The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-25
Paekard's Legislature Attempts q
Bluff the Commission.

NEW ORLEANS, April 19.-The Packard
legislature met in caucus tonight and
adopted the following on motion of Mr.
Dinkgraye, of Madison: The members
senate of the state OF Louisiana meet
ing in caucus in the state house
in the city of New Orleans on this
18th day of April, 1877 adopt the following
statement as expressing their views of the
present condition of affairs in this state:
1. They have an unalterable faith in the
legality and Justice of the claims of S. B.
Packard, and the government of which he is
the head to be the legal government of the
state of ENTHUSIASTICALLY returned, legally
installed and legally embodying the will of
a majority of the people.
2. That the disintegration of the legal gen
eral assembly, meeting in the state house and
acknowledging the authority of Governor
Packard, recently witness has been
brought about by direct agencies
of gentlemen citizens of other states sent
here by the president with instructions
which have only been partially made known
and the nature of which can only be infer
entially arrived at by the action of said COM
mission, their expressed opinions, and the
agencies they have employed. Chief amongst
these we enumerate the following: On
the evening of Tuesday, the 18th day Of
April, on which day the pretended
house of representatives supporting the
claims of General Nichols to the governor
ship was without a semblance of a legal quo
rum, as il has continuously been since its
organization. certain members of the COM
mission appointed by the president request
ed consultation with the members of the
general assembly, Some ~ members of the
house and two members of the senate re-
sponded to this invitation to them
The members of the commission
halo fha
hcan party stated that the terms
offered by the Nichols legislature, which in
cluded the seating of three democratic MEM
bers from the city of New Orleans notorious
~ defeated even according to democratic
claims. but recognition of whom was refus d
10 give even show of legality to the organ
ization of the Nichols house. were the best
and only terms they could procure They
distinctly recommended the republicans
assembled by their invitation to ac-
cept these terms, and Mr.. McVeigh
one of the menbers of the commission,
whilst refraining from openly indOrsing the
proposition emphasized IL wi this remark:
'If there is any member of the legislature
who entertains the most lingering idea that
the troops are going to remain, for Gods
sake disabuse him of that idea, for they are
going to be removed"
4. That as a direct result of this intima-
ton and implied threat of the presidents
commission, several members of the legal
legislature have today joined the so-called
legislature of General Nichols.
5. We therefore charge upon these gentle
men, IT, as they assert, they have acted sim
ply in their individual capacity,
an unwarrantable interference with
the domestic affairs Of q state
to which they do not belong, and fragrant
violation of the principle of local self gov
eminent advocated by the president. II, on
the other hand, their action in the manner
set forth has been directed by the chief ex-
ecutive of the nation, we leave it to be char
acterzed in BETTING terms by the American
peOple