The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-20

people when declare their government will
secure, first. vigorous and efficient enforce
ment Of the laws, so that all persons and prop.
erty will be fully and equally protected, and
should occasion require it, 1 will proceed in
person where any disorders may menace the
public peace or the rights of any citizen; Sec
ond, the establishment Of system of public
education, to be supported by equal and uni
form taxation upon property, SO that all with
out regard to race or color, may receive equal
advantages hereunder; third, the fostering of
immigration in order to hasten the develop
ment OF the great natural resources of the
state.
Having thus committed our government
and people to these great principles, l desire to
add most emphatic assurances that the with
drawal of the troops of the United States to
their barracks, instead of causing any dis
turbance or any tendency to riot or disorder,
will be source of profound qualification to
our people, and be accepted by them as proof
of the confidence of the President in their
capacity for orderly self government, and
enjoying under the blessings of Divine PrOvi-
dence the happiness resulting from govern
ment based upon liberty and justice The
people OF Louisiana cannot fail to apprecia ate
that their good fortune is largely due to the
magnanimous policy so wisely inaugurated
and SO consistently maintained by the President
of the United States.
l have the honor to be,
your obedient servant,
(Signed) FRANCIS 7. NICHOLS.
The Work of the Commission.
The commissioners talked freely this after
noon, believing that the end Of their labors is
near. They strenously endeavored to secure
one legislature by general consent as a reun-
ion would be nominal and nearly valueless
unless accompanied by a good degree of real
reconciliation and harmonious purpose. They
constantly urged upon each side the duty Of
making propositions tending to the removal of
difficulties through the work of the citizens of
Louisiana. They believe the National govern
ment has desired 10 accept what Louisiana
should present rather than dictate what Lou
isiana should do. and that no settlement en-
forced upon the state by the military power
could establish justice and peace. They have
striven not so much for detailed plans of any
description as to sooth the passionate feeling
and create desire for peace and union. They
did believe that more treaties based upon the
allotment Of offices could reach the desired
end. They found SO great diversity of opin-
ion among the Republicans and Democrats
that party lines were often invisible.
Neither party is a unit. They believe that no
attainable result whether enforced from the
outside or brought about by gravitating forces
within could be satisfactory to the whole Of
either party. They all speak with respect of
the personal bearing of both Packard and
Nichols The letter of Nichols appears to
please them greatly and they speak of him as
an honorable soldier whose sincerity and high
courage cannot be doubted Unquestionably
he will do his utmost to carry out the policy to
which he so frankly commits himself, and he
is sustained by the best moral and intellectual
elements of his party. A large number of Re-
publicans have from the beginning accepted
his governorship as inevitable and said it would
rot only bring present peace but make great
step forward in the protection of the people,
and surely lead to reorganization of the par
ties under which all sides would, as a matter
both of policy and duty, protect the personal
and political rights of all voters. The commits
sioners are in good spirits over the present as
pect of affairs.
Statement of the Condition of Affairs by
Packard's Legislature.
11.40 p. m.-The Packard legislature met in
caucus tonight and adopted the following
statement as expressing their views of the
present condition of affairs in this state:
First-They have unmlstakable faith in the
legality and justice of the claims OFFS B. Packard
and the government of which be is the head to
be the legal government Of the state of Louis
lana, legally returned, legally instituted and
legally embodying the will OF the majority of
the people.
Second-That the disintergration of the legal
general assembly meeting in the state house,
and acknowledging the authority of Gov.
Packard recently witnessed, has been brought
about by the direct agencies of gentlemen, citi-
zens of other states, sent here by the President
with instructions which have only been partly
made known, the nature of which can only be
effectually arrived at by the action of said COM
mission, their expressed opinions and the agen-
cies they have employed. Chief amongst these
we enumerate the following:
On the evening Of the 18th of April, on
which day the pretended House Of Represen-
tatives supporting the claims of Gen. Nichols
to the governorship, was without semblance
of legal quorum. as it has continuously been
since its organization, certain members of the
commissioners appointed by the President re-
quested consultation With the members of
the general assembly Some twelve members
of the House and two members of the Senate
responded to their invitation to them. Mem
bers of the commission known as belonging to
offered by the Nichols legislature which in
cluded the seating of three Democratic senators
from the city of New Orleans, VIGOROUSLY de-
feated even according to Democratic claims,
to give even show of legality to
the organization of the Nichols House.
were the best and only terms they could pro-
cure. They distinctly recommend the Repub-
licans assembled by their invitation to accept
this intimation and implied threat of the Pres.
ident's commission Several members of the
legislature have to day joined the so-called leg
islature of Gen. Nichols.
Fifth-We therefore charge upon these
gen tlemen nasmuch as they assert they have
acted simply in their individual capacity an
unwarrantable interference with the domestic
affairs of the state, to which they do not be-
long, and fragrant violation of the principles
of local self government advocated by the
President If on the other their action in the
manDer set forth has been directed by the
characterized in beftting terms by the
American people.
Gov. Packard Commended,
A committee of colored ladies, mostly the
wives of prominent colored citizens, presented
to Gov. Packard an address, commencing his
efforts for the maintenance Of the Republican
government in Louisiana, assuring sympathy,
and through him tender the members of the
legislature who stood by him every aid and
encouragement in their power to bestow;
tender to the needy, board and lodging, and
the sick every attention possible
Several additional members from the st.
Louis hotel were seated in the Nichols legisa-
ture to-day, giving them 65 Returning Board
members in the House and % in Senate.
The commission evidently feel that their
mission here is ended, and they have in all
probability so reported to the President
Opinions of the Situation.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Geo. A. Sheridan
Of Louisiana, received telegram to-day from
the chairman of the Democratic legislative eau
Gus at New Orleans, saying: 1--WE have Re-
turning Board quorum in both houses"
Gen. Sheridan thinks this settles the contest.
Ex-Gov. Kellogg seems to think it does not,
but that its determination depends upon the
action Gov. Packard, 1t. Gov. Antoine and
other state officers may hereafter take There
is no way, ex.Gov Kellogg says, of divesting |
a 0e Jue Governor or Lit. Governor of his title |
except by articles of impeachment passed by a |
majority Of the House and sustained by two. |
thirds of the Senate. AS to the other state
officers they may be suspended by an act of |
the Legislature, but before they can impeach |
a Governor or Lit. Governor, or suspend by act |
Of the legislature state officer thew must first
that the Governor and 1t. Gov
ernor are legal officers. The act of impeaeb- |
ment acknowledges the title of the officer. IF |
it be said that the Nichols legislature, having |
now quorum of Returning Board members.