New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-11
TuH CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE

voluminous report.
Now that their work is done. it may not
be amiss to see what has been developed
during this investigation-what has been
proven and what has not been proven. In
order to get clear view of the results, we
must keep in remembrance the condition
of things which lea to this investigation.
When it was found that no quorum Of the
Senate could be had in consequence Of six
teen members having taken refuge on the
revenue cutter, and that coalition had
been formed by the federal officeholders
with the Democrats, and that State legis-
htion was thereby brought to stand-stlil,
which coalition of federal officers and
Democrats worked with all their might to
create riot, to the imminent danger OF
the lives and property of the citizens,
Governor Warmoth appealed to the Presi-
fdent, representing how his officials here
were using. their official positions for the
purpose of overturning the State govern
ment. The desperate condition of things
which grew out of the conduct of the fed
eral officeholders led to the appointment
of the congressional committee which
has been sitting here for the last ten days.
We propose to show what has been
proved by the testimony:
l. 1t is clearly and indisputably proven,
out of the very mouths of Collector Casey,
Deputy Collector Herwig and Marshal
Packard, that the. revenue cutter was
taken possession of and used for six days
for the avowed and express purpose OF
preventing quorum of the Senate.
2. 1t is cleary proven that five Senators,
all in the employ of Casey, the collector
of the port, two of whom are deputy col
lectors, were away from their duties for
six days, secreted on board the revenue
cutter Wilderness, and all this with the
full knowledge Of Mr.. Casey, for he him
self testified that he furnished the cham
payne, etc., to the distinguished visitors
on board.
3. 1t is also proven that United States
Marshal Packard was actively engaged
with Casey, and that he aided him in
the execution of the conspiracy which had
been entered into to overthrow the State
government and to place it in the hands Of
the Democracy. Marshal Packard hired
steam-tug to run to and from the revenue
cutter, for the purpose of keeping the
hiding conspirators informed how their
scheme was progressing. He sent them,
at his own cost, whisky and eatables and
even visited them on board the cutter
''for the purpose of encouraging and sus-
staining them in the great sacrifices they
ware making"
4. It is proven that when these alb
sentees, federal offce-holding Senators
and their Democratic co-conspirators,
were driven from their hiding place on the
revenue cutter by order Of the Secretary of
the Treasury, that they fed into the State
of Mississippi, and there remained for
about ten days Casey knew that his
deputies, Herwig, COPELAND and Sypher,
Ingraham and O'Hara, all in his employ,
were there, and he approved of their con-
duct in being absent from their duties-he
knew full well the object sought TO be &C
csmplished, and lent himself and con-
tributed his money in making the con-
spiracy a success
s. 1t is further proven that the Offices Of
Collector Casey and Marshal Packard were
used as a trysting ground by these con-
spirators and their Democratic allies :;
that Marshal Packard and his deputies
were active and energetic in using the
powers of his Office, as marshal, in serving
writs and causing to be arrested the Gov
ernor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators, and
enough members of the House Of Repre-
sentatives to break down the Republican
majority, for the purpose Of revolutionizing
the House, when the absent Senators were
to return and consummate the revolution
for which they had made such great
sacrifices"
6. Going back to the convention Of Au-
gust last, it is clearly proven that Marshal
Packard telegraphed to General Reynolds
for troops to protect public property,
which he intended the General to believe
was in danger, because convention was
to be held in this city. All the witnesses
ri, tad haS
vention had been held in the Customhouse,
there was not the slightest danger to any
public property, and consequently there
was not the slightest necessity for the
presence of United States troops.
Marshal Packard has an extraordinary
facility of acting in a double capacity, so
that what he can not do as chairman of
the State Central Committee he does as
United States marshal As secretary of
the State Central Committee, he.calls the
convention in the Customhouse; as mar
shall and custodian of the courtroom, he
gives the use of the room to Secretary
Packard. AS secretary of the State COM
mittee, he does that which be says has
placed the public property in danger; as
United States marshal, he calls upon the
army to protect the property be says is in
danger from his own acts, and would rot
have been but for him.
Now, what is the defense Of Casey,
Packard, Herwig & Co. for their extraor-
binary conduct? What did they set up?
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