Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-05-03
New Series-Vol. 17-No is

| inquiry, therefore, seems pertinent II
this connection. If Returning BoarC
quorum was so effective for Nichols
claim, why was it that such quorum
was ignored while it remained faithful
to the legal Government of the State.
That Government had Returning
Boar quorum from the day on which
the General Assembly convened and
the l. gislature was duly organized
and remained in legal existence till
disentegrated by the direct action ol
the COmmk sion. This result having
been achieved, it is a matter of record
that c0lgratulatory messages were ex.
changed between the President and his
Commission. I'm
On The following day, the President,
by formal order, made public thro'
the press, directed that the United
States troops occupying building In
the vicinity of the State House SHOULD
be removed to their barracks. Those
troops had been placed there by Presi-
dent Grant without formal call of the
Governor to protect the Returning
Board while counting the vote of Pres
ident. i firmly believe that had the
legal Government been recognized ii
would have sustained itself without
the intervention of troops, but the or
der for the withdrawal issued under
Il circumstances, anu in the manner
that ii was issued, clearly indicated
that even the moral support which the
legal Government of Louisiana, should
have received from the National Ad-
ministration would be denied. Had
the General Assembly continued in
session in the State House, should
have deemed it my duty to have as
serted my Government to the last, not
withstanding the withdrawal of the
troops. But with the Legislature dis
integrated, and no prospect of present
success, cannot task your tried tideli-
ty by asking you longer to continue to
aid me in the struggle / have thus far
maintained. st
l, therefore, announce to you that l
am compelled to abstain for the pres
ent from all active assertion of my
Government. I.waive none of my le-
gal rights, but yield only to superior
force. am not wholly discouraged
by the fact that one by one the Repub-
licans, State governments of the South
have been forced to succumb b to force, or
fraud, or policy, Louisiana, the first
State rehabilitated after the war, is the
last State whose government thus fails,
and believe it will be among the first
to raise itself again to the plane of
equal and honest representation.
advise that you maintain your party
organization, and continue to battle for
the rights of citizenship and free gov
ernment. We strive for these, and not
for man or men.
1t grieyes me beyond expression that
the hero efforts you have made, and
the cruel sufferings you have under
gone to maintain Republican princi-
pies in Louisiana have bad this bitter
ending To those who have SO gal
lantly stood by me in the long contest
we have pe ssed through, ] tender my
heartfelt thanks. To all, I would ceun-
sci peace, patience, fortitude, and a
firm trust that eventually right and
justice will prevail.
s. B. PACKARD, Governor.
PACKARD's PARTING WITH HIS
FRIENDS.
Packard's parting with his police be-
fore he left the building last night, is
said to have been quite an affecting
affair. There were 400 of them, and
every man wanted to shake hands and
escort him home. Packard made them
speech, telling them if they could get
any of the appropriation made for
them by Nichols Legislature to take
it. Their legal claims for pay for their
services would still remain as if they
had never been discharged from the
force. Several of the most effective
members of the force waited on Pack
ard at his house, to-day, and told him
they bad been offered positions in the
force and they wanted his
advice to accept or not. He recommen-
ded them to accept.