The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-10
The Packard Proclamation.

From the New VfiedHS ii
We live in revolutionary times. As In the land OF
the Montezumas claimants to supreme authority
are constantly arising among us and the perpleSeo
people find it difficult to determine upon whom to be-
stow the rich treasures of their loyalty 1t is not very
long since the redoubtabIe KING Of Massac, with his
blue coat brass buttons and sVerpped stat emerged
from his temporary retirement at Washington and Is
sued pronunciamientozto all the faithful IN these
parts. What with the prestige OF bis own gallant
deeds and the force and skill of his army OF 5I,5oo
buckram voters be threatened for while to carry
everything before him. But be Las gone-gone with
all his countless host of supporters and none so poor
as to do him reverence Since then number OF IN
dyiduals have advanced their banners, with strange
devices and claimed the devotion of all the "trooly
oil One passed like shooting star" through the
political armament but fell Alike Luciter never 70 rise
again Another burst upon us with earpet-bag in
band-tbat symbol of adventure and determined per-
seyerance-but the Judas catcall is still unified and
the hopes of the knight are darkened Then came
the hero Of the Phantom Dagger, certain that his
claims to leadership would not be disregarded. He
however seems to have reckoned without his host
and where lie looked for friends, found only hostile
and envous opponents. While wondering at these
strange mutations of fortune, we are blinded by
"another SUM- risen on midnoon." Packard has appear
ed Packard the imaginary cheftain of an imaginary
Board of Registration. painted ship upon painted
ocean, could not be calm conscious OF the pow
ers of light and shadow Packard feels his Importance
the sword of the Commanding General, refuses to par
take any longer of provisional pottage, suited only to
the stomachs of political babes and suckngs lie as
serts himself in the true Packardan style:
q Boarding the lion in his den,
The Doug las in his hall"
Deriving his power from an organic law which as
yet inchoate, having neither force, virtue nor effect
he assumes the prerogatve Of supremacy and pulls the
Commanding General by his military beard IN fashion
most insulting. Standing on can ordinance OF the
t,+ i,ut:o y which is ntfpry null
and void until the Constitution is itself accepted, he
condemns General Buchanan to the outer darkness OF
unreconstruced rebels because in his recent order he
failed to recognise the requirements of said Constltu
tion" which provides that the elected carpetbaggers
shall enter the discharge of their duties the
second Monday after the return of their election shall
have been officially promulg gated" Furthermore, he
offended by declaring that the General Assembly, will
NOT convene until the Commanding General shall have
been officially notified of the acceptance by Con-
gress of the State Constitution in contravention
of an ordnance Of the Convention, WHICH says 1.-The
General Assembly elected under this Constitution shall
hold its first session in the city of New Orleans the
third Monday after tie Official pron2ulgat:o aforesaid"
For these grave offences against the majesty of the
Black and Tam the imaginary Chairman OF the imagin
airy Board thus magesterialy and funnily efulges:
"Now therefore, J. S. B. Packard Chairman of the
Board of Registration aforesaid, in obedience to the
duty imposed by said Constitutional Convention upon
and by virtue of the authority thus vested in this
Board do hereby notify all civil officers elected under
said constitution that said constitution requires that
they qualify and take possession Of their respective
offices Monday, June IS, 1868, in accordance with
article IS of constitution.
~ also notify the members Of the General Assembly
of louisiana elected under said constitution, that by
Art. l59 of said constitution they required to
vene in the city of New Orleans on Monday, June %,
1868 at II NJ and further notify all civil officers
in office that by the constitution their terms Of
Office will expire at - NJ Monday, June IS, 1868,
at which time they will deliver up said Offices with all
appurtenances thereto to their successors declared duly
elected by the Special Order No. l2l of the Military
Commander of the Fifth Military District issued June
2, 1868 Proyided That in all whele the officers
elect do not qualify according to the laws of Congress
and of this State, present encumhents will hold
until such officer shall qualify successor shall have
been appointed, officer declared elected who is
able to qualify"
IS B. PACKARD,
Chairman Board of Registration
" Attest: R. C. Richardson, Secretary"