Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1874 — Fighting in New Orleans. [ARTICLE]

Fighting in New Orleans.

There was desperate fighting in New Orleans on the 14th between armed bodies of citizens anil the Metropolitan forces. Several persons on both sides were killed or wonnded. The following is a summary of the account of the affair; as given by the Associated Press dispatches of that date: ' A mass meeting of citizens was held in the forenoon, in response to a call signed by fifty business men and firms of the city. In this call it wap /declared that for nearly two years the people had been.silent but indignant sufferers of/ outrage after outrage heaped upon them by an usurping at last evpn the right of. the peeple to keep and bear arms had been infringed, in violation of the Federal Constitution; that the citizens were therefore called upon to close their places of business and assemble together, and, “in tones loud enough to be heard throughout the length and breadth of the land, declare that you are of right, ought to be, and mean to be free.”

The called meeting assembled at eleven a. m., and a series of preambles and resolutions were adopted, declaring that at the election in November, 1872, John McEnery was elected Governor by nearly 10,000 majority, and D. P. Penn Lieutenby a majority of ; 15,000; that by fraud and violence Kellogg and his defeated associates had seized the Executive chair and perpetuated their official feign by other and continued irregular, fraudulent and violent acts, in the face of the report of a committee of the United States Senate that the existing State Government of Louisiana was an usurpation; that the acting Got* ernor had, under the -Registration act passed for the purpose the popular will, and with a viewbf controlling the result of the approaching elections, refused registration to bon)y fide citizens, who were denied redress before the courts; *ha‘ false and infamous misrepresentath’ 1 ' of the feelings andmotives of the people he had received the promise of Federal aid; that the whites of Louisiana had no desire to deprive the colored people of any rights to which they are entitled; that W. P. Kellogg is a mere usurper, and his government is arbitrary, unjust and oppressive, and could only be -maintained through interference; that Kellogg’s immediate abdication of office be demanded, and a committee of five should be appointed to wait upon him with the resolutions and demand an immediate answer.

The committee called at the Executive office at noon, and, the Governor not being present, were received by Brig.Gen. Dibble, who conveyed the fact of the committee’s call to Gov. Kellogg and made reply in writing that the Governor had directed him to say that he declined to receive any communication from the committee because he had definite and accurate information that there were assembled in different parts of the city several large bodies of armed men, who were met at the call which convened the mass meeting represented by the committee ; that he regarded this state of affairs as a menace; but that should the people assemOltf peaceably, without menace, he would deem it one of his highest duties to receive any communication from them, and entertain any petition addressed to the Government. The committee, responded through one of their number that there were no armed rioters, that they came on a mission of peaee, and that they believed, had the Governor acceded to the proposition to abdicate, it \tould have pacified the people and prevented violence and bloodshed. The committee reported the result of their interview to the mass meeting, and the people were then advised to go home, get their arms and ammunition and return to assist the White League, who were then under arms, to execute plans that would be arranged for them. The people then quietly dispersed. Afterward quite a large number formed in procession and marched up Camp street. A proclamation was then issued, signed by D. B. Penn, as LieutenantGovernor and acting Governor in the absehce of Mr. McEnery, reciting the alleged outrages to which the citizens had been subjected for two years, and calling upon the militia of the State, embracing all persons between the ages of eighteen and forty years, without regard to color or previous condition, to arm and assemble under their respective officers for the purpose of driving the alleged usurpers from power. Gen. Frederick N. Ogden was designated Provisional General of the militia, and an address was issued to the colored people by Penn, as acting Governor, declaring that no harm was intended them, their property or their rights. By three p. m. armed men were stationed at the intersection of all streets on the south side of Canal street, from the river to Claiborne street. About four p. m. a body of Metropolitans, about 500 strong, with cavalry and artillery, appeared at the head of Canal street, and took a position. Gen. Longstreet commanding, accompanied by an orderly, then rode up and down Canal street, ordering the armed citizens’to disperse. Fighting subsequently ensued, and seven Metropolitans were killed and over thirty wounded. The citizens’ loss was six killed and nine wounded, - some seriously. . - . > - The citizens captured the City Hall and erected barricades on several of the streets. Bloody work was anticipated at night, but a dispatch dated at midnight reported all quiet. The State authorities seemed to have

great confidenoe?]te'their ability to deal with what they termed an armed mob. New Orleans dispatches of the 15th say that during the latter part of the preceding night the White Leaguers remained intrenched within their camps, with their pickets guarding every approach to the central of the city. Gpja. Ogden, of the Leaguers, conferred with the commander of the United States troops, to insure himself of the non-interference of the troops in case they proceeded to take the State House and other State buildings. That gentleman assured him that the troops were there simjply to protect United States property and that he should do no more. At one o’clock on the y mornmg of tie 15th Gen. Longstreet, commanding the Metropolitans, threw out his pickets as far as Canal ajceet. When this became known a squad of Leaguers, advanced and captured about half of them. The rest threw down their arms and fed. Nothing ' further transpired until eight o’clock, when the 300 Metropolitans occupying the State House marched out, sent word to the commander of the White League that the State House was voluntarily surrendered, and then proceeded to Gen. Longstreet’s headquarters. Gen. Ogden then took possession and peaceably installed Acting-Gov. Penn other Fusion officers in the possession of the State offices. He r then marched a company to the Jackson Square station, and before the demand war. aade the Metropolitans marched out to Ue number of 400 and, surrendering, were at once paroled. At this time Kellogg and his entire administration were in the Custom-House, under bayonet protection.

TheSe events all culminated before eleven o’clock a. m. A little after that hour Gen. Ogden issued a proclamation ordering the troops"to disperse to their homes and desiring the people to resume their avocation.,, as the troubles were ended and a continuation of peace was assured. In response to the proclamation the White League and other citizens bearing arms disbanded and returned to their homes. Previously, about one o’clcH; p. m., they paraded on Canal street, about 2,500 strong, with the guns, flags and other trophies captured the day before. At twenty minutes after one o’clock the President’s proclamation came to hand, commanding all turbulent and disorderly persons to disperse and submit to the laws of the constituted authorities. The reception of this intelligence was marked in many instances by violent and bitter expressions of feeling, extending even to declarations that the Kellogg Government should not be restored, and that if necessary the people would fight the General Government itself in maintaining the Fusion administration.

In the afternoon Acting-Gov. Penn issued a proclamation convening an extra session of the Legislature to meet on the 21st; a proclamation commanding and Enjoining all officers* throughout the State to at once assume the duties and take possession of the offices to which they had been heretofore legally elected or appointed ; and also a further proclamation calling upon the people of Louisiana to assemble in their respective churches on the 16th for the purpose of “ returning to Heaven thanksgiving and praise for the overthrow of the usurping Government and the restoration of the State into the hands of the people.” The Mayor of the city also issued his proclamation, advising moderation, and recommending to the citizens of New Orleans that they “ seek no revenge for past injuries, but leave your fallen enemies to the tortures of their own consciences and to the lasting in-. famy which their acts have won for them.” Immediately upon the receipt of the President’s proclamation the bank and insurance Presidents held a meeting and forwarded a dispatch to the President, calling upon him to recognize and guarantee the Government of McEnery and Penn. A riot occurred in the Ninth Ward about midnight, but it was quickly subdued, and at last accounts the entire city was tranquil. On the evening of the 14th ActingGov. Penn sent to the President a dispatch announcing the deposition of the Kellogg Government; declaring that the party he represented were sincerely loyal to the United States, and warred only against usurpers, plunderers and the enemies of the people, and Risking that he would withhold any aid or \protection from the enemies of republican rights and of the peace and liberties/of the people. No answer was made jio this dispatch. A rumor prevailed after midnight that Kellogg and his entire administration were disposed to abdicate provided they could be assured of safe conduct from the State, but this was discredited. The total number killed in the'fight of the 14th foots up twenty-six Metropolitans and nine White Leaguers. Considerably over fifty were wounded, among the latter Gen. Badger, commanding the Metropolitans, who lost an arm and a leg. Stagnation is once more the order of the day in the coal regions. Where the production has usually been fifteen thousand tons weekly there are now scarcely two thousand mined. Thirty five thousand miners are reported out of employment. This idleness extends oyer the Lackawanna and Wyoming districts as well as in the Carbondale, Archbald, Jerayn, Olyphant and Providence regions.