New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-14
THE SOUTHERN PROBLEM.
VIEWS OF PACKARps FRIENDS.

NEW ORLEANS, April Tt is only when he crosses
the threshold of the Old ST. Louis Hotel that
stranger gets insight into the views and feelings
of the Packard Republicans and the force OF the
argument ON their side. Elsewhere in the CITY tho
current all sets with a placid strength IN favor Oh
Nichols. The people who gather at the hotels APP
pear TO be all of one opinion ~ between the riVal
Governors: the newspapers are equally unanimous;
and unless one mingles with tho negroes, one mus
no element of the population that VIII az much as
tolerate the notion that Packard IL the rieht-
ful Governor can by any possioIii'y
obtain actual mower by aid of the Fed
eral army But in the old hotel where
Packard rules. with its labyrinth OF giided
and succeed rooms, all dingy and furnished,
and re,olent with the bad smells of many forms OF
dirt andr dirty men, different story greets the
ear II comes too with the force of passionate con-
vici,on self-interest and sense OF injustice ana
betrayaI. Firmly impressed as the listener may DO
with the necessity of the Packard government CIV
ing wov and of the mpOssiblity of installing 1t In
the place of the de dco rule of the Nichols party,
the logic of the argument in favor OF the legil
right of Packards claim is not easy TO resist Flnd
q f,ov IN nv title and will Yield" says Packard to
fine Commissioners. In vain they tell him that they
are not here TO pass upon titles but to see who can
govern Louisiana without Federal interference.
81 am the Governor by virtue OF the laws
of louisiana" lie replies. "There IL an lnsur-
rection against my authority and demand that
the President shall aid me to quell it, He darky mt
mates that his title is better than the Presidents ana
that if he is thrown overheard, he will pull Hayes
down with him. His supporters. black and WHITE
denounce the proposed abandonment of tleir cause
bv the President as act of cruelty and treaclery
walking about the bcsieged Capitol to-day and
hangers-on, gathered q variety of expressions OF
the prevalent opinion from which | sort out
few sample scraps.
I'VE put Hayes in the Presidency" said an ex-
Congressman owe worked as hard as men ever
worked and endangered our lives every day to win
victory for him. and he proposes TO turn us over
TO the mercy OF our enemies understand it all 1t
is a part of the Stanley Matthews trade. When
Matthc VS. was down here he was positive that the
State had gone for Packard and that bis title was
perfect Now he sings different tune. He has got
all he wanted ont Of us, and we may go to the oevi.
Let them desert if they want TO. We can nj least
have our revenge. There certain letters and dis
patches that certain people in Washington would
not like to see in print"
4 fail nuIatto member Of the Legislature spoke in
= less angry tone: ave col0rcd people have served
the Republican party faithfully and can't believe
don't realize what it is to be a Republican down
here. ! tell you we jast have to walk though the
valley of death in every campaign. We won the
victory again last Fall. Packard got more votes
than HAYES How can Hayes go back on usf II
would he a great wrong and great shame. We
stood by him and he must stand by rs. won't be-
lieve lie means to desert Us. Grant wouldn't have
done it, | wish 10 God we had old Grant in the
White House."
A negro Senator, putting aside all questions of
National policy OF the practIcabiiy of continued
military interference. said: President Hayes
business is TO do glt and let the consequences take
care of themselves. Let him recognize Packard,
and then if the Democrats don't give him any army
let him appeal to the people. We're wiling tn risk
the consequences, if he'll help us rs long rs he can
white man from the Red River country holding a
Custom-house Office exclaimed: "My God, do you
expect that am going to recognize the men who
have murdered my friends Two murdcrcrs are
among Ncholis's officers in my parish. The Prcs-
dent may allow The White Leaguors and hudozers to
crush us out, but we will never surrender. We will
not cat dust before the mon who have prosecuted
and outraged us" Hayes Is deceving himself if he
thinks he can throw u away like a Sucked
ORANGE remarked State official " There is no
Separating his title from PacLard's. They must
stand or fall together. The Electoral Commission
decided that the Returning Boan bad judicial power
10 canvass the votes for Presidential electors and
state officers and there ID getting around he fact
that Packard had two thousand more votes than
some Of the clectors Hayes cannot afford to Let us
be sacrificed bat If he does lac viii have party in
the country. The Republicans Of the North will not
sustain him. Packard gets bushels of Letters from
all over TIE North telling him 20 hold the fort, and
that the Republicans for him. If the President
expects Democratic support he Is fooling himself.
for he won't get Democratic vote in Congress.
The South viii be solid against him and viii stay
solid rntil it gets control of the Government"
Imignt fill columns with this sort Of talk, running
in line through al the gamut from calm argument
and protest to heated, declamatory denuncia;ion,
but the above specimens will suffice 10 show how
Packard's supporters feel. One noticeable change
has taken place in their expressions in regard to the
extent OF Packard's authority since the Commission
came: Three days ago ! heard il admitted on all
hands in the State House that Nichols had full pos
session Of The State, but now, when il seems import
ant 10 impress the Commission with the idea that
the de facO power is divided it is claimed III positive
terms that a large number Of parishes expressly
recognize Packard's government through their local
officers am disposed TO hold by the former state
ments, especially as they agree with good deal of
record evidence exhibited by Gov Nichols.
| find every day fresh reasons for believing that
there are many influential Republicans who desire
packaris overthrow. One of these gentlemen, who
requested that his name should not be used because
OF prescription in the Republican party, but who
would be recognized, if named. as of the few
carpet-baggers who commanded respect during a
long Congressional service by his ability and integ-
lity said to-day: There are but two courses open
out Of the difficulty here. One is TO recognize
Packard and uphold him with troops, and the other
is to let him slide. No compromise adjustment is