New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-13
POINTS THE COMMISSION AGREE ON.

PACKARD GOVERNOR DE JrRE AND NICHOLS DE
FACIo-THE QUESTION CAN EASILY SOLVE ITSELF
IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TkIBUNkl
NEW ORLEANS, April S.-The Commission have nm
ished the work of surveying the ground having
heard committees and delegations connected with
every branch of the two hostile governments and
listened to large number of individuals represent
ing all shades of political opinion They have i'll
dustriously and cOnscentiOusly endeavored to pos
ses themselves of all the facts bearing upon the solu-
ton Of the difficulty, and are now about ready to
shut their doors and deliberate among themselves
as 10 methods of settlement to be proposed TO the
contending parties, recommended to the Presl-
dent While they have taken no votes and put
nothing upon paper, it may safely be stated that a
majority if not all the members have been led by
their inquiries to the following conclusions:
First : That the Packard government has the best.
If not the only de re title. If the Returning Board
be a constitutional part of the machinery of cleo
lions, then Packard his court his officers, ana his
legislature are the legitimate products OF that ma
chnery. There is room for fair doubt as to the
constitutional power of the board to make up a leg
stature and to act judically on the returns for Gov
ernOr but, in the absence of any Supreme Court de-
eision denying it the power its return was binding
The Nichols party had therefore no right to build
up government on their own doubts as to the con-
acted. The question goes to the President. however,
not as a legal, but as a political one, and he may
fairly satisfy himself and be governed by his concu-
sons as to whether the boards action constitu-
tiOnal.
Second That the Nichols government exercises
complete de fdctO authority throughout the State,
and in every of its SOIL except within the walls
Of the old hotel used by Packard as state House.
The assertions of Packard, that in certain heavy
negro parishes he is recognized have not been veri-
fed, reputable gentlemen of both parties having
come in from these parishes to assure the Commits
sion that NichOlls's administration meets with no
more opposition i'll those localities than III New
Orleans. Packard's statement that nearly all the
Circuit Judges in the State recognize him. has been
found to rest solely in the fact that these Judges
were commissioned by Kellogg and is disproved by
the oaths of Office filed by them with the Nicholls
Secretary of State. Ii is literally true that Packard
Is prisoner in the State House. and that his claims
ale actively supported by nobody in Louisiana eX-
cept the members of his government and the two or
three hundred guards he is feeding and paying. No
doubt the negro population believe in his right and
want ii enforced but they will not raise finger to
ad hlm, while the white population is i'll active and
determined hostility 10 his pTotensons
IhTd: That the Nichols administration is main
lalhing order throughout the State and protecting
the nights Of both races, and that peace and pros
perlty would result from it's continuance.
fourth: That the Packard administration cannot
be established by simple recognition on the part of
The President but only by the use of large force of
Federal troops to crush out the acting government
ana the maintenance of garrison in the State dur
Ing the whole Of Packard's term. Further that if
tbs course were practicable it would involve con-
uhiance Of the race conflicts, social and industrial
disturbances and business depression which char
acterlzed kellOgg's administration.
believe that the members of the Commission are
unanimous on these points, but their conclusions do
not show them a clear road out Of the maze of diff
Guilty In which the State is involved by the rival
administrations They are not here to decide on
legal questions, or to discover what would be the
most desirable issue Of the controversy. but to find
spracticable way Of making one government out of
TWO, and, when found to its adoption il pos
nDle, by the contending parties They may report
that Packard has the best title but that the inter
es of the State and the nation require that Nichols
shonid be left in possession, bnt that would not
uraighten the snarl. The President would still
haTe TO interfere. and it is the special desire