Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-18
Louisiana Sensation.
Another Double Headed Government.

AVu4S1au0 tStuSI61OH.
Another Double. Headed Government.
The double Inauguration of Pack.
ard (Rep.) and Nichols (Dem.) each
claiming to be Governor of Louisiana
was soon followed by contention for
possession. On the morning of the 9th,
citizens to the number of 5000 or
more assembled in Lafayette Square
New Orleans and were sworn in as
state militia by order Of Gov. Nichols.
The object was to secure possession OF
the Supreme court room for the pur.
pose OF swearing in the judges appoint.
ed by Nichols and also to obtain DOS.
session of other public buildings and
the police station. The Nichols mill.
| tia were under command of Gen.
Ogden.
At IL o'clock Gen .Odgen's command
reached the court buildings, and a de-
mand being made for their surrender.
they were quietly given up, although
the police in charge were instructed
to resist, so that a fight might be fore
ed. and a plea made for call upon
United States troops. The Nichols
judges, including the judges for the
supreme court, were then installed,
and directly afterward q move being
made upon the State arsenal that, too,
fell without a struggle, but with 500
stand of arms. All of the
police stations were captur.
ed the Packard police surrender
ing without fight, and Metropolitan
police, appointed by Nichols took pos
session. In fact, the Democrats cap
tured everything without blOodshed,
except the State House. This building
was occupied by Packard and the Re-
publican Legislature, and q strong
force of Packard's police protected it.
Here it was supposed conflict would
take place, but Nichols issued an or.
der disbanding his militia and leaving
the Republicans in quiet possession Of
the State House.
While this was going OH the general
government was urged to interfere
with U. S. soldiers, but this request
only brought the following telegram
from Washington to Gen. Augur at
New Orleans.
"A dispatch just received from United States
Marshall at New Orleans indicates that unau.
thorized armed bodies Of men are organized
and assembling in a manner to threaten and
peace and safety OF the city. II this be SO, NO
thy the leaders of such organization that they
must desist on pain Of coming in conflict with
the United States authority sustained by the
military power Of the government. Report ct
once the situation and your action, keeping
in mind the fact that this order has no refer
ence to recognition OF either of the claimants
for the governorship or either legislature.
J. D. CAMERON, Secretary of War
nIA 1,sN %n1n W.
States troops would have interfered to
disperse Nichols militia, if they had
not voluntarily disbanded. Nichols
then appointed 1000 policemen from
the ranks Of the disbanded militia and
they are still OH duty. The next day
following the bloodless revolution the
Republican legislature elected ex-Gov.
Kellogg to the United States Senate
for the long term. The Democratic
legislature, not to be outdone in enter.
prise, has been holding sessions during
the week past and balloting for U. S.
Senator, for the long term. The
Republican legislature has been ballot.
ing for Senator for the short term, the
last ballot reported standing: Pinch.
back, %; Antoine, %; Beattie, II;
Charges OF attempt to bribe Repub.
licans to leave their legislature and
join the Democratic organization are
freely made. Four Senators absented
themselves from the State House leay-
ing the Republican Senate without a
quorum. They concealed themselves
at Pinchbacks residence and an asso-
ciated press telegram Of the 18th gives
the following account of the attempt
Of the republican Sergeant-at-arms to
capture them.
This afternoon Gen. Badger, OF Gov Pack
ards militia, with body Of men visited the
residence Of Mr.. Pinchback, and demanded
admission in the name efthe Senate, in search
ottour Senators believed to be concealed there.
authority for invading his premises, and ii hr
attempted to force an entrance he would do 80
at his peril, and refusing to say whether the
Senators were there or not. Gen. Badger left
after intinlating that he would return with a
larger force, and Pinchback, it is said, men
invoked the aid OF the Nichols police, who
are on duty in the neighborhood.
Deputy Shorif Walsh, with posse Of twen-
ty men, took possession OF the superior Civil
Court this afternoon, on an order from the
Fifth DISCREET Court enjoinin8 the Sheriff from
recognizing that Court, which is the one rc-
Gently abolished hy the Republican Legisla-
ture.
The next sensation was the follow.
ing day when Pinchback himself and
three OF the four of the missing Sena.
tors formally joined the Democratic
Legislature. An associated press dis.
patch of the 18th from New Orleans
tells the story as follows:
At s O'Clock this evening Senators De Moss
(col0fed) Wheeler and Hamlet, accompanied
by Pinchback, entered the Democratic Sen
ate, and were greeted With cheers. After .
short executive session the two former were
admitted to seats and sworn in. Hamlet waa
granted permission to make personal expla-
natien, which he did, he not being elected, AZ
the Democrats claimed. He explained that
he had withdrawn from the Republican Sen
ate and would not serve with it. After which
personal explanation.
He said the action of himselfand these Sem.
ators was only decided upon after mature de.
liberation. They intended to stand the haz
ard of the die. They came there as Republic
cans, because they believed the interests Of
the State above party. He denounced the
Republican party OF Louisiana in unmeasured
terms, and said that Hayes, il inaugurated, i,
could not afford to soil his administration
with this blight on the prosperity OF the peo-
pie. He accused Ex-Governor Kellogg OF Sc.
curing his election as Senator by corrupt
means.
The following was received at New
Orleans on the morning of the 18th:
WAsHxarox, D. G., Jan. ii, ls77.-To Gen
c. c. Augur, New Orleans: 1t has been the
policy of the administration to take no part
! in the settlement Of the question of the right
| full government Of the State of Louisiana, at
least not until the Congressional committees
now there have made their report; but it is
| not proper TO sit quietly by and see the State
| government gradually taken possession OF by
one of the claimants for Gu6ernatorial hon.
orr by illegal means. The Supreme
Court set up by Mr. Nichols can re-
ceive no more recognition than any
other equal number OF lawyers convened
on the call Of any citizen OF the State. The
returning board, existing in accordance With
law, and having judicial as well asiministeria!
powers over the count Of the votes and the de.
claring of the result Of the late election, have
| given certificates of election to tho Legisla-
ture Of the State. A legal quorum Of each
house, holding such certificates, met and de-
c]ared Mr.. Packard Governor. Should there
be necessity tor the recognition OF either, II
must be Packard. YOu may furnish = copy
Of this to Packard and Nichols.
/ TSi0no6i TY GRANT praailHn&