The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-04-26

ulllco on lnn Guy, hhh taken lpfclhlt
control OF the state institutions, aud
had strengthened Itself on all aldea,
Notwithstanding this the commission
found the legal legislature still In sea'
HlOn nj the state house, ana my title
nnasAalled, and unassailable except by
force, The result Of their labor during
the two weeks they remained here N
known Of all men. They induced n
number ~ membera OF the legal house
Of representatives 10 take seats IN the
Nichols house, thus giving II a
returning board quorum, Prior 10
the meeting " the Legislature the
Democrats claimed 10 have elected
only sixty members OF the houae-one
less than "A quorum. one at least of
the members NO claimed by them
was absent on the first OF January, No
republican or independent would con.
sent 10 serve In the Nichols house,
aud consequently, IN order To obtain
oven the appearance Of an organiaa'
ton, they were compelled 10 call their
three men, defeated NJ the polls, whose
election had not previously been
claimed. The inquiry seems pertinent
Ia this connection, II returning board
quorum was 80 effective for Nichols
claimants, why was II that such quo.
rum was ignored while II remained
faithful 10 the legal government OF the
state? They did not recognize the 10.
turning board quorum from the day on
which the general assembly convened,
aud the legislature WA duly organized
In legal existence, until disintegrated
10y the direct action OF the commission.
This result having been achieved, II IN
n matter OF record that cougratliatory
messages were exchanged between the
president and his commission on the
following day. The president, by u
formal order, made public through the
press, directed that the United States
troops occupying building In the vi
oinily OF the statehouse, should be 70,
moved TO their barracks. Those troops
had been placed there by President
Grant, without a formal call OF the
governor TO protect the returning board,
which was counting the vote for presi-
dent. | firmly believe that had the
legal government been recognized, II
could have sustained Itself without
the Intervention OF troops, but the
order for the withdrawal, issued
under the circumstances, in the
manner that II was issued, clearly in
dicating that even the moral support
which the legal government OF i,ouisi-
ana should have received from the ma.
tional administration would be de-
MED. Had tie general assembly con.
tlnued In session ut the statehouse,
should have deemed II my duty to
have escorted and defended the gov
eminent to the last, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of the troops; but with
the legislature disintegrated, and no
prospect OF present success, ! cannot
task your tried fidelity by asking you
to continue to aid me In the struggle |
have thus far maintained. therefore
announce to you that am compelled
TO abstain for the present from all &C
tive assertion OF my government, |
waive none of my legal rights, but
Weld only to superior force. am not
wholly discouraged by the fact that
one by one republican state govern
ments of the south have been forced TO
succumb to force, or fraud, or policy.
Louisiana, the first state reconstructed
after the war, is the last state whose
government thus falls, and | believe 1t
will be among the first to raise itself to
the plain of equal and honest repre-
sentation. advise that you maintain
your party organization, and continue
to battle for the rights of citizenship
and free government. We strive for
these and not for man or men. 1t
grieves me beyond expression that the
heroic efforts you have made, the cruel
suiferings you have undergone, to
maintain republican principles in Lou
isiana, have come to this bitter ending.
To those who have so CALAMITY stood
by me in the long contest we have
passed through, tender my heartfelt
thanks. To all, / counsel peace, pa
thence, fortitude and a firm trust that
eventually right and justice will pre-
vail. s. b. PACKARD,
Governor.