The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-08-17
Address to the Republicans
People of Louisiana.
HEADo'Rs REGULAR REPUBLICAN PARTY
of Louisiana, No. IL Dryades street.
NnN DrlnanS June 90 1879


of Louisiana, No. l6 Dryades street
New Orleans, June %, 1872.
A convention of the regular Republican
party has adjourned to meet on the ninth of
August next in the Mechanics Institute, in
the city of New Orleans. BY a resolution of
this convention, the basis of representation
in the same has been doubled, and an cleo
ton has been ordered for an additional num-
Der of delegates TO the same, equal in num-
Der to the whole delegation already elected
The object in this is to afford an opportunity
to all the people of this State who approve
of the principles herein set forth to take part
in the deliberations of the convention. ana IN
the nomination of capable, honest and repre-
sentative men, who have their homes and
their interests in Louisiana, upon ticket and
platform OF principles which shall secure the
support OF all the good people of this State
IN the present confused and transition
state OF political parties we recognize three
universal and powerful sentiments, which
run through the hearts of large majority of
the people of this State, without distinction
of party. These are:
First-A desire for an honest, economical
and stable government, administered by
representative men of character and capa-
|
ton from any official ring.
Second-A conviction that the interests of
all the people of this State are indentical, and
desire for growth of new political rela-
tons, which shall obliterate past class and
sectional animosities, and cultivate that mu-
tual cancellation and good will which is es-
sentlaI to our common prosperity, and to the
permanent success of any political party:
and
Third-A growing recognition of the good
policy and necessity of closer alliance be-
tween the voters OF the Republican party
and that portion of the native population of
the State which has hitherto abstained from
Political affairs on account of differences
created by the late civil war. With such a
party, based upon such liberal and beneti-
cent principles, we believe that the rights of
the colored people would be safer and better
protected, the liberty of opinion and the po-
litical interests of the ex-Union soldier. the
Northern settler, and the old Union citizen.
more cordially and completely secured and
the intelligence and property of the State,
and the rights of the native Confederate
Southerner be better represented than is
possible under any other practicable political
combination.
In these premises, we say to the Republi-
cans of the State that III the organization and
upon the basis presented by us, is their sole
hope for electing any Republican officers in
the State, and for preserving their party.
The success of the CustOm-H House State ticket
nominated at Baton Rouge is hopeless, and
If the fortunes of the Republican party are
attached TO it, its defeat is certain
10 demonstrate this, we call their atten-
ton to the history of the Packard Custom-
House convention at Baton Rouge, which has
assumed to present candidates to the people
OF tins State Ill the name of the Republican
party.
1 Messrs Packard, Casey, H.rwig, Stock
dale q Co. set out to control the Republican
convention called for August 9, 1871, i'll the
interest Of their Custom-Honse ring, with a
view OF getting control of the State govern
ment at this election for themselves and their
associates. 10 this they conspired to con-
troll that convention. With this design they
sought and obtained permission to use the
Custom-House building the narshals of the
United States courts, and the forces of the
United States army. In defiance of all de-
eency and respect for public opinion, and to'
the great scandal of the national government,
they conV0ked the convention to assemble i'll
United States courtroom in the Custom
House. They rejected all protests OF their
Republican fellow-eitizens with the imperial
insolence and haughtiness of Eastern satraps
To make sure of controlling the primary or
ganlzatlon OF the convention, and, III defiance
OF Unknown rules for the organization of such
bodies, Messrs. Packard, Casey and their CO.
eonspirators undertook to debar all the dele
gates except such as they admitted from a
voice III the election of the Temporary presi-
dent. Not satisfied with this, they closed
and barred all the doors of the immense Gus
tom-House building against the public for
one whole day in order that the lobby. as
well as the floor of the convention, should be
packed by their own partisans. To further
ntlmldate and coerce the delegates, they
filled the building with special deputy United
States marsllals armed for the occasion To
complete these extraordinary preparations
a nniltIp1I finI,
the inauguration of the new style of consult
ING the wishes OF the people, they obtained
the necessary order from the military auth
critics and fortified the closed Custom-House
with Gatling guns and garrisoned it with
United States soldiers under arms One hun
dred and ten delegates TO the convention, be-
ing majority, Disguised and indignant at
these tyrannica1 and dangerous proceedings
turned away from the Custom House and as
sembled the regular convention in Turner
Hall. The State Central Committee appointed
by that convention has by its authority
convOked the present one.
On the nineteenth of June Mr.. Packard
and his partisans called convention at Bat
on Rouge to nominate candidates for the
chief State offices. The Ctistonl-H House cabaI
could not keep good faith even with their
own contederates. In order to secure the
nomination of the favorites of their own ring
and to obey instructions from higher ;all-
thorlty, they expelled from their convention
allreprcsentative and independent men, and
seated strangers, intruders, carpet baggers
and proxies of their own creation, until their
convention consisted of Custom House of
ticials, internal revenue tax collectors and
postnasters.
Cnstom-House employees, who were elected
as delegates to the Baton Rouge convention
were openly threatened with dismissal from
office by United States Marshal Packard if
they failed To vote as he dictated. The lists
OF delegates elected as furnished to the State
Central Committee by the parish and ward
clubs were suppressed by Mr.. Packard for
four weeks previous to the meeting of the
convention, and the names of delegates were
not allowed to be made known to members
OF the COMMITTEES. Lists OF delegates pledged
to the ring candidates We're manufactured in
the United States marshals office and foisted
upon the convention as the regularly elected
delegates. Lobby tickets were issued, so
that all access even to the LIBBY was denied
to any but the partisans Of Mr. Packard
Mr.. Casey refused in the presence of sew
erll well known gentlemen, to assure his