Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-02
Louisiana Matters.

turned and made formal report. The re-
port recites, in the first place. the instructions
under which they acted, and that their first
object was to secure one common Legislature
Of undisputed authority competent to COM
pose existing political discussions. With
this end in view, they spent sixteen days in
the state, holding various conferences with
Packard and Nichols, and their respective
supporters, as well as a hundred prominent
citizens of all parties and races They sum
up the condition of affairs on their arrival,
as follows.
Packard was at the state house with his
legislature and friends, and armed police
force. As there was no quorum in the Sen
ate, even upon his own theory OF law, his
legislature was necessarily inactive. The
supreme court which recognized his author
ity had not attempted to transact business
since dispossessed of its court room and the
custody of its records. lie had no organized
militia, alleging that the deficiency in that
respect was owing to obedience to the orders
of President Grant to take no steps to
change the relative position of himself and
Nichols. His main reliance was upon his
alleged legal title, claiming it was the con-
stitutional duty of the President to recog-
nize it, and afford him such military assist
ance as was necessary to enable him to assert
his authority as Governor
Nichols was occupying the Odd Fellows
hall as state house. His Legislature was
actively engaged in Legislation. All the de-
partments of the city government recognized
his authority. The supreme court nomi-
mated by him, aud confirmed by the Senate,
held daily sessions and had heard about
two hundred cases. The time for collection
of taxes had not arrived, but considerable
sum in the form of taxes had been volun-
tarily paid into his treasury, out of which
he was defrayng the ordinary expenses of
the state government. Nichols Legislature
had a quorum in the Senate, upon either
Nichols or Packard's theory, and a quorum
in the House on Nichols theory Pack
ards legislature had a quorum in the House
on its own theory, but not in the Senate,
and was thus disabled from valid legislation.
The commission found it to be very diff.
cult 10 ascertain the precise extent to which
the respective governments were acknowl-
edged in the various parishes outside of
New Orleans but it is safe to say that the
changes which had taken place after the
organization of the two governments formed
Nichols claim to legality. The supreme
court composed of Chief Justice Manning
and associates, nominated by Nichols and
confirmed by his Senate, rests upon the
same basis as the title of Nichols and his
Senate's claim to legality. The supreme
court composed of Chief Justice Ludeling
and his associates rests either upon their
right to hold over in case the Nichols court
is illegal, or upon the legality of the Kellogg
Packard Senate, which confirmed the judges
upon the nomination of Kellogg, and while
having returning board quorum.
The report then quotes from the election
law of Louisiana, and cites the claims of both
parties to legality, aud adds that there was no
judicial tribunal acknowledged authoritative
by both parties by which it could be solved,
and the only hope of practical solution
was by the union of so many members OF
the rival legislatures as would make egis-
lature with constitution quorum, in both
Senate and House, Of members whose title
should be beyond question, which was &C
complished within the last three days by thu
withdrawal of members from Packard's to
Nichols legislature, giving the latter twent,
more than a quorum in both branches In
view of these facts the commission trle-
graphed on the Goth instant that the time
for the withdrawal of the troops had come.
The report concludes thus 1.-The com
mssioners, holding various shades of politi-
cal belief, cannot well concur on any sketch
of the past, or probable future of Louisiana,
We have forborne in this report to express
any opinion on the legal questions arising
upon foregoing statements of facts, because
our letter of instructions seemed TO call for
statement of facts rather than the express
sion of opinion by the commissioners. We
all, however, indulge in confident hopes of
better days for all races in louisiana
Upon the withdrawal of the troops, Packard
retired from the state house. Both bodies of
the Nichols legislature then marched down
and took possession of their chambers, and
all the Nichols state officers were installed
Mr. Packard has issued an address to the
Republicans of Louisiana, announcing the
withdrawal of the aid and countenance of
the national government, and that govern
ment revolutionary in form is practically on
the point of usurping control of affairs in
this state. lie recalls the circumstances of
the last electoral campaign, thanking the
Republicans for their fidelity to the princi-
pies they then displayed. lie briefly sum
marizes the historical events that have since
occurred. He describes the coming of the
commission to New Orleans, saying they
found the legal legislature still in session
and his title unassailed, and unassalable ex-
cept by force. He charges that the com.
mission induced members of his legislature
to 20 over to Nichols. When sufficient had
gone over, congratuatory dispatches were
exchanged between the President and the
commission, and the next day the order was
issued for the removal of the troops. He
says he firmly believes that had the legal
government been recognized, it could have
sustained itself without the intervention OF
troops. lie announces that he is compelled
for the present to abstain from all active as
sertion of his government, but valves none
of his legal rights, yielding only to superior
force. lie advises the maintenance of the