Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-29
louisiana.

Louisiana.
The facts stated in Governor Packard's
proclamation are deserving of special at
tcntion. They supply material for an I'M
Outstanding OF the political condition oil
Louisiana. The Nichols government is a
complete sham. The pretended legisla-
ture which declared Nichols governor was
not itself legal body, and this illegal
body had not 4 legal return before it on
which to. base its action in declaring
Nichols governor.
The Legislature which declared Packard
governor was legally constituted and re-
cognized by Kellogg, the former Cover
nor. That body capyassed the returns OF
the election for State officers and on then
declared Packard elected governor. Fur
thermore the vote of Louisiana in the late
election was passed upon by the Electoral
Commission, which decided that the vote
OF the State was cast for Hayes and Wheel
or, and in doing this declared in effect the
validity of Packard's election, he having
received about 700 more votes than were
cast for the Hayes and Wheeler electors
All the executive officers of the State are
in accord with Packard not one recog-
nizes Nichols. The Supreme Court re-
cognizes Packard as Governor; also
large majority of the district judges out
side OF the city of New Orleans.
Nichols is supported by the White
League, an organization which is respon-
sible for the terrorism, the bulldozing and
political assassination which have cursed
the State. lie also relies upon the rich
and aristocratic class in New Orleans, who
are bound to rule the laboring class if they
can. They furnish him the means to car
nv on his contest with Packard. and as
sumo to be the State by virtue of their
wealth and social position. The republi-
can party is made up chiefly OF the poor
and midding classes, the laborers in city
and country. the mechanics and the agri-
cultural producers. The city oligarchs
leagued with the desperadoes marshaled
in the Ku-Klux organization, mean TO sub
due the laboring class and subject them to
domination approaching that once exer-
cised by the slave masters over their chat
tells. The ousting OF Packard will be the
triumph of this oligarehy of wealth and
despotism.
The statement of Governor Packard that
his Supporters are the men who are the
real producers of the wealth of the State, :
: largely native born, and that the opposi
ton to him comes from non-producers
aud aliens, is one that is too evident TO be
disputed. The freedmen, the industrious
and intelligent whites, are the supporters
of Packard; the scions of the slavchold-
ing aristocracy. the rowdies, murderers,
thieves and drones make the bulk of the
Nichols party. Governor Packard may
we'll claim that whatever is added to the
wealth of the State is the work Of those
who elected him and maintain his righlul
claim to be Governor. He might also
claim with truth and sincerity that in spite
OF all the political difficulties which have
afflicted Louisiana since the war. the pros
perity of the State in material things DUR
ing that time has been greater than it ever
was in the same period while slavery exist
ell The success of the Nichols usurpation
would tend to throw things back as they
were in the days of the slave driver and the
,ction block ; the complete establishment
of Packard would be the triumph of equal
rights, and assist progress in the course to
which the northern States are indebted for
the growth of the wealth, freedom aud
intelligence by which they are .dstin-
guished.