The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-01
RED RIVER PARISH.
Grand sfass Meeting Of Citizens.
The NIehalls Government 10 be Upheld
by All Means.
No Need for Federal Commission.
rsnecial to The N. O. Democrat !

Especial to the N. o. Democrat
CoUsHATTA, March 3i.--At a mass
meeting of the citizens Of all classes Of
this parish, held at this place to-day,
the committee on resolutions submitted
unanimously the following, to-wit:
Whereas, it is of the fret Importance for the
subject to know the source of authority by which
he is to bs controlled and to which he 10 TO yield
obedience and support and,
Whereas. 1t is AZ equally important to the sub
iect Of . free government that those only who
have been chosen to positions OF authority shall
assume the duties thereof; and,
Win ress, OF the general election held in this
State on the seventh day OF November, 1875, in
which all Of our citizens freely and volunts rily
participated without hindrance or distinction on
account OF race, color or previous condition, in
accordance with the letter and spirit of the con-
stitution and laws Of both Federal and State
governments. did by large majority elect Fran
cis r. Nichols Governor of our State and.
Whereas through the criminal misconduct OF
body of four men, constituting themselves a
returning ard, one s. Il. Packard In defiance
of the will and choice sf the people, 10 atte mpt
ing TO set the constitutional election by the peo-
pie at nsugnt, and to Install himself, through
euch criminal misconduct, into the Office OF
Chif Magistrate of our State; and
Whereas, said Packard now threatens, by
force, to extort an unwilling submission from our
people to his tyranny; be 1t, therefore
Resolred, That we, as the descendants OF q
free ancestry while laying claims to sacred heri-
tage OF freedom, cannot, and with the Tec0l-
lections OF the history Of our heroic forefathers
before us, will not yield obedience or fealty 10
any other than the Legitimate govern
ment, chosen by onr people, and OF WHICH We
recognize Francis I. Nichols as Governor; be it
further
Resotred, That while we court investigation
and are anxious to publish every thing to the
world, and while we ars willing for tbs Federal
government, by investigation or otherwise,
minuely to ascertain our true political condition.
| vet it hns been rem 4nded to our recent expe-
lence to learn the danger there is in the submits
sion to the aTbitrament OF po iical cormorants,
under the name Of commissions and investgat-
| log committees, seeking the consummation OF
political ends, rather tnan the vindicstion OF
justice or the repression Of wrong, that we regard
| the coming Of the present Federal Commission to
our State with deep torebodings for our rights,
and that wa will not submit to their jurisdiction
any of our local issues, created by i. d. Packard
or his henchmen, for the purpose Of defraudIng
us out Of our local gcvernms mt by such Fedora
interference.
Resolped That We hersby tender and will rem
der in the future, q ready and wiling obedience
and support only to Francis T. Nichols, tho Gov.
ernor of our State, and pay taxes to no other
| than the government organized uuder him, with
all the mean, which God hath placed in ou,
power.
JoHN Fl. REESE, ..
j.. II. LOVE,
| ...... J. r. JOHNSON,
T. r. ARMsTEAD,
| GEO. w. LAwrHoH
| 2. j.. COLLINS,
| J. i. PIERsoN,
Committee on Resolutions
T.. l.. TERRY, President.
BKN WoLrsoN. Secretary.
| J. H. S.