Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-02

supported. It was further strength.
ened by the absence from the State or
the opposition Of that element whose
previous adherence to the party had
brought it into disrepute. These
causes combined to bring about the
remarkable success achieved BY the
republican party in al the doubtful
parishes. With one exception, every
where the white population prepon-
derated, and which gave us . maiori-
ty in the Legislature, except whore
organized violence prevailed. Our
State ticket carried every republican
parish and also number OF parishes
which in the last Legislature were
represented by democratic members.
I briefly summarize the historical
events which have since occurred.
The General Assembly met ON the
first of January last aud organized
with . full legal quorum il both
houses and passed laws, which were
approved by the then executive Of
the State and ON the second Of Janu-
ary last canvassed and declared the
vote for Governor.
At this time the nation was agitat-
ed by doubt as to the result Of the
Presidential election, with the expec-
tation that Samuel j. Tilden might
possibly become President Of the
United States and with NO hope Of
success otherwise, my opponent in the
late campaign established . mock leg.
islature and went thro' the form Off
auguration in order that there might
hn ~
which Tilden, II inaugurated, could
possibly galvanize into vitality in q
few days. What folllowed2 Gener-
al Nichols and his adherents were
encouraged by the unexpected refu.
sal of President Grant TO recognise
the state government or TO respond to
the constitutional call Of the legisla-
ture; though he questioned tho le-
gality Of neither on the 9th Of Jan.
uary.
/ had scarcely taken my seat In the ex-
ecutive chair before the White League
rose in armed insurroction, and BY .
coup de Hsein took possession Of the
Supreme Court, Arsenal and stations
Of the Metropolitan Police, al located
ct the Capital. Then came orders
from President Grant establishing .
stats quo, the practical effect Of which
was to confirm the insurgents II the
advantages they had gained and pre-
vent any effort to dispossess them.
On the Inauguration OF President
Hayes, the State authOrities made
preparations to organize the militia
for the defense Of the State govern.
ment. General Nicholls' police seized
upon the recruiting officers and i'm
prisoned them for treason. without
the benefit Of bail or writ Of ha6eas
corpus. I telegraphed this fact to
President Hayes, asking II this Wal
in violation Of the statw Qw0, and II
not, whether the release Of these me n
by force, all civil remedies having
been exhausted, would be 10 consid--
cred. The President replied. "Your
dispatch of Gath reed. The Sec'y Of
War has telegraphed Gen. Augur. A
commission will shortly visit Louis
lana. In the meantime the President
desires that the situation remain nm
changed" The commission came.
In the meantime the Nichols govern
ment had crystalized into shape, and
80 far from permitting tho situation
to remain unchanged, It had broken
into the tax collectors Offices Of the
city and had taken forcible control ol
tho State installations, and had
strengthened itself ON al sides. Not
withdrawing this, however, the COM
mission found the legal Legislature
still in session at the State House and
my title unassailed and unassailable,
Except by force. The. result of their
labors during tho two weeks they re-
mained. here il known Of all men.
They induced . number Of the Nom
bers of the legal House Of Represen-
tatives to take seats In the Nichols
House, thus giving II returning
board quorum. Prior TO the meeting
Of the Legislature the Democrat
claimed to have elected only sixty
members Of the House, one LEES than
Ia quorum. One at least OF the mem
bers SO claimed by them was absent
on the LIST Of January last, and nd
Republican or Independent member
would consent to act with the Mich.
oils House and consequently II order
to obtain even the appearance Of 81
Organization they had been compolled
Ito cali to their aid thres men dsleated