New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-04
CUR CANDIDATES.
stophen Bennet Packard.

St0Dhen Bonnet Pack0f0s
Stephen B. Packard, whom every Re-
| publican convention since the reconstruc.
ton of the State in 1868 has called to the
| chair of the State Central Committee Of
the party, and to whom that party by it,
| nomination of him yesterday as Governor,
| made spontaneous acknowledgment for ite
thorough organization and triumphe, despite
the formidable numbers and temper OF the
Democracy. was born April rs, 1889, at Au-
burn, Maine, and has therefore entered his
thirty seventh year. After completing with
credit . course at Westbrook Seminary, he
entered at twenty years of age the law
Office of Hon. c. w. Walton, now an asso'
ciate justice of the Supreme Court of Maine,
and there pursued his studies until Septem'
Der, 1861, when he helped to recruit the
Twelfth Maine Regiment in Franklin county.
For his noble zeal and activity he was COM
missioned by Governor Washburn as first
lieutenant of company g of that regi-
meDt during the ensuing month, and
soon after as captain of company B,
in which capacity he shared IN all the
regiments campaigns, in this military
| department., and subsequently under
Sheridan in the Shenandoah, in the battle,
| of Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fishers Hill
etc. Prior to the dispatch of the regiment
to Virginia, in July, 1864, he was called,
during General Reynolds military admin
istration of the Gulf Department, to serve
for considerable period as judge advocate.
While thus detailed he was united in mar
risge to the daughter of Captain Peter
Steele, an old and esteemed citizen of New
Orleans, and upon being mustered out, in
the winter Of 1864, returned to the Crescent
City, established his domicile and began
practice as an attorney at law. Two years
and . half later, when the State sought
under the reconstruction provisione, to
relinquish the military crutch and once
more stsnd alone, Mr.. Packard was urged
to enter the Constitutional Convention and
contribute his judgment to the solution of
the critical problem. Although but twenty
eight years of age, and as yet without ex-
perience in or apparent taste for politics, he
had already disclosed self-equlpoise, Ger.
tainty of conviction and ready talent that
commended him as q valuable auxiliary
in the task of reconstruction. He
was elected in 1867 q member of the body
eonvOked to frame constitution, which to-
day presents numerous valuable features
Of his authorship. Although rarely upon
his feet in the convention, he exhibited in
the committee room such fertility and acu-
men as not only to command marked atten-
ton throughout the session, but to constrain
his complete and active Identification
thenceforth with the Republican purpose.
Whatever may have been his preference,
he was not permitted to remain quiet at
torney longer. Before the convention
closed it was perhaps less evident to him
self than to the Republican element that
he was rich resource to it, and would be
severely taxed. The immediate token of
this general conviction was his election by
the convention as one of q committee of
seven to take charge of the whole matter of
the ratification Of the constitution and the
election simultaneously of civil officers, and
to make proclamation of the result within
ten days thereafter. OF the seven men,
bers chosen he received the highest
vote. and by them wss forthwith con-
stituted chairman. The ratification and
election having conformity ensued in
April, resulting in majority of IL ,4l3 votes
for the constitution, General Buchanan upon
the announcement in June of the officers
elect, str0ve, at the instance of President
johnson, to impede the installment OF such
officers until after the ensuing November,
in order to defraud the national Republican
party of i+s voting reinforcement from
Louisiana, despite the constitutional pro-
the discharge of their duties on the second
Monday, and that the Legislature should
assemble on tho third Monday after the
promulgation of the returns. The General
likewise forbade the General Assembly to
convene till he was officially notified of the
acceptance by Congress of the constitution,
after which he would designate when 1t
might assemble in order to act on the four
teenth amendment. Here Mr.. Packard
took bold issue four days later, and was
obviously within the compass of his func-
tions as chairman of the committee of
seven. he issued proclamation calling
upon the Assembly and officers elect to en-
ter upon their duties as required by the
constitution, declaring that the command
ing General had violated it's provisions and
his claim of authority to inaugu
rate at his own time the new government,
which service the convention had devolved
upon the committee of seven.
Thereupon General Buchanan at once
ordered his arrest The error and the |
sinister motive Of the commander we're 90
that two days later June 81 Gen.
eral Grant thus directed Packard's release:
In view of the legislation now pending
relative to the sdmission of Louisiana, / |
would suggest suspension of all action in /
case of Packard's arrest and trial.
U. s. GRANT. General.
The passage Of the so-called omnibus bill |
over JOhnson's veto, seventeen days later,
determined the whole matter by permitting
he Assembly to convene and the officers to
assume their posts without delay.
This was done much to the chagrin of |
Buchanan and johnson. On the ninth of |
July, the fourteenth amendment was rati-
led and four days later the national police
vas withdrawn from Louisiana. If any
loubt had existed as to Psckards resolute
emper, it was now dispelled. The colored
lement, ninety per cent Of the Republican
'srty, were too eager to secure their full