Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-23
Affairs in Louisiana.
PACKARD LEGISLATURE BROKEN
UP, AND GONE OVER TO
NICHOLAS.
THE COMMISSION RETURN TO WASH.
lNGTON.

NEW ORLEANS, April 81. The Packard legisla
ture has broken up and gone over in body t
Nichols.
NEW YORK, April 81. The news Of the recep
| ton of the order for the removal of troops from
the State House, was received with great satisfac
ton in New Orleans last evening.
NEW YORK, April 81. A Washington specia
says General Sherman this forenoon telegraphed
letter to the secretary of war relative to thu
| withdrawal Of troops in New Orleans and to Gen
Sheridan at Chicago, with instructions to have th,
order executed as directed. Everything is quie
| at New Orleans.
| In the Nichols legislature to-day, j. A. Gags
| Of the eighth senatorial district was seated. Mr.
Demas returned to his seat and explained the
causes which led to his desertion.
Messrs. Demarais and Gault of st. Loundry
| Cole of st. John, SHINES and Dickinson of St
James, ard Snaer of Iberia, were sworn in, max
| ing seventy-three returning board member In the
house.
Several returning board members who were moi
elected by the election commissioner returns
have resigned their claims.
MIR. Murray, sergeant arms of Packard's
| house, was at odd Fellows Hall this morning
| where at noon about five hundred persons gather
ed in the Hobbies and in the street.
Some OF the republicans who went over say
| they hold the balance of power in the matter OF
electing United States senator.
A committee from the Packard legislature wait
ed upon the commission to-day and requested its
| friendly Office in securing from the Nichols gov
| ern me ut some compensation for the policemen
| and employees who remained faithful to Packard.
| The committee requested an interview with gov
| ernor n lcholls lieutenant governor Wiliz speak
| er Bush and q number Of prominent members of
the \ icholls legislature, to whom it made known
| the request The subject was favorably consider
ed, and governor Nichols with the advice and
consent Of his associates, promptly offered to de-
vote the governors contingent funds TO this pur-
pose. This fund amounts to between $50, 900 and
1000. and was appropriated to aid Nichols in
| establishing his government.
This prompt aid to the republican employees will
provide for their immediate wants., and remove
| much disaffection among them, consequent upon
| the breaking up of Packards government.
The commission seemed highly gratifed ut the
absence OF resentment on the part of the Nichols
party. Long before these arrangements were
| consummated. number of Packard members of
| the house aud senate had taken seats in the Mich
oils leg islature.
Subsequently a concurrent resolution was pass
ed in the Nichols legislature, paying the republi-
| can members who were not elected but returned
by the returning board, their mileage and per
diem as contestants.
A notable feature Of the proceedings upon the
floor of the Nichols house was the withdrawal of
seven democratic members who had been seated
subject to contest, and who gracefully yielded
their seats, introducing the colored republican
members who claimed their seats on the face Of
the returns
Before the house had assembled this morning.
Kenochan (dem) of Plaque mine, who was un-
| seated by the arrangement admitting the republi.
cans, called the house to order informally where
| upon Kidd (dem) presented q handsome gold
headed cane 10 William Rdgeway, a colored
| member from Concordia who ad been seated on
contest, but who of the first to relinquish
his claims to the coored contestant in the interest
| of adjustment
| Commenting on the OF der for the removal of the
| troops the Times says:
"Mr. Hayes has carried out his policy to q full
err extent than could have been expected and with
the elimination of it has secured a formal and
public pledge Of support from the legislature.
Nothing more remains but to clear away the deb
ris and lay the foundations for q new structure.
This seen to be very appropriate place to say,
let us have peace.
Governor Packard is still in the St. Louis hotel
with his police force, ten or dozen members of
the Legislature, and his personal staff. who remain
with him to see the end which Is evidently near
1t seems to be generally understood that the state
| house will be surrendered TO the Nichols author
| ties on Monday or Tuesday.
This afternoons Republican says: "Notwith-
Standing the adverse decision of the President in
regard to the claims of the Lou siana republicans
| Gov. Packard and the brave and faithful men who
| surround and support him, have earned the adj
miration and respect of all who can appreciate
| true heroism. Chosen governor by the votes of q
majority of his fellow citizens, his claim to that
high office resting the basis which seated
the President, Gov. PACKARD has resisted alike, en-
tcements of personal advancement and threats of
personal danger, and stands firm to his post. lie
and his supporters, the last representatives Of the
| republican pory in the South, are unwilling to
believe that desertion would come from that quar-
ter which properly owed its support.
Gov. Packard has patiently waited day by day
| for that aid which according to his understanding
of the constitution of the United States was his
unquestionable due. Failing to receive this aid,
his choice now rests between submitting to force
and resorting to civil strife. In such dilemma
there is but one course for patriotic citizens and
such Gov. Packard has always shown himself"
The commission closed its labors to-day and
left for Washington, via Mobile. The results
achieved by it are more complete than was antic-
pated. The general feeling is that these results
will be of immense advantage to the State. The
commission has been more than ordinarily cir
cumspect, and has devoted itself in most lsbor-
Gus manner to its work. In its innumersble inter-
| views with delegations and committees and indi-
vdnals OF both parties, 1t has been courteous and
patient. 1t understood that an ovation to be
rendered to il by the people of this city, but de-
clined with thanks.
In the Nichols legislature at o'clock great ex-
| element prevails. The republican members drop
ped in one by one during the morning, and ct O.
| 40 L. NJ, loud cries without indicated something
| unusual, and there was great commoion all over
| the house, deafening shout arose as the tall
form of ex-governor Yarmouth moved up the
central aisle.
When silence was restored Yarmouth said
l"Mr. Speaker-I appear here with q number Of
my colleagues, for the purpose of taking our seata
in the house. In a caucus of sen and repre-.
sentatives, resolutions were adopt, that it wa
useless to further continue the controversy. W.
have no apologies to make. We have been whip
ped in the battle. but have at leat preserved ou
sef-respcct in an honorable contest, and are pre-
pared now to offer our allegiance to the only ex
sting government. and faithfully cooperate il
anything which may be suggested"
| D. ii. Brewster Of 0uschita, returned by tn
board, in resigniug bis claims to . seat, said tina
there is not one principle that he had advocate,
in ten years, which bad not been embodied by th
democratic party and he hoped that if 1t was sin
cere the scenes IN Ouachita, last autumn will new
err be re-enacted. The republican party ha