences of the day of the riot,
the Board would respectfully call attention to the


brutal treatment and almost inhuman neglect of
the wounded and dead prisoners at the various
orders removed to the hospitals The evidence of
Lieutenant Colonel Crosby, Major Sheridan and


Or Avery on this point, shows as horrible a scene
OF suffering and neglect as could have Deen pre-
sented on lost battlefield.


The Board will state IL as their firm conviction,
thar but Tor the declaration or martial law and the
presence of the troop, fire and bloodshed would
have ragged throughout the night in all negro quar-


UnIonisGs and Northern men would have been at the
mercy of the mob. The conservators OF the peace


being for the time the lnstigators of violence nothing
wond have renamed but in armnG for self deIense,
and scene might have ensued unparalleled in the
AS in the Gordon riots IN London, and the more
| recent draft riots in New York, the affair would
! have passed beyond the power OF the onginators


into the hands OF that class whose only object would


have been plunder and destruction, irrespective of


party. In the Boards opinion, the property OF the
| Southern merchant not less than the life OF che
negro and the Unionist, was that night under the
| protection OF the Federal bayone alone


Whether, and to what degree, Mayor Monroe can


be regarded as an accomplish, or knowing to this


purpose of attack, will probably, by direct test-


structions given to the police the Board regard
| as mmateria He knew thelr feelings towards this


the mob Threeiourths of them were ex. Confede-


rate soldiers and at least one OF their officers ap-
former leader of the very men OF blood who might
be expected to be foremost in the attack.


HAD the ollce been sent to the hall in advance,


with orders to preserve the peace they could have


had no excuse for the attack on the Convention;


the contrary they must haye acted n IN Its defense
the police are kept away until an attack is made


and fighting ensues, then precipitated in mass upon


action in quelling The riot The Convention and its
supporters have long been held up outlaws revo-
luiIonIsts, and conspiTatOrs against law ana the


po ice would have acted by the order of the Mayor,
| but 1or the interference OF General Baird.


AS it is a maxim that a man must be presumed to
intend the Legitimate consequences of his acts, the


Be ard aIe reluctantly forced to the conclusion that
although the instance OF Lieutenant-Governor


Voorhles and others successful in causing the


issuing of the proclamation, vet that hayor Monroe


Well knew that before the excited passions If the


troops asked tor and without the presenc OF


ice violence was inevitable. When therefore, he vita
| drew and massed his armed police and on the


breaking out of the riot, preclpitated them upon


the scene, the Board are compelled to conclude that
/ he knew what tneir act0n WOulQ De, and tnat ne


intended the inevitable consequences of his own
| acts.


which seems in many cases to indicate clearly the


identity OF parties guilty of murder. The impossi-


bty of bringing such criminas to justice under the
| civil government, a 1t now exists, would be in
| tnelr opinion, universally acknowledged by this
| community. Reliable evidence would seem to fix
! the identity OF one OF the murderers of Captain
| Loup, the ex United States officer


The evidence against the notorious Lucien Adams,


though direct, is that OF negroes In this connec-
| ion fhn arH
the small proportion of negro testimony taken ana


to the TACT that all important points TeRarded Us
established rest upon white testimony alone.
| Attention is called the manner in which since
| his advent into Office Mayor Monroe has made nus


appointments and changes ON the poIice ana nus as
| chief. His appointment OF LucIen Adams as Ser


geant is considered by the Chief as outraging the
| feelings of the community. But the Board


PEELED TO state that in their opinion it IS the party
| to which such men as Lucen Adar rs we're leaders
| that Mayor Monroe owed reelection, and that ne
| now fears to disobeV their dictation.


In conclusion, the Board will state that it is by


no means their opinion that hostility to Northern
and Union men so prevails in the community at


large as of itself either TO endanger their life
| property, provided they refrain from aiming


like that of slavery before the war, difference of
| opIniOn is tolerated But in reGsrd TO the party
| which elected Mayor MonrOe, and which, through
him, now controls in great measure the munlci-
pal Government and city police. TINS party the


Board 90 CONSIDER Isl as most snS9rtoHgnS moHea @
the lapse OF sufficient time shall have convinced
them that no punishment is to be antictpated for


past olenses, and that they need be no LONGER ''on
their good behavior" then, in the Boards opinion


period of insecurity for Northern life and property


The recent success of this party at the polls is in
the Boards opinion due first to the fact that its
candidate was peculiarly identified with the Con


federate cause and secondly, 20 the unfortunate
apathy of the best classes OF the community on the
suDject of municipal elections, which appears to be
the of large cities and results in throwing the
government thereof into unworthy hands.


The Commission have thus endeavored to give, as