Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-04-11
LOUISIANA.
A Proclamation BY Gov. Packard.
STATE or LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DxpArrnENr.
NEW ORLEANS, March 26. 1877

NEW ORl4EANS, March 70, 1877,
To the Citizens Of louisiana
A so-called proclamation Of Francis T.
Nichols, claiming to be Governor of the State
Of Louisiana, just made public, contains
gross misstatements which l deem it my duty
thus automatically to refute. Mr. Nichols
who asserts that his Government is a fixed fact
complete in all its branches, is destitute of one
shred of legal title to the Office he attempts to
usurp. The pretended Legislature which can
vassed his claim to the office of Governor had
not before them any legal returns of election
prescribed by the Constitution, and lacked
two of a quorum in the Senate and twenty of
quorum in the House. The Secretary of State
refusing formal demand made upon him by
the partisans of Nichols placed the only legal
returns of election before the Legislature recog-
nized by Gov. Kellogg. That Legislature, meet
ing in the State-House, as required by law and
having a full legal quorum present in both
Houses, opened and canvassed the returns and
declared me elected Governor. The vote of the
State of Louisiana WAS further passed upon dur
ing the recent contest over the Presidential cleo
ton by the highest tribunal in the Nation That
tribunal declared the vote Of the State to have
been cast for Hayes and Wheeler and, by doing
so, proclaimed, in effect my election, for the
vote cast for me exceeded by nearly TOO that cast
for several of the Presidential Electors. The
Constitution names as executive officers of the
State, a Treasurer, Secretary Of State Auditor
Attorney General and Superintendent of Public
Education. Not one of these important branches
of the Government is In accord with orunder the
control of Gen. Nic-iolls The State Treasurer.
elected in 1874 for period of four years, re-
fuses to recognize the authority of Mr.. Nichols,
or 10 sign any Taxpayers that he may attempt to
issue. The Secretary OF State, Auditor of Pu bic
Accounts, Attorney-General and Superintendent
of Public Instruction, elected with me and
recognized by the outgoing Government are in
possession OF all the records and archives of the
State pertaining to their respective Offices These
include machinery foT the assessment and coll
lection of taxes. The Supreme Court appointed
by my predecessors recognizes me As Governor
Outside the City of New Orleans a great ma ORR
ty of District Judges acknowledge my authority
Nearly all the peaceful, prosperous and
productive parishes of the State admit the
authority of my Government, and It's official acts
are unquestoned. The few country parishes
which assume to rocogniz. and support Gen
Nichols are mostly those where turbulence pre-
vailed, us IT did Lring the State campaign, and
where political ASSASSINATION Is still practced and
approved, and general lawlesSness prevails. MIR.
Nichols, In ms proclamatil II, thanks the patr-
otto men who, on the 9Th day OF January, 1877,
responded to the call of the civil authorities Of
this State 10 prevent illegal attempts To Dust
them from their legal possession OF the court
building 1t Is notorious that the patriotic
service thus rendered consisted IN several thou
sand White Leaguers, with artillery III a battery,
taking violent possession of the courtroom and
archives of the Supreme Court of the State--a
court Of unquestioned legality-and installing
in their stead u pretended tribunal commissioned
by Nichols, and officially declared by the Pres-
dent OF the United States To be devoid of any
legal authority. The harsh and arbitrary pro
ceedlngs and illegal arrests and incarcerauons
without benefit of bail, which have since been in
ticted upon supporters OF the State Government by
the judicial tribunals thus Temporarily usursed by
Mr. Nichols and his adherents, a sufficient
proof OF the insIncerty of the pledges alleged 10
have been offered, that under his rule If his
Government should be allowed to stand, the
rights of all citizens would be respected. If
revolution be made successful under MIR. Nicholls
what Is 10 prevent some other chieftain with an
equal right setting up in turn another Govern
ment, thus completing the resemblance to Mexi-
can customs which the White League, by its ac-
ton now and in 1874 has imitated1 The So
called Nichols Government rests its claims
largely on the support it receives from the rich
and aristocratic classes in this city. 1t If a
threatened oligarchy of wealth and n menace TO
the middle and poorer classes, who form ma
jorty whose right to rule this minority would
deny. A Government established on such Il
basis would tend 10 make the rich richer and the
poor poorer. 1t would be a violation of the
principles which underlie the very foundations
of republican government. The middle and
poorer classes, white as well SIS black, are inter
ested in stamping out, once for all, the theory
that revolution can be successfully relied upon
as a mode of reaching power in oppo-
stion to the will of a majority of the
people. 1t seems to me that the true course,
even for those who voted for my opponent IL
to give 10 the legal Government their aid and
support in restoring order and enforcing the
laws, lest the anarchy now prevailing in New Or
leans and the disturbed parishes should extend
to other parts of the State disorganize labor, and
destroy the prospects of the valuable crops upon
which even the members of the Cotton Exchange
and other wealthy corporations of the city rely
for subsistence. If force, instead of law, IS
to determine the rightfulness of a Government,
the great body of producers who voted for me
can hardly be blamed should they prove
as patriotic the aristocratic citizens of New
Orleans. and abandon their legitimate pursuits
to defend the Government Of their choice. If
they leave the pillow at my call, there will be no
harvest for either the Cotton Exchange the
cotton-picker. Both alike will suffer, and here
| it may not be inappropriate to recall the fact
that $65, 900, 900 added to the wealth of the
| country by the staple crops of Loui-
! siana last year were mainly produced by my sup
| porters ak,d that the Cotton Exchange and other
! organizations who now undertake to decide upon
| the lawful Government of the State largely
| composed of aliens, whose business IN the State
| is 10 handle crops which these patve-born ctl-
| zons have raised
Mr. Nichols urges the payment Of taxes to
! his unauthorized Collectors. it Is due TO prop
! erty-holders who may be misled by the spui us
| representations so constantly made witt regard
! to the pretended Nichols Government, at
| should warn them that receipts given for tixcs
paid other than to the legal ak G. lee oTs vii
not be valid against tie State. 1t Is hardly nee
essary for me to re.tetate my determination r.
defend 10 the last extremity my title h the office
to which have been declared elected. and the
rights and privileges of those 10y whose votes
have chiefly been called TO the Executive { hair.
| am daily in receipt Of Letters and message
| from the North Fast and West assuring me OF
the active sympathy and. If need lie, tue sup
port of a great party which has so long and SC
successfully administered the affairs OF the coun,
try. Tue reign Of polt cal terrorism and
disorder in this Stale is, / trust, rap
a u Ill 4n,..tul In or