Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-20
THE DELIvERANCE OF LOUISIANA.

- ~ ONAASA AAhAR11 bS1hA WV =
be realized. We are free to sa,
that after the action of the electo
raj commission we had but littlt
faith in another commission fol
any purpose. The issues, however
are widely different. The life an(
hold ofthe Republican party depend
ed upon the eight Republicans OF
the electoral commission, and they
found reasons satisfactory to them.
selves for saving the party. 1t hal
been rather fashionable to abuse
Hayes for accepting the office under
such circumstances, but making
allowance for his education, his sur
roundings, the teachings of his
party, and the strict forms Of law
by which the case was comprised,
the time has perhaps come, at least
for those who calmly reflect, to dis
miss all surprise. 1t is possible that
any aspiring politician North Or
South, Democrat or Republican,
would have accepted the Presi-
dency under exactly similar circum.
stances, if presented. Be this as it
may, Mr.. Hayes, acting, we hope,
more for the good Of the country
at large than to satisfy the clamor
of his party, caused the troops to
be withdrawn from the State-house
at Columbia, and thus opened the
way for Hampton, the legally
elected governor, to enter peaceably
upon the discharge of his duties.
From that dayfOrEard We have had
some hope hat Louisiana, the last
PROSTATE State, would by some
means be rehabilitated and restored
to her rightful position as a soyer-
eign State, free to manage her own
affairs under the recently enunci-
ated doctrine Of States rights, as
emphasized by Judge Bradley, and
equal to any Of her sister States in
the Union. The restoration Of
Louisiana, although it may
prove morally and inferentially
that Tilden carried the State.
does not legally in7alidate the title
Of Mr.. Hayes to his Office; other
wise it would be a most hopeless
case. The Legislature counts the
votes cast for governor. The
Nichols legislature has a quorum
in both houses, and the commission
telegraphed to the President yester-
day that the troops could be re.
moved without fear Of disturbing
the peace. The order viii probably
be issued to-day or tomorrow the
Packard government will dissolve
and disappear in a single night,
and in its place will appear a free
government Of the people, and the
bayonet will disappear forever, We
hope, from American politics. II
the people Of Louisiana who have
been robbed, abused and slandered
for nearly a dozen years, this vii,
be incalculable relief. They have
borne themselves as patient, brave
men IN all their trials, relying upor
divine Providence and a sense o
justice in the hearts of the Amer
can people to relieve them even
tually from the curse of misrule ant
petty tyranny. Their condition ha
excited the sympathy of all fair
minded men, and the day that the
become their own rulers again vii
be one of rejoicing throughout tn.
land. Mr.. Hayes seems to be gov
erned by a regard for his oath o
Office and a respect for the consti
tuition. While not doing auythin,
more than his duty, he has departe,
from the precedents of his part
in dealing with the Southern queI
ton. Grant left the way open fc
him by his course toward Packard
and it is a cause of profound satiI
faction that the last Of the issu,
growing out of the war are abor
to disappear. The pledges of til
Nichols government are no mo,
than those made by the Democra
in every Southern State, and carrie
out wherever they have had contrc
as in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
Tennessee, Arkansas and 9th.