New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-21

,.yr>rr MEETING on HE SUBJECr-ENCIIEMENi
ovrR PACKARD's ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WITH
,uF PRESIDENT AND GEN. DEVENs.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
v,surxGToN, March 2O.-The greater portion of
tirc in the Cabinet meeting to-day was occupied
-" 49, discussion of the Southern situation. The
,..;,;o,a question was deemed the most pressing
- ;nrortant and it Is expected that decision so
g. a that State is concerned will be reached
=. ,orrov. 1t is possible, however, that 1t may be
.oa,noned several days later. Any disturbance IN
T,r-o-leans tonight or tomorrow may interfere
ii this decision. The discussion showed very
"aaoral accord with the Presidents conservative
- concerning Southern matters, although 1t IS
,1crstood that there some difference of opinion
= a the details of the policy that should be
adopted.
The South Carolina Republicans who have come
.oWasbington with a view of influencing the action
81 the Administration in its treatment of affairs III
their State, had an interview with the Attorney
General to-day. They restated their case at some
,.natb The argument advanced was in the main
the same as that made yesterday to the PRESIDENT
IT, received no indication of the intentions of the
Administration Ill
r,ornirp 70 the effect that Gov. Packard was max
81, preparations to defend himself, if not indeed
Al
r,tle excitement in Washington. The agents Of
Gov Packard now here intimate that he has deter
,o;,ed In make stand and 10 demonstrate the fact
.Lot no has the physical force to wage a successful
oo,,p,ign AGAINST the Nichols Government. As the
LEGALLY elected Executive of the State they say
Ia has right to sustain himself by the
accumulation of the militia by any other means
usually reSorted to in such contingencies. Gov.
Penn and others here who represent Mr.. NICHOLS
declare their suspicion that the threatened outbreak
is being engineered by the representatives OF Pack
ord mere in Washington and that it will amount to
nothing more than buster. The Nichols people
here have dispatches from New-Orleans this after
noon which indicate that the Democrats in that
State intend to keep their heads cool and do not
anticipate serious trouble.
Aside from the immediate representations OF the
two conteuding parties III New-Orleans, the general
in,ur,ssion seems to be that Gov. Packards new
increment has for Its principal object the introduce
toa OF fresh complications into the Louisiana ques-
tio. and tie postponement Of the threatened with
drawal OF the support OF United States troops Gov
Nichols and those acting with him have gwen to
the President the most solemn pledges that they
Will do nothing which viii result iii a breach of the
mace and thai they will use no forclbie means to
eject Cow Packard from the state House. which he
now occupies GOV Packard has given 40 such
pledces and il is hardly probable that be will do 80
and There Is Observation-Disclosures just or not 1t Is I'M
possiJlc to ascertainthat he and his friends desire
10 make a conflict in NewOrcaus appear 50 mmi-
n,1t as to deter the Cabinet from issuing immediate
Instructions to Gen. Augur about the Withdrawal OF
military support.
All the representatives Of both parties in New
Orleans are exceedingly anxious to-day Al regard to
rne action of the Administration. The Democrats
have positively asserted that the President would
,,kc immediate steps to relieve both Louisiana and
South Carolina IRON military interference as soon as
She senate adjourned; and because the first regular
Cabinet meeting subsequent 10 the adjournment
was to be held to-day they have supposed
that the necessary orders would he issued to
morrow. The Republicans on the other hand, while
they feared that something Of the kind might oc-
cur have all the time been exceedingly active in
their efforts to prevent it, The Cabinet meeting to-
day loft both parties in great suspense and when it
adjourned and it gradually leaked out that nothing
positive had been determined upon, the Democrats
were much depressed. The Republicans accepted
this fact as a good omen for their side.
After the close OF the Cabinet meeting, eX-(iOv.
Kellogg aud ex-Rcprescn:atve Mercy went TO the
White House. and had long interview with the
Presid, mt concerning affairs III tEer state They
repeated 20 him at considerable length their argu-
ments in the case and they report this evening that
he Informed them that orders for the Withdrawal
of troops would be given. lie also asserts that 10
change in the policy which has been pursued for
the last month will take place until
alter commission has visited the South
em States and reported to the President.
What the President probably did tell them was that
it had not been decided to withdraw the troops, for
the fact Is that while the matter was discussed i'll
the Cabinet meeting to-day, 10 conclusion was
reached The indications tonight are that the Adj
mniStration will move very slowly III its treatment
of the Southern question. and that no change of the
present status may take place for several days or
perhaps weeks to come.