New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-18
MR.. PACKARD EXPLAINS.

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own sake, he made out better case than he
does in his card to the New York Tribune
which we copy below. 1t is not little
singular that Mr. Packard sends his de
fehse, lame as it is, out of the Ssate. Hi
owes it to the people of Louisiana, whom
he has outraged and insulted, to apologize
to them. The people of New York city
have no jurisdiction over our affairs; il
he wants to. appeal to the country, lei
him do it here, where he is accused. Is il
because he has not friends enough here
to see that he has justice, that he sends
his excuses to distant city? If SO. ther
his title of President of the Republican
State Central Committee is usurped, and
he becomes head centre of small ring
We take it that the real head of great
party in this State need not go outside Of
its limits for defenders, nor appeal to q
distant tribunal, without jurisdiction, fol
trial
But we will let MI. Packard first have
his say:
SIR-Feeling that you have been misin-
formed in reference to the action of the
United States authorities at the recent con
vention, l beg leave to make the following
statement: have never stated TO the dis
senters from the State Convention" that
President Grant had authorized the use of
the Customhouse for the convention, nor
the bringing in OF the United States troops.
The convention was held in the United
States courtroom, distinct part of the
building from the customs department.
Collector Casey, custodian of the building,
and |, as custodian of the courtroom, au-
thOrized its use. The alleged statement
that the President had given me directions
TO use the courtroom and troops is not true
As marshal / made reQuisition on General
Reynolds, commanding the district, for a
guard OF troops to protect the public prop
erty. He furnished, through General Sully,
about forty men. The commanders orders
were simply to protect the public property,
and not TO interfere with delegates in any
way. Governor WaTmoth has publicly
stated that the officer did nothing more
and treated him politely. As president of
the State Committee. and by direction of
the committee, and not as marshal, gave
tickets of admission to all claiming seats in
the convention. There was nothing to re-
strain any delegate or contestant from
access to the courtroom. Governor War
moth, after having been told by the officer
in command of the troops that he was not
there to interfere-this was an hour and a
quarter before the meeting time of the con-
vention-6olted. He simply Nmakes the
troops a pretext, for he told prominent
State Senator, week before the conven-
ton, that there would be two conventions.
As to the necessity of holding the con-
vention in the United States Customhouse,
| desire to say, that for weeks previous the
meetings of the clubs of the city had been
broken up and the rights of citizens tram
pied upon by bad men. aided and abetted
by the police force. Petitions from citizens
have been received by me asking for the
protection of the United States authorities
Governor Warmoth is by law commander of
the Metropolitan Police, and the Board of
Commissioners hold office by his appoint
ment. As showing the intention of Gov
ernor Warmoth's friends to break up the
convention, give the two following state
ments which | have received, with others,
and which are perfectly Trustworthy. About
two o'clock P NJ, on the eighth instant, the
day before the convention, | met j. K.
West, United States Senator, on Common
street, and during our conversation he said
to me, There will be bloodshed at the con-
yention tomorrow" He said that War
moth friends had held a caucus on ROYAL
street that day, and that they were very
much excited. Another statement, in
writing, says: The Superintendent of
Police, Captain Badger, has stated since the
that bad not United States
troops been present in the Customhouse
the police force would have forced an en-
trancejnto the convention hall, and only
for the presence of soldiers there would
have been a big ron and had the deputy
attempted to interfere, they would
have been cleaned out to a man" furnish
these statements to correct an erroneous i'm
preston, which faction here seek to spread
abroad, that there has been an unwarraut-
able interference ON the part of the United
Sta ties authorities with the convention.
s. b. PACKARD,
United States Marshal, District of Louisiana.
New OrleanseAugust ID, 1871.
The above card was telegraphed to the
New York Tribune, and appears in that
PAPER on the fourteenth. Mr.. Packard |
'ffers as an apology for troubling the Tli-
asrle at all, the excuse that he feels that !
PAPER has sheen misinformed in reference |
o the action of the United States authori- |
les" And then straightway proceeds to
Omit all the material points save one,
which we shall notice hereafter. He adj |
nits that Collector Casey and he author
zed the use of the Customhouse building
Or the purpose of holding a convention
q the courtroom. And as neither of these |
entlemen happens to own the building, |
ut as they are the hired stewards of the
eople, charged for the time being with
ae custody of public property, it appears
nat they have committed very serious
reach of trust. If these gentlemen had
.ken the Customhouse from its legiti-
late uses and rented it out by the day or
lie week for dance house, cofeehouse,
r hotel, the plea that they are the Gus
odians would not avail them as a good
efense, neither will it avail them now.
"As president of the State Central Com
littee, gave tickets of admission to all
aiming seats in the convention" IF this
atement were strictly true-and we re-
ret to say it is MOTT affirms corollary
roposition that, either as United States
[arshal or as president of the State Cen
al Committee, he had forbidden every
tizen who did not present himself with
q admission ticket to enter the Custom
ouse at all. And this is the very thing
Of Mr.. Packard usurped the
athority to keep the people out of their
wn customhouse, and Mr.. Casey assisted
the usurpation. And it further appears.
ON Mr. packard,o card +ho+ H. l.