Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

of that city. From the New Orleans Press, July 5th, we quote the following:

"The ninetieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was celebrated in this city on Wednesday. "There was not a large attendance at the Fair Grounds on the morning of the Fourth.

"About noon, at the central stand, the few hundred people in attendance were called to order, and Mayor Monroe was introduced as the presiding officer.

"In presenting to the audience Mr. I. N. Marks, President of the Firemen's Charitable Association, as the reader of the Declaration of Independence. Mayor Monroe took occasion to say that he differed from one expression of opinion in that document to the effect that

all men were created equal." The nigger could not be considered the equal of the white man; and as the writer of the Declaration, Mr. Jefferson, was a slaveholder, it stood to reason that he never could have meant to include the nigger in that assertion."

CHAPTER XXVII.

CALL FOR A CONVENTION.

On the 7th of July, Judge Howell issued the following proclamation:

Whereas, By the wise, just and patriotic policy developed by the Congress now in session, it is essential that the organic law of the State of Louisiana should be revised and amended so as to form a civil government in this State in harmony with the General Government, establish impartial justice, insure domestic tranquility, secure the blessings of liberty to all citizens alike, and restore the State to a proper and permanent position in the great Union of States, with ample guarantees against any future disturbance of that Union.

And whereas, It is provided by resolutions adopted on the 25th day of July, 1864, by the Convention, for the revision and amendmeut of the Constitution of Louisiana, that when said Convention adjourns, it shall be at the call of the President, whose duty it shall be to reconvoke the Convention for any cause; and that he shall also, in that case, call upon the proper officers of the State to cause elections to be held to fill any vacancies that may exist in the Convention, in Parishes where the same may be practicable.

And whereas, at a meeting held in New Orleans, on the 26th of June, 1866, the members of said Convention recognized the existence of the contingency provided for in said resolutions, expressed their belief that the wishes and interests of the loyal people of this State

demand the reassembling of the said Convention, and requested and duly authorized the undersigned to act as President pro tem for the purpose of reconvoking said Convention, and in conjunction with his Excellency the Governor of the State, to issue the requisite proclamations reconvoking said Convention, and ordering the necessary elections as soon as possible.

And whereas further, it is important that the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States should be acted upon in this State within the shortest delay practicable.

Now, therefore, I RUFUS K. HOWELL, President pro tem of the Convention, as aforesaid, by virtue of the power and authority thus conferred on me, and in pursuance of the aforesaid resolutions of adjournment, do issue this, my Proclamation, reconvoking the said "Convention for the Revision and Amendment of the Constitution of Louisiana," and I do hereby notify and request all the Delegates to said Convention to assemble in the Hall of the House of Representatives, Mechanics' Institute Building, in the City of New Orleans, on the FIFTH MONDAY, (thirtieth day of July, 1866, at the hour of 12 M., and I do further call upon his Excellency the Governor of this State to issue the necessary writs of election to elect Delegates to the said Convention in Parishes not now represented therein.

Done and signed at the City of New Orleans, this seventh day of July A. D. 1866, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-first. R. K. HOWELL,

President pro tem.

Attest: JOHN E. NELLIS, Secretary.

On the same day that the above proclamation was issued, the National democratic Committee, of New Orleans, met at St. Charles Hotel, and adopted the following resolutions :

1. Resolved, That we highly approve of the reconstruction policy of President Johnson

2. Resolved, That the political principles of the Radicals in Congress are unconstitutional and revolutionary. 3. Resolved, That we cordially approve of the proposed call of a National Union Convention at Philadelphia.

July 27th, 1866, Governor Wells issued a proclamation commanding an election to be held by the qualified voters for delegates to the Convention for the revision and amendment of the Constitution of Louisiana.

Governor Well's action in the tragedy of July 30th, is another proof of his vascillating, criminal course. One day a professed Unionist, the next an enemy to his Government and loyal subjects; one day crushing loyal men, another day elevating them; one month exerting his power to abolish the Constitution of 1864, the next changing his plans, and issuing a proclamation reassembling the Convention of 1864. Did Governor Wells foresee danger? Was he the deepest plotter in the great Conspiracy? General Sheridan in his letter to the the Honorable Secretary of War, E. M. Stanton, thus delineates the character of Governor Wells:

"I say now unequivocally that Governor Wells is a political trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, when I first came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had supported the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers, some of whom had not yet doffed their grey uniforms. I have seen him again during the July riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State and joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him

since, and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the dust by the movement of a snake.

"I say again that he is dishonest."

The New Orleans Times thus comments upon Governor Wells' proclamation—the Secretary of State, etc. :

"It is quite confidently stated that the Secretary of State will refuse to affix his signature and the seal of the State to the proclamation of the Governor ordering elections to be held to fill vacancies in the so-called Convention of 1864. The Secretary will be fully justified in refusing to connect himself with so lawless and revolutionary a proceeding-so flagrantly criminal an act.

Meantime official notification has been sent to the President at Washington, informing him of the conspiracy of the Governor and others to overthrow the government and institutions of the State by a lawless and revolutionary act. J. Add. Rozier, Esq., is also present at the Federal Government, to represent to the President the proposed wrong and indignity to our State. We have little doubt that the President will take such action as will arrest these reckless conspirators and agitators and protect the people from their evil designs. There is a peculiar appropriateness in the selection of Mr. Rozier for this mission,"

The following notice appeared in one of the city papers on the morning of July 27th:

"FRIENDS OF FREDOM RALLY!-Universal Suffrage! A grand mass meeting of citizens who are in favor of universal suffrage, of the reconstruction policy of Congress, and of amending the Constitution of this State to give equal rights to all without distinction of race or color, will be held on Friday night, July 27, 1866, at 8

« AnteriorContinuar »