The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-19
LOUISIANA.
Action Of NiGlOllS'S Legislature.
Packard Makes 'AnOther Appeal
to the President.
New Orleans, April l6.

New Orleans, April l6.
The Nichols Senate to-day passed the
following joint resolutions and pre-
amble, which are a part Of the plan Of
adjustment:
WHEREAS, The people of the State Of
Louisiana, after years of suffering and
misrule, have with supreme satisfaction
seen the wise determination of President
Hayes, as expressed in his inaugural and
already happily executed in South Caro-.
lima, to restore local self-government of
the Southern States and peace and pros.
perity to the whole country, by a return
to a rigid following of the constitutional
government; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Senate and House of
Representatives in general assembly con-
vened,
First, That we cordially endorse the
policy of the President as enumerated in
his inaugural, and we pledge our hearty
cooperation and support in the execution
thereof
Second, That the execution of the said
policy in the State of Louisiana will be
| the source ofinestimable blessings to her
people, lift up their burdened spirits, heal
their wounded prosperity, renew their
wasted fields, bring happiness to their
homes, and give to the whole people,
without distinction of race or color, a
future Of progressss as well moral as ma
terial.
Third, That as an earnest of our en-
deavors, We hereby solemnly declare that
it is and will be the purpose of the gov.
ernment of the State Of Louisiana repre-
sented by Francis T. Nichols as the Exc
cutive head, first to accept in good faith
the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments of the Constitution Of
the United States in letter and in spirit;
the enforcement of the law rigidly and
impartially to the end that violence and
crime shall be suppressed and promptly
punished, and that peace and order pre-
vail, and that the humblest laborer on
the soil Of Louisiana throughout every
parish in the State, of every coler, shall
receive the full and equal protection Of
the laws in person, property and political
rights and privileges, to the promotion Of
the kindly relations between the white
and Colored citizens of the State upon
basis of Justice and mutual confidence.
Fourth, The education of all classes Of
the people being essential to the preserva-
ton of free institutions, we do declare our
solemn purpose to maintain system of
public schools by an equal and uniform
taxation upon property as provided in
the Constitution of the State, and which
shall secure the education of the children
of white and colored citizens with equal
advantage.
Fifth, DESTROYS of healing the dissen-
: sions that have disturbed the State for
years past, anxious that the citizens of all
political parties may be free from feverish
anxieties or political strife, and join
hands in honestly restoring the prosperi-
ty of Louisiana, the Nichols government
will discountenanCe any attempted perse-
cution from any quarter OF individuals Tor
past political conduct.
Sixth, That the Governor be requested
to forward a copy of these resolutions to
the President of the United States.
Packard Writes Another EpistIe to the President
: STATE OF LOUISIANA,
: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
: New ORLEANS. April II, 1877. }
! To President Hayes, Washington, D, C.
, SIR 1T is evident that the Commits
! sion sent here by you, instructed among
, other points to secure removal Of OBJ
stacles to the acknowledgment of one
, government, and failing in that to accom-
, plish the recognition of single Legisla-
, ture as a depository of the representative
will Of the people of Louisiana, will fail to
.. effect either Of these results. The first
{ proposition can be attained only by aban-
donment of one or other of the claimants
. to the gubernatorial chair. The second
, proposition, involving the unifCation Of
two bodies, each now claiming to be the
Legislature of the State of Louisiana, is
+ possible. The plan suggested by the
, Commission that one hundred and four
! members of the lower House and thirty
three members of the Senate whose elec-
ton is not disputed should be brought
together in one body, and that the Gen
eral Assembly thus constituted should
pass upon the qualification of contested
members, and thus recognized should set
: tie conflicts in coordinate branches oi
! the Government was acceptable to the
Republicans, but is said to have been re-
! iected by the Democrats. This plan was
understood to emanate from the Presi-
dent, and to embody his ideas of what
,, was Just and equitable. The Republicans
have indicated a willingness TO acCede to
T reorganization of the Legislature on this
! basis in Difference to the Presidents wish
es, even though in so doing they should
waive undoubted legal rights. 1t is pre-
sumed that from the Presidents stand
point that any other legislative settle
ment would work injustice to one or the
other of the contending parties, and it is
not believed that the Administration
would sanction injustice. The Republi-
cans were willing to submit the claims Of
their State Government to Legislature
, thus constituted. 1t is clearly indicated
that General Nichols and his adherents
have rejected the proposition mainly be-
cause Of their fixed belief in the truth OIL
the statement repeatedly made, that the
Foster-Matthews agreement is eventually
in some way, to give the government oi
the State to the Democracy. Ifthis beliei
) were removed from their minds, per.
, haps they would not be so defiant, and
would accept the adjustment you offer.
The reported purpose of the Admins
tration to carry out the suggestions Of
! Messrs. Foster and Matthews by the
withdrawal of United States troops is g
standing menace to Republicans in this
State, and encourages Democrats to emu.
late the arrogant policy of Gen. Hampton
> in South Carolina. l have received nc
reply to my letter of the 5th inst, request.
ing that the instructions of the Commits.
I sion should be so amended and enlarged
as to enable them to inquire and report
which Of the contending Governments is
legally entitled to recognition; whether q
legal Supreme Court exists and WHO com
pose it, and whether or not there is an