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

o'clock, at the Mechanics' Institute.

Distinguished speakers will address the meeting. Union men, come in your might and power."

Said the late Adjutant-General of the State of Louisiana, John L. Swift, who descended from his radical platform of 1864 to bow at the footstool of the Chief Executive of the nation in 1865:

"Revolution in Louisiana had a brave and determined leader in Dr. A. P. Dostie. He was a man of unquestionable courage. He was honest and fearless. He possessed many admirable qualities, and he was a revolutionist by nature. In works and acts he was a fanatic." Alas! that some of that honest and fearless "fanaticism" could not have been imparted to his friend John L. Swift, who apparently sympathized in all his fanatical acts in 1864.

"Fanatic!" was the cry when Sumner was struck down by Brooks in the United States Senate. The same cry was heard when Lovejoy was murdered by the enemies of free speech. When Lincoln fell by the hand of an assassin, the dark pall of woe hung over the nation. There was silence in the ranks of the enemies of the Republic, but secret joy that another "fanatic" in the cause of universal liberty had become a victim to the national conspiracy.

For a time that conspiracy was paralyzed before the Nation's woe, but, under "My Policy," was revivified. "The Conflict of Races was incorporated into the reconstruction measures of Andrew Johnson. Negro suffrage and its advocates in 1866 were to the returned rebels what freedom and Abraham Lincoln were to slaveholders in 1860. Conspiracy and murder are the off

springs of slavery. In 1860 Jefferson Davis defended the spirit of slavery. In 1866 Andrew Johnson defended the same demoniac spirit, and warmed the dying viper into life that it might strike its fangs into the vitals of the Republic.

The following invitation was sent to Dr. Dostie on the morning of the 26th of July:

"NEW ORLEANS, La., July 25, 1866.

To Dr. A. P. Dostie:

SIR: The friends of universal suffrage will hold a meeting in this city at the Mechanics' Institute on Friday evening, the 27th inst., at 7 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of endorsing the policy of the present Congress relative to the Southern States and the call for the reassembling of the Constitutional Convention of LouisiYou are respectfully invited to be present and address the meeting.

ana.

By the Committee.

On the night of the 27th of July a meeting of loyal citizens was held in Mechanics Institute for the purpose of endorsing Congress and to discuss the call for the reassembling of the Convention of 1864. It is to be regretted that Dr. Dostie's speech at Mechanic's Institute was not fully reported as his enemies have taken advantage of that fact, and misrepresent his words upon that occasion. We annex the following report of the meeting:

"NEW ORLEANS, July 28th, 1866. "By far the most enthusiastic meeting which had assembled in New Orleans for many years, met last night at the Mechanics' Institute, or State House. The meeting was composed of 'citizens who are in favor of uni