The Portland daily press., 1877-01-09
LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA.
Inauguration of Packard and Nichols
No Disturbance-Exiract from Their
Inaugural Addresses,

NO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. from Their
Inaugural Addresses.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. S-By noon a large
crowd had assembled at st. Patrck's Hall,
entirely filling the building, and by / D. M
some 5000 people had assembled in the streets,
Lafayette Square and adjacent buildings. At
p. m. Gen. NochOtnici Nichols left the CITY
Hotel for the hall, where he was received with
tremendous cheers by the assembled thou
sands Gen. Nichols appeared on the balcony
at LILO, where, after prayer by Rev. DR..
Palmer, the oath of Office was administered to
him and Wilt by Judge Tlsso Gov. Nichols
then made his inaugural address, as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives, aud Fellow Citzens:-In
obedience to the call of my fellow citizens, as
expressed through the ballot box by majority
of more than 5000 votes, assume the duties of
Governor OF my native state under crcum
stances of marked difficulty and at period of
very general distress. For nine years a few
men having no Identification with the people of
this state, either in feeling or interest, have
shaped and controlled their destinies. The re-
suit of this unnatural condition of affairs has
been thai, in spite of the rich soil, genial
climate and immense resources, we find the
people to-day in wretchedness and poverty
The very gifts OF the kind and benefcent
Creator have served these men as additional
incentives to acts of oppression and wrong
mol satlshed with the injury which they have
inflicted, the actors of these calamites are
again struggling to maintain their ascendancy
oy fraud and to establish over this people
usurpation more glaring and infamous than
that which ends to-day its baneful existence.
The people of this state are determined, and l
also am determined, that this effort shall be
folled. The rights and liberties of Louisiana
must not be suffered to be destroyed. There
may be grave difficulties in the present manner
OF dealing with this matter, but they will be
overcome, and hereafter upon the duly and
legally constituted authorities of the state will
dnvolva adr nj str of
In conclusion Gov. Nichols says: 1t shall
be great object in my administration to pro-
mote kindness, sympathy, confidence and
Justice between the two races that inhabit the
| soil, who with common interest should cor
daily cooperate to secure the common good,
In fine, fellow citizens, l shall invoke the
blessing and assistance of Almighty God, and
earnestly and conscientiously endeavor to do
INV duty.
The pleasure, he said, with which he receiv-
ed his credentials as the representative of the
people was clouded with the recollection that
many colaborers IN the cause of republican
| freedom had fallen in death, and thousands
! had been constrained through fear to avoid the
ballet box or to vote against their will. Major
tiles had no occasion to use force; minorties
alone resorted to it. He had received major
ity of the votes freely fairly and lawfully cast.
He had been declared elected Governor in the
manner required by the constitution and laws
of the state. He should invoke all the powers
conferred upon him to enforce obedience to the
laws, and to command enduring peace for
Louisiana. He enumerated number of ma
tional measures necessary for the welfare of the
state, and in conclusion said: at will be my
object to keep in view my obligation to execute
the laws and maintain the peace; to convince
my constituents that every act is intended to
promote their welfare; to secure for the state a
just proportion of national favor; to develope
those physical and moral resources upon which
the prosperity and progress of every state must
depend, and to appease by just and liberal
policy the discomfort which has so long repress-
ed the energies and darkened the future Of the
most favored land in the American Union.''
The balcony of st. Patrick Hall was draped
with flags of all nations surmounted by the
American flags At the conclusion of Nichols
address the beuediction was pronounced by
Rev. Father Allen. Nichols and Witt were
then escorted by the legislative committee to
Odd Fellows Hall where they received the
congratulations of their friends. The crowd
in and about St. Patrick's Hall-estimated at
10000 to $1,000, including large number of
lades-quietly dispersed.
Gov. Nichols has appointed Col. Thos. Bay
land, well known detective as chief of the
Metropolitan police. Bayland has established
his headquarters at Masonic Hall, where force
is being organized.
There was little excitement in the vicinity of
the State House to-day attending the Inaugural
ton of Gov. Packard. A heavy force of police
were on duty and admitted those who had
passes. Not over zoo persons were in the
streets At o'clock Gov. Packard entered the
House of Representatives, which was fes-
TONED with flags. Many ladies were in at
tendance, and the band played Hail to the
Chief" After the Legislature was called to
order, Gov. Kellogg introduced Packard with a
brief speech, abiding to the similarity of cir
cumstances with his own Inauguration four
years ago. and wishing him God speed. Chief
Justice Labelling administered the cath of
office. Gov. Packard read his inaugural