The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-07
LOUISIANA.
GREAT MEETING IN NEW
ORLEANS.
Pointed and Patriotic Action of the
People.


Concluded from yesterday
Fifth, That the pretended government,
of which S. B. Packard claims to be the
head, is mere simulacrum, without body
or substance, the offspring of legislative
conspiracy of usurpers to perpetuate
their power in defiance Of the will of the
people as expressed at the ballot-box by
fraudulent manipulation of the returns
that 1t does not and cannot command the
moral or physical support of any consider
able portion of the people: that it exercises
and is capable of exercising none of the
functions OF government; that its authority
is recognized nowhere outside of the limits
| of single building IN The state: that if
the hope of federal interference were with
drawn it would disband without the up
lifting of an arm against it: that it pre-
sents not single title to respect or con,
fdence and that the attempt to establish
and maintain it by the military power Of
the United States would he not only an
outrage on constitutional liberty but the
greatest crime against civilization that
has been witnessed in the nineteenth cen
tury.
| Sixth, That the people of Louisiana
have observed with deep satisfaction the
conservative sentiments expressed in the
inaugural address Of President Hayes, and
hailed them as omens of return to con-
| stitutlonal methods of government. under
t the observance Of which the affairs of
Louisiana would arrange themselves
speedily and peacefully, and need give the
federal government no greater concern
than the affairs of New York or Massa
chusetts: that by the adoption of such a
policy he would confer an estimable benefit
: upon the whole nation. as we'll as upon
this state, and would earn the respect and
/ gratitude of the people of the United
States. and especially Of the people OF
Louisiana; that Notwithstanding the dis
appointing delay which has irtervened
: we appreciate the difficulties Of his position
' and have not lost confidence in the sincerity
of his declarations and the rectituda of hi:
intentions.
Seventh, That the eminent gentlemen
who are about to visit US by invitation O
the president be heartily welcomed, auC
extendsd every facility in their labors
assuming that they are impartial citizen
who come here for only the legitimate pur
pose of ascertaining what government i
actually administering the affairs of tn
state, receiving the support ofthe people
and is capable of sustaining itself anG pre-
serving order; that we are unalterabl
opposed to any compromise, the effect c
which could be to put into Office the me
:. who were not elected, or to depose an
duly elected officer of the state, or to i'm
pair the existing autonomy of the NicholI
- government.
Eighth, That officers and soldiers of tn
al United States army, while engaged in th
~ performance Of their lawful aud patriot
duties, are ever welcome guests upon th
soil of Louisiana; that their services, how
to ever, are hot proper in the preservation t
lg Of peace except in certain well define
sE contingencies which have not arisen
R. Louisiana; that the existing government c
An the state is fully capable of maiI
~ tanning peace, which is not threa
al ened by any person except tho!
al who invoke the aid of troops to PR
r.. tect them in its disturbance; that we as
nothing of the president except to wit
draw them from upholding a pretende
iy. government, and the performance of b
plain constitutional duty of non-interfe
rs, ence except in case of domestic insure
ton beyond the control Of the constitute
i, authorities, which does not exist, al
}. which we pledge ourselves shall not exi
ss in the state OF Louisiana.
Ninth, That the people of Louislau
wearied with discord and strife, if Z
disturbed in the control of their cover
ment, will demand nothing but peace a
obedience to constituted authority; tt
"A they will yield to no spirit of revenge
persecution for past political offenses; ii
y,ts by fostering the interests of all the peop
rot extending the benefits of education to
classes, cutivating the spirit o. tolerate
guaranteeing the equal protection of il
In:yt laws to every citizen; promoting harnc
les and good feeling among the people, and
cart wise and economical administration,
cast believe the Nichols Government will
W cure the end of all government-the pea
- happiness and prosperity of the people.
. Tenth, That we are we'll aware that
large portion of our colored felow-citizt
are at heart as devoted to the Mich
Government as the whole white people
the state, and that they are only restrain
from manifesting il by system of init
dation and persecution by
worst elements of our own people.
- which they have so long submitted,
we call upon them to throw of this bo
age and rally with US to to the support
v to the only government that can secure Il
lief, happiness and prosperity in common v
oriS' our own; pledging ourselves to maint
and their equal rights as citizens, and to sec
and them their full share of all the benz
ises, q -. ---.n.
skin, ol d just goNeIbneuI'
aids. Eleventh. Finally, that with a d
sense of responsibility, with full reco
ton of all our obligations as citizens of
union, in no spirit Of threatening bra,
r. ! docia, with profound consciousness
, the power of the federal government
ohod of our inability to resist it, but with
thsu conviction that no calamity can poss
from befall US greater than the ruin and disg
of longer subsection to usurpation,
Gro invoke the considerate Judgment of
American people upon these resoluti
Y. in which we here svlemnly declare d
- to submit to the pretended Packard
ernment, never to pay dollar of ia
~ meyer to acknowledge it's authority, b.
~ resist at every point and in every way,
to require that every demand whicl
+rno,. may make upon the obedience of
ccur- citizens be enforced only by pre-