Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-04-20
LOUISIANA.
The Situation.

NEW YORK, April ~. New Oileans specl Al
to the Herald dated last night late, says the stu
alton Is changed materially this evening. Not
wthstandng the defiant attitude of the Packard
people, they now exhibit a very concliatory tone
and the Nichols people express themselves conf
dent of settlement. Yarmouth talks despond-
ingly says he fears the Packard legislature con I
be held together.
Later. The democrats have succeeded in max
ing arrangements with the disaiiected faction of
the Packard legislature, which will secure them
the returning board quorum.
RumOr.
A Washing ton despatch SAYS il was current here
late this afternoon that Packard had resigned and
his legislature amalgated with Nichols.
The Telegrams New Orleans special to-day
says five more members from the Packard egisa-
ture took their seats in the Nichols house OF rep
resenta,lyes this morning, which gives two in eX-
cess of a returning board quorum, thus lcgslizing
the legislature and virtually settling the vexed
question.
New ORLEANS, April 10 The Nichols house
seated to-day Garde. George Drurv of Assump-
ton, and Oscar Holt of West Baton Rouge, here
tofore acting with the Packard legislature, max
ing SO.
The Packard Legislature are rapidly dssolying.
There are 65 or G6 returning board me mbers
10 the Nichols house.
Letter from Nichols.
The commissions report to the President by tel
egraph to day, includes the following letter from
Nichols, referring TO the joint resolutions:
NEW ORLEANS, April 10.
To Charles B. Lawrence, Jos. II. Hawlev John
NJ. Harlan, John e. Brown and WAYNE Nc
! Neagh.
Genllemen-I have the honor to transmit here
with copy of the joint resolutions adopted by the
General Assembly of Louisiana In doing |
desire TO say that they express not merely abstract
ideas, but the conviction of our people, which will
be practically executed by them through their
I apsa tivp lair th,t.
government.
As Chief Magistrate of the State, it will be not
only my pleasure, but my bounden duty to give
every assistance in my power looking to that end.
am thoroughly satisfied that any course of polit-
zeal action traced narrower line than the
good Of the whole people, regardless of color or
condition, must inevitably lead to disaster and
ruin.
My views on this subject were fully stated to
the convention by which was nominated, and to
the people by whom was elected and every day $
experience tortfes me in the be lief that any poll
cy founded on these principles must necessarily
result in the attainment of the ends for which all
just governments are established.
l have earnestly sought to obliteratc the color
line in politics, and consolidate the people on a
basis OF equal rights and common interests, and it
is source of qualification 10 be able to say that
this great object is about to be realized. feel |
do but express the sentiments ef the people when
l declare their government will secure,
First, vigorous and efficient enforcement of
the laws so that all persons and property will be
fully and equally protected, and should occasion
require it, will proceed in person where any dis
orders may menace the public peace or the politi-
cal rights Of any citizen.
| Second. the establishment of a sys EN- of public
education to be supported by equal aud uniform
taxation upon property.
Third, the fostering Of INN Iration in order to
hasten the development of the great natural re-
sources of the state.
desire to add most emphatic assurances that
the withdrawal of troops Of the United States to
their barracks, instead Of causing any disturbance
or any tendency to riot disorder, will be a
source of profound qualification to our people. and
be accepted by them as proof of the confidence of
the president in their capacity for orderly self
government and enjoying under the blessings Of
divine providence the happiness resulting from a
government ased upon liberty and justice.
The people of Louisiana cannot fail to appre-
cIate that their good fortude is due largely to the
magnanmous policy so wisely inaugurated and SO
consistently maintained by the president of the
United States.
have the honor 10 be
Iour obedient servant,
FRANCIS Il. NICHOLS.