Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-29
Proclamation by Gov. Packard.

| A so-called proclamation Of Francis T. Nichols
claiming to be Gov. of the State Of Louisiana
just made public, contains gross mis-statements
which deem it my duty thus 'authoritatively to
refuie. Mr.. Nichols, who asserts that his Gov
eminent is Fixed fact, complete in all its branches,
is destitute of one shred of legal tide to the Office
he attempts to u,urp. The pretended Legislature
which canv assed his claims to the office of Cover
nor had not before them any legal returns as pre-
scribed by the Constitution, and lacked two OF a
quorum in the Senate and 20 of quorum IN the
House.
The Secretary Of State, refusing formal de-
| mand made upon him by the partisans Of Nichols
placed the only legal returns Of the election be-
fore the Legislature recognized by Gov. Kellogg
| That Legislature meeting in the State House as
required by law and having 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 during the recent contest over the Presden-
| tal election by the highest Il ibunal in the nation
That tribunal declared the vote of the State to
| have been cast for Hayes and Wheeler and by
doing proclaimed in effect my election, for the
vote cast for me exceeded by nearly 700 that cast
for several of the Presidential Electors. The
Constitution names as executive officers of the
State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor,
Attorney General, and Superintendent of Public
Education. Not one Of these important branches
of government is in accord with or under control
of Gen. Nichols The State Treasurer, elected in
1874 for period of four years, refuses to recog-
nizc the authority of Mr. Nichols, or to sign any
| tax papers that he may attempt TO issue. The
Secretary of State, Auditor Of Public Accounts,
Attorney General and Superintendent of Public
| Education 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 the ma
chinery for the assessment and collection of taxes
The Supreme Court appointed by lmy predecessor
recognizes me as Governor. Outside the City
Of New Orleans great majority of the District
judges acknowledge nv authority. In nearly all
peaceful, prosperous and productive parishes of
the State the authority of my Government and
its officials is unquestioned. The few country
parishes which assume to recognize and support
Gen. Nichols are mostly those where turbulence
prevails, as it did during the late campaign, and
where political assassination is still practiced and
approved and general lawlessness banishes pros
perity.
Mr. Nichols in his proclamation thanks the pa
trotic men who on the 9th of January, 1877, re-
sponded to the call OF the civil authorities OF the
State to prevent illegal attempts to GUST them from
their legal possession of the court buildings. 1t
is notorious that the patriotic services thus render
ed consisted In several thousand armed White
Leaguers with artillery in battery, taking violent
possession of the courtroom and archives of the
| Supreme Court Of the State-a court OF unQues-
tionable legality-and installing in their stead
pretended tribunal commissioned by Nichols, and
officially declared by the President of the United
States to be devoid Of any legal authority. The
harsh and arbitrary proceedings, and illegal ar
rests and incarceration without benefit of bail which
have since been inflicted upon supporters of the
State Government by the judicial tribunal thus
temporarily usurped by Mr.. Nichols and his ad-
herents, efficient proof of the insncerity of
the pledges alleged TO have been offered, that
der his rule, if his Government should be allowed
to stand, the rights of all citizens would be re-
] speced.
| Ii revolution be made successful under Mr.
Nichols, what is to prevent some other chief
tain with an equal right setting up in turn anoth-
err Government in our midst, thus completing
the resemblance to Mexican customs, which
the White League, by its action now and
in 1874 has initiated. The so-called
Nichols government rests its claims
largely on the support il receives from the rich
and aistocratic class in this CITY, 1t is threatened
| oligarchy of wealth, and a menace to the middle
| right to rule this minority would deny. A gov
ernment established on such basis would tend to
make the ricn richer and the poor poorer. Ii
would be violation Of the principles which un-
| derlie every foundation OF republican government.
The middle and poorer classes, white as well as
black are interested in stamping out once for all,
the theory that revolutions be successfully re-
lied upon as a mode of reaching power in opposi-
ton 10 the will of the ma ority of the people. 1t
seems to me that the true course even OF those who
voted for my opponent is to give to the legal gov
ernment their aid and support in restoring order
and enforcing the laws lest the anarchy now pre-
vailing in New Orleans and the disturbed parishes
should extend to other parts of the State, disor
ganze labor. and destroy the prospects of the val
liable crops, upon which even the members of the
Cotton Exchange and other wealthy corporations
| of the city rely for subsistence.
ii force instead Of law is to determine the right
| fulness OF Government, the great body of pro-
ducers who voted for me can hardly be blamed
should they prove as patriotic as the aristocratic
citizens OF New Orleans and abandon their legit-
innate pursuits to defend the Government of their
choice. Ii they leave the pillow at my call, there
will be no harvest for either Cotton Exchange or
cotton picker; both alike will suffer. And here
1t may not be inappropriate to recall the fact that
the 500, 900 added to the wealth of the coun-
| try by staple crops Of Louisiana last year were
mainly produced by my supporters, and that the
the Cotton Exchange and other organizations who
now undertake to decide upon the lawful Govern
ment Of the State, are largely composed of aliens
WnOse BUSINESS IN tne State is 10 handle the crops
which these nativeborn citizens have raised Mr.
Nichols urges the payment of taxes to his unau-
thorzed collectors. 1t is due to property holders
who may be misled by the specious representa-.
tons so constantly made with regard to the pre-
tended Nichols Government that l should warn
them that receipts given for taxes paid other than
TO the legal Tax Collectors will not be valid
against the State. 1t is hardly necessary for me
to reiterate my determination to defend
to the last extremity my title TO the office to which
| have been declared elected, and the rights and
| privileges of those by whose votes have chiefly
been called to the Executive chair l am daily
IN receipt of letters and messages from the North,
East and West. assuring me of active sympathy,
and, if need be, support of the great party which
has so long and so successfully administered the
affairs OF the country. The reign Of political ter
rorlsm and disorder in this State is trust rapid
y drawing to close. Official information reaches
me that 10 a few days, National Commission will
visit the State and pass upon its condition. Conf
dent of the justice and rectitude of nv claim, |
have no doubt of the result, and | am encouraged
to believe that as soon the legal State Govern
ment shall have received from the National au-
thories that recognition to which it is Justly en-
titled, it will be enabled to draw to its support the
active cooperation of Target class of the con-
/ servatlve citizens whose Influence has