The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-05-04

~ Wv ~ wv ~p"S" y ~ "~
q ". nacoRArsIE. Baiter. I
MONROE. LA. MAY A, 1877.
IT --------------------
COMMISSlON'S REPORT.
Full Text Of the Report of the Louisi. |
ANN COnnsissiOn TO the President.
WARRINGTON, April 2G.-The fol-
lowing is the report Of the Louisiana
submitted to the President
Tuesday:
aii's9 New ORLEANS, April 81, 1877.
To the President Of the United States:
.Sir-In accordance with your request
the undersigned have visited this city
and passed the last sixteen days in as
the political situation in lou
isfana, endeavoring to bring about a
peaceful solution of its difficulties. In
view OF the declaration in tho letter oi
the Secretary of State, that we should
direct our efforts to the end Of securing
the recognition Of a single Legislature
az the depository Of the representative.
will of the people of Louisiana, leaving
Unnecessary, to jnlicialor other consti-
tsitinnal arbitrament within the State,
the question Of ultimate right, and in
Wow of your determination to with
draw the troops to their barracks as
soon "a It could he done without endan-
Rering peace, we addressed ourselves to
the task of securing common IIegisla-
ture OF undisputed authority, compe-
tent to compare the existing political
contentious and to preserve the peace
without aid from the National Govern
lment. To this end, we endeavOretl to
assuaGe the bitterness and anfmosity we
found existing on both sides, SO as to So
cure.A public opinion less unfavOrahle
to such concessions rs were indispensa-
Bile to success In obtaining such legisla.
ture and such general acquiescence in
Its authority AS would insure social or
der. We have had full conferences
with the two gentlemen who claim the
Rubernatoriai Office, and with many
other members Of their respective Gov
ernments, in their Executive, Judicial
and Legislative Departments. We
have also conversetl very freely Will,
large delegations Of men Of business,
with many of the District Judges, and
with undrcls Of prominent citizens oi
all parties and races, representing not
only this city, but almost every parish,
In the State. We have also received
many printed and written statements
of fact and legal arguments, and every
person with whom we have come in
contact has shown IL desire to give us
all the information hearing on political
divisions in this State. The actual
condition of affairs on our arrival in
this city, may be briefly stated as fol
lows: ;:i....,.aa3 .f.s..
Gov. Packard 1--WE shall speak of
both gentlemen by this title) they claim
was at the State-house with his Legis-
lature and friends, and an armed police
force. AS there was no quorum in the
Senate upon his own theory OF tho law,
his Legislature was necessarily mac
tive. Tho Supreme Court, which re-
cognized his authority, had not at.
tempted to transact any business since
it was <lisp0esessetl OF its Courtroom
and the custody of its records, on til.
18th day of January, 1877. He had nc
organized militia, alleging that his def
cheney in that respect was owing to his
obedience to tho orders OF Presiden,
Grant to take no steps to change the re.
latiOns VI himself and Gov. Nichols
His main reliance was on his alleged
legal title, claiming that twas the con.
stitutional duty of the President to re-
cOgnize and afford him such military
assistance IA might be necessary to
enable him to- assert his authority as
Governor.
Gov. Nichols WAS occupying the
Odd Fellows Hall as = Statc-Hous.,
his Legislature met there and was &C.
lively engaged in business of legisla.
ton; all tho departments of the city
government of New Orleans recognized
his authority; the Supreme Court
nominated by him and confirmed by
his Senate, was holding daily session
and had heard about two hundred
cases; the time for the collection q
taxes had not arrived, but consider!
ble sum of money in tho form OF taxes
had been voluntarily paid into his
treasury, out OF which he was dcfray.
ing the ordinary expenses Of State Gov.
erpnneMts tho Nichols Legislature had
II quorum in tho Senate upon either the
Nichols or Packard theory; the Pack
ard Legislature had II quorum in the
House on its own theory of tho law,
but, as already stated, not In the Senate,
and was thus disabled from any legisla-
ton that would be valid even in the
judgment Of its own party. The Com
mission found 1t very difficult to asser-
tain the precise extent to which the
respective governments We're acknowl-
edged In the various parishes outside of
New Orleans, but 1t is safe to say that