New-York tribune., 1877-08-18
THE ADDRESS.

present Administration in rs conduct public af rs.
I'm duing wish distinctly understood that speak
for self alone citizen OF Oaio 10 you my fellow
cltzens and my neghbOrs 20 whom am under the high
est obligations Of gratitude and duty. The President
authorized me 10 say thing and thing only and
Tor him aud In his name and that all reports that
impute to him any participation whatever the
nation OF candidates your State any desireor
purpose 10 influence any way the Senate al contest
10 Onio are utterly groundless These your matters
aud can assure you him he has not and VIII
not mterpose In any such contest between political
friends. For all else say TO you neither he Lor my cid
ana honored friend Judge West, Is responsible.
You all know that am and nave been warmly
attached to the Republican party. believe prnci-
pies and honor its work. With my strong convictions
could not conceal my partisan bias or my
earnest hope for the success OF the RepublI-
party; but the subjects Of which | Intend to
speak to you tonight will lead me to say much Of
former political struggles, hit old battles over
again, but chiefly 10 discuss the actual administrative
questions Of tue day tney the An OF
March last, and all Of which you alike Interested,
neither you may call yourselves Republicans Demo
Gratis A TO these quesuons wish fairly appeal to
the candor and good Judgment Of honest Of both
parties only asking FOR the Administration OF President
Hayes that cJnsderate charity OF Judgment which
be extended u all human agents When he was in
auguraed ho found thrtysx States in the full
and uncontested exercise Of all the powers of
contests 70 who was Governor. Both con-
tests had existed from January March, 1877 while
Gen. Gram President. In South Carolina Gov Cham
DeraiB claimed TO have been elected Republican
ticket and Gen. Hampton the Democratic ticket The
President made the judge of who elected Cover
nor OF state an attempt TO exercise such would
be plain act Of usurDaton Tie Constitution OF south
Carolina Is much ike that Of OHIO. Tie count
Of the vote be made by the General
Assembly Of the state Unfortunately for Chamberlain,
a controlling question In the contest had been de-
cided against HIM by Republican court, and he was
only kept in possession OF House by the aclal
Of United states troops in the building He lad
appealed again and agon to President Grant 20 rccog
nize him Governor and to give him the aid Of Federal
| troops the enforcement of his claim, which General
Grant had refused and sought only preserve pub
lie peace When President Hayes inaugurated, both
contestants called to Washington and both were
patiently heard and the questions presented
patiently and carefully examined. The President
held that a presented in which, under
the Constitution and the laws. he justified
in using the Army Of the United States IN decdlag
purely local election The soldiers add Day0nets
of United States then Withdrawn from the Strata
HouseHot from the state, the Carita Of the Ste
but from the building which the Leg.sstare. tit
alone could lawfully decide this coutcst, must
THIS all that done by the President ard
Gov Chamberlain. without further cOntestng his claim,
abandoned and left the say you that,
strongly desired the OF Gov CnamberlaD and
the Rcpub lean party South Carolina fhe President
nad shadow OF rght to nterpose the power of
army in this contest. his attempt 10 DO would
been rash and abortiye, well without legal
right.
PACKARD AGAINST NICHOLS.
The OF Louisiana far difficult. The
local returning officers Of that state had, after full
examination certified to the election Of the Legislature.
showing Republican majority in both Houses. This
has been done by excluding from their return the votes
Of certain parishes and counties wherein intimidation,
violence and fraud had prevailed To extent sufficient
change the result OF the election. present, at
the request Gen Grant witness the count, aud
have sand officially, that tue proof OF
this intimidation, violence and fraud, extending 10
murder cruelty and outrage IN every form was
absolutely conclusive. showing degree or violence in
some OF those PARISHES at was more ieyolhs aud par
barOus than ANYTHING could conceive or II was PLAIN
that returning officers had the legal right TO pass
upon aud cectiy IN he first Instance VINO were elected
members OF the Legislature, and thar they We're ushed
0y the evidence excluding budozed parishes but It
was equally clear tnat taeir return conclusive
upon the members elected. and that each House
returns and elections or its mombers, and 10
ser aside the action OF the Returning board.
The when organized, had also the power 10
pass upon the returns Of The election OF 6oyernof ana
they alone and no one else Nener tne President Of tne
United the Returning Board has power or
right plss upon the election OF Governor Aud here
thr ditiieulty m tbe Louisiana case commences Cow
Packard contends that majority Of the two Houses. as
duly returned did pass upon the election of the Cow
ernor and did return that ne Guly elected, but
tAls was stuuty denied by Gov. Nichols. This vital
point was strongly asserted and denied by
the adverse parties. and the Legislature Of Louisiana d.
vded into hostile bodies, holding separate sessions
asserting it, legal power aud denouncng the other
rebels and traitors Coy Packard and nus Legisia
called upon President Grant for tho ad of tue army
to put down Instruction and domestic violence aud
mere confess that II hdd Deen President instead or
Gen. Grant, would have recognized Packard and sus-
taned lin with the full power OF the General Govern
mpur NV intense feeling caused by the atrocities IN
Louisiana may have unduy Influenced me. But Gen.
Grant aa mot S a S 1 ba, OSs %Is iate s d4g % ae TO
He would only maint,ln the peace he would
not recognize Packard Governor but | know
what i now an open strong bent Of his mind.
and at his decision 10 Withdraw the rOOps,
Id recognize Nichols and thus end this dangerous
fest lie did not do thls but kept the peace. during
these two months whole condition OF affairs had
changed IN Louisiana. The Government OF Packard mad
dwinded away until u had scarcely shadow strength
or autaorty except the state House, where II
upne by Fedora. Day yOucts The Government Vl Nichols
aad exteied i,s authority the STATE, and
fuI ysfrnce az the dc facO Government Louisiana.
supported by the great body OF the White men
AMI nearly ali the wealth and mtellgenee OF
fho STATE aud y the tired acqmesccncc OF arge por-
ton OF the cOred people, some Of whom deserted Pack
,rd legislature and entered that OF GOV Nichos The
DELAY and hesitation OF Gen. Grant had Deen fatal To
Packard and Hayes became President the practl
cal nrstion VAS greatly changed one thug was clear
tnat a legislature had been dny elected November
g,g'1 49, 1a part II me members lawfully Elected couli
b convened they could decide the question OF
was Governor without the Intervention o. troops, and
their decson could DO supported II necessary by the
Gouera Government
Tue PRESIDENTS POLICY.
The most anxious consideration given this ques-
ton Days aud weeks OF anxious deiberaton were
yen 70 it by the President and his Cabinet But one
way seemed open FOR peaceful solution aud that was
TO gather possible, single Legislature who would DO
recognized the repository Of the representative will OF
the people louisiana II this could IL had the
right 70 decide who had been elected Gov
eruor aud all other questions would settle themselves
To AID this object. commission OF the most eminent
men men d'Auinsushed for judicial i@partsiity ~ss
selected and the result known Ia all They went 70