The Portland daily press., 1877-01-19

without recommendation. 1t was placed on
the calendar. Mr.. Withers called up the mes.
sage of the President in relation to the occupa-
tion of Petersburg by U. S. troops on election
day and submitted resolution instructing the
judiciary committee to examine whether the
construction of the laws touching the election
franchise promulgated by the Attorney Gener-
al in his general order of Sept 7, 1876, be cor
rect, and that they report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Johnston made long speech denouncing
the President for stationing troops at Peters
burg aud pending discussion, the Senate ad-
journed.
In the House, the judiciary committee re-
ported resolution directing the Sergeant-at-
Arms to bring before the bar of the House the
Louisiana Returning Board for refusing to SUBJ
NIT certain official papers to the Louisiana in
vestigating committee. A long debate ensued.
Messrs. Frye and Garfield contending that the
House had DO power to compel Stale officer to
produce official records and Luttrel!, Davis
and Cox tavorng the resolution. The reselu-
ton went over.
In the Senate Wednesday, the day was spent
| in discussing Wthers' resolution OF the day be-
| fore, but no action was taken. In the House
| the only important action was the passage of
the resolution presenting the louisiana Return
| ing Board for contempt
POLITICAL.
There is no material change in the Louisiana
situation. Packard still holds the State House,
but Nichols has possession of nearly all the
other public buildings. The President has is
sued the following proclamation:
To General c. C. Aagur, Neao Orleans, Louisi-
ana:
IL has been the policy of the administration
to take no part in the settlement of the ques
| ton of the rightful government in the State of
Louisiana, at least not until the COngre ssona
| committees now there have made their report !;
but it is not proper to sit quietly by and see the
state government gradually taken possession of
by one of the claimants for gubernatorial hon
ors by illegal means. The supreme court set
up by Mr. Nichols can receive no more recog-
nlton than auy other equal number Of lawyers
convened at the call of any other citizen of the
| state. A returning board, existing in accord
ance with law, ana having judicial as we'll as
minister al powers over the count of the votes
| and in declaring the result of the recent cleo
| tion, have given certificates of election to the
Legislature of the state. A legal quorum of the
| Houses, holding such certificates, met and de-
clared Mr. Packard Governor. Should there be
necessity tor the recognition of either it must
| be Mr.. Packard. You may furnish a copy of
this to Mr.. Packard and to Mr. Nichols.
q. s. GRANT, President.
Several members, including Pinchback, have
withdrawn from the Republican legislature
and joined the bogus legislature.
A New Orleans special says the President s
message appears to be a complete recognition
of the legal state government, but Gen. Augur
| does not feel the necessity of doing any act to
sustain it. The city is in state of feverish ex-
citement. The White League. called ga
Sherff's Posse" are massed at Jackson square
| and in the court house near by, as if expecting
an attack. Mr.. Bourges, appointed Acting
Sheriff by Chief Justice Ludeling, demanded
of the insurgents possession of the Supreme
Court room, but was refused. He was told to
come and take it. Five Thousand
White Leaguers are ready to fight at the
sound of the fire bell signal, and no force that
Gov. Packard can muster would have any
| chance of succeeding against them. There is
| much loud talk on the streets of cleaning out
the United States soldiers and of making
wholesale assassination of Republicans.
A Washington despatch says some of the
| more violent of the Democratic Representa-
| tives frem Louisiana, openly threaten if Mich
| oils is not allowed to continue his administra-
| tion as he has commenced, the Packard gov
ernmenJ will be overthrowu in spite of the
troops and the Republican Legislature broken
up, even though it be necessary to fire on the
flag to attain that end. They are determine ed,
they say, to have military government rather
than Packard.
The New York Times says the Presidents
delay in recognizing the Packard government
10 Louisiana has not been caused by any
doubt as to its legality. He has always held
that the returning board was legal and con-
sttutional body, aud its decision of the elec-
ton case in favor of Packard was final and
needed no authorization from him. Becoming
aware that leading Democratic Senators and
others have been encouraging Nichols aud that
on Saturday western Democratic Senator
sent Nichols despatch in which he counseled
taking possession of the State House, and
stated that such demonstration would strength
en- the cause of Tilden, the President decided,
after consultation with we'll known constitu-
tianal lawyers, TO recognize and sustain the
Packard government and Republican Legisla-
tnre.
The Evening Democrat in leading editorial
referring to the probabilities of Gov. Packard's
attempting to Ietake the courts and stations.
says: Mr.. Packard, however. is playing dan
gerous game. The patience of the people is
well nigh exhausted. and if they are forced
into conflict which is calculated and designed
to again rob them OF the government of their
choice and the blessings of an honest and eff
cient administration, their wrath will be diff.
ault to restrain, and we for one, hope that no
band will be able 10 restrain it, if Mr. Pack
aid forces this conflict, we appeal to our friend
to spare as far a. final and complete .ctory
will permit, the lives of the metropolitan and
negro dupes. We advise them to let the full
weight or their vengeance fall upon the leaders
OF this iniquteus, murder0us most damnable
scheme, and to follow Packard into his ball,
and 1t need be Into the custom house itself, and
hang him from its highest window.
Evidence has been produced before the Sen
ate committee on elections that Mississippi was
carried by the Democrats by the grossest in
timidation and fraud Thousands of negroes
were kept from voting.
Further investigation in the Oregon case
traces the eight thousand dollars used az
corruption fund to Tlden's bank in New York.
Secretary Chandler has been questioned by
the House committee as to kilograms sent to
the disputed States just after tbe election.
Nothing OF consequence was ELECTED. The
House committee report that the President
of the Senate has no power to count the cleo
toral vote, and that no vote can be counted ex-
cept by the consent of the House. The Re
publican members dissent from there couclu-
sion. 1t is believed that House and Senate
will eventually agree upon some plan.
In Massachusetts balloting for Senator has
begun. Boutwell, leads Boar six votes Rice
and Abbott, the Democratic candidate, taking
the other votes. Window has been reelected
Senator from Minnesota, Ferry from Michigan,
Garland to succeed Clayton from Arkansas.
In Illinois there is yet no choice Logan
Palmer, and Davis being candidates. In Ne.
braska there is 10 choice.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
The Central Hotel and several adjoining
buildings at Long Branch were burned last
week. Loss about $4,000. The property was
fully insured.
The Welland Vale Manufacturers Company's
works, at st. Catherine, Ontario, were burned
Saturday. Loss $4,000.
A fire at Winona, Mimi, Sunday DESTROYED
Simpsons block. Total loss on building and
contents, from S65,OOO to $4,000; INSURANCE.
$5OOOO