The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-03-21
THE NICHOLS GOVERNMENT.

] 81 Il NkV1VAAS Wv AASAsA'A s~~' :.
Our last papers tell US that the
United States Senate adjourned with
out seating Kellogg, and this too
when there was no one contesting his
seat. This may be considered the
last straw that was to break the back
bone, or what little of it was left of
the Packard pretended Government.
Hayes won't give him soldiers to
sustain him, and as Packard himself
has acknowledged that he can't sus-
tain himself, it may now safely be re-
garded that the Nichols Govern
ment has title and judgment in its
favor by confession from which there
can be noappeal. The world and Pack
ard too acknowledges that Governor
Nichols is de tacto, and the world
knows, but Packard has not the man
illness to confess that Nichols is also
the de jure Governor of Louisiana.
We will take the de tacto title for
practical purposes and the conscien
ces of the voters of Louisiana and
their officers will rest easy as to the
de j,ve title, which everybody knows
belongs also to Nichols by virtue OF
his fair and honest election. The
Senate and Hayes in virtually ratify-
ing Nichols de facto title to the Of
fee of Governor have followed the
precedent set by the Senate and
Grant in the Kellogg McEnery con-
test, except that they did not use
troops first to make Packard de facto
as they did in Kellogg's case in 1873.
Now Nichols is de tacto and if
Hayes "Southern policy" and the re-
fusal to seat Kellogg mean anything
at all, they mean that Nichols is to
be allowed to proceed to govesn Lou
isiana for the next four years, under
the same title that Kellogg has pre-
tended to govern for the last four
years, that Of de tacto.
We do not look for any other re-
cognition from Hayes, but this much
will answer our purpose as well, if
he will continue to keep hands off.
Even this recognition is accompa-
MED with a condition that ii is the
purpose Of the Nichols Government
to carry out, as it has already been
accepted by the Legislature and
Governor in a joint address, and 1t
will no doubt be accepted by all the
good people of this State not because
it is matter of necessity, but be-
cause it meets their wishes. Not to
attempt to quote the very words, the
condition is that the Nichols Gov
eminent shall protect the interests of
the Republicans of this State and Sc
cure to them a full enjoyment OF
"life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness.' Their rights are secured to
them by law and the Nichols Coy.
eminent is bound in honor AS it
would he in conscience to respect all
those rights.
The question Of the recognition of
the Nichols Government is left then
to the people of the State, and that
recognition has already been made
by them. That Government in all
its departments is completely and
thoroughly organized, its officers are
respected and obeyed not only in New
Orleans, but in nearly every one, if
not all the parishes of The State, and
it remains only for those officers to
proceed to the discharge of their du
ties with such procedure, foresight
and respect for the rights of all as is
demanded alike by the exigencies of
the occasion and the principles Of
right and justice. The Nichols
Government is an accomplished
fact.
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