The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-25
THE NiUHODUs GOVERNMENT.


THE NiCHUll4 auNEkNMENf.
The resolution introduced by Mr..
Kidd in the House of Representatives
yesterday, and unanimously adopted
by that body, was an opportune reflec-
tion OF the honest sentiments and earn
est determination of the people Of Lou
isiana. No one familiar with the pres
emit condition of affairs in this State en-
tertains the least doubt that not one
dollar OF tribute will be contributed by
the taxpayers to the support of any
but the Nichols government, and that
amy attempt to collect taxes by any
other authority would not only prove
abortive but probably lead to most de-
plorable consequences. We take this
utterance OF the peoples representa-
tivos as bold and even defiant procla-
nation to the world that. 60 far as LOU
fsiana Is concerned, the time for COM
promises has passed; that we are
resolved not to surrender one
lot or little Of our just rights at the
demand of any power on earth that in
the struggle to establish on a firm basis
the government OF our choice, we are
willing to exhaust all OF our resources
and even peril our lives, and that no re-
1nonstrance, no reasoning, no argu
xnent, not even that OF superior force,
will avail to deter us from cur purpose.
The President OF the United States,
in a recent statement, Of which he IL
said to have authorized the publication.
gave o number or reasons why the
Hampton government In South Caro-
lima, independently OF the question OF
its legality, must necessarily prevail
In the end over the pretensions
0f Chamberlain and his few remain
Ing adherents. The President. by q
process OF reasoning which we
failed to comprehend. seemed to have
reached the conclusion that the circum-
stances OF what we may call the Lou.
isiana case were entirely dissimiiar
from those governing the political sit
aiation In South Carolina; but every
sntelligent reader Of his remarks must
have A. once perceived that what he
mid regarai,.g the futility of further
sefsorts On ia part o, chamberlain to
impose his authority upon ah INV lining
people, applied literally to the absurd
rretensions Of Packard and bis molly
following. !.
The main argument used by General
Grant, and 1t Is one that addresses itself
with peculiar force to the practical
minds Of Northern men, was that the
people Of South Carolina would not. I'M
der any circumstances, pay tribute for
the support Of Chamberlain; that the
whole military power OF the United
States would not suffice to enforce the
collection OF taxes for that purpose. and
that no purchasers could be found for
the property which might be sold
under the hammer for ron-payment OIL
taxes. Gan any resident OF this State
trushfully say that the Uondition OF
affairs thus portrayed is not precisely
that which exists to-day in Louisiana
I'm almost every parish OF the State. nc
matter what its past political complex
Ion may have been, public meetings
hAve been held with view Of arrang
Ing, In the absence of duly commits
stoned tax collectors. some mode o
gathering and paying over contribu
lions for the support OF the Nichols
government. In the Republican parishes
Or Caddo. Rapides, pointe Coupee ant
Red River. the police juries have ordered
that all OF the parish and State take
b paid ever to the officers commission
0iby Gen. Nichols. and to them alone
In most OF the parishes OF the State tn
de jure and dc facto Nichols govern
ment has been formally recognized
In not q single parish, SO far as we hay
heard, has a meeting been held for tn
purpose of pledging the payment Q
taxes to Packard, nor have we heard @
asingle declaration, on the part of an
taxpayer. OF q willingness to supper
that individual by the contribution 9
money. No meeting has been held i
any parish (save an informal one in s
Nary indorsing the Packard "govern
ment," or promising IL support of an
kind. Every man OF subtance In th
6tete; every man who has direct intel
0st lid lie moral, social and material we
fare every citizen, native or adopted
who IL free from all connection Wit
plunderIng rings and from all desig