The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-26
and the legislature, duly organized, re-
noa;nal in looal oxiafanca till diaenta.

order fer their withdrawal, issued
under the circumstances and in the man.
ner that 1t was issued, clearly indi-
Gates that even the moral support which
the legal government Of Louisiana should
have received from the national admins
tration woulc be denied. Had the Gen.
eral Assembly continued in session In
the State House. should have deemed 1t
nv duty to have ascertsined and defend
ed the government to the last, notwith-
standing the withdrawal of the troops;
but with the legislature disintegrsted and
no prospect OF present success, l cannot
task your fidelity by asking you longer
to continue to aid me in the struggle l
have thus far maintained. l, therefore,
announce to you that am compelled to
abstain for the present from all active as
sertion of my govern ment. 1
waive more of my legal rights,
but yield only to superior
force. l am not wholly discouraged by
the fact that one by one the Republican
State governments of the South have
been forced 70 succumb by force, or fraud
or policy. Louisiana, the first State re-
hablitsted after the war, is the last State
whose government thus falls, and / be-
lieve it will be among the first to raise
itself again to the plane OF equal and
)nest representation. lsdvise that you
maintain your party organization, and
continue TO battle tor the rights
of citizenship and free government. We
strive for these and not for man or men.
1t grieves me beyond expression that the
heroic efforts you have made and the
cruel sutferings you have undergone to
maintain republican principles IN Louisi-
ana have had this bitter ending. To
those who have SO gallsntly stood BY mo
in the long contest we have passed
through, l tender my heartfelt thsEks,
and 10 all counsel peace, patience, torti-
tude and firm trust that eventually
right and justice will prevail.
TSigned1 S. B. PACKARD,
Governor.
An Affecting Farewell.
NEW ORLEANS. April 25.-Packard's
parting with his police before he LETT the
building last night is said to have been
quite an affecting affair. There were
$50 OF them and every man wanted to
shake hands and escort him home.
Packard made them a speech, telling
them if they could get any of the ap-
preparation made for them by the Nichols
Legislature, to take IT. Their legal
claims for pay for their SER
vices would still remain, as they had
never been discharged from the iorce.
Several of the most effective members of
the force waited on Packard 1t his house
to-day, and told him that they had been
offered positions in the reorgsnized
force, and they wanted his advice
whether to accept or not. He recon-
mended them TO accept.
The members of the legislature in a
body have just passed down st. Charles
street, on their way to the State House,
headed by Governor Nichols.
Report ofthe Louisiana Commission.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The follow
ing is the report of the Louisiana Com
mission given out by the President this
evening:
NEW ORLEANS, April q, 1877.
To the President of the United States:
In accordance with your request the
undersigned have visited this city and
passed the last sixteen days in ascer.
tanning the political situation in Louis
lana and endesvorlng to bring about
peaceful solution of its difficulties.
In view OF the declaration OF the Secrc-
tary of State that we should direct our
efforts to the end of securing
the recognition of single Iegis-
lature as depository of the representa-
tive will of the people OF Louisiana,
leaving, if necessary, TO the judic al or
other constitutional arblLrsment within
the state the question OF ultimate right,
and, in view OF your determination to
withdraw the troops OF the United States
to their barracks rs soon as it could be
done without endangering peace, we ad
dressed ourselves to the task of securing
u common legislature, of undisputed au-
thority, competent TO compose the exist
ing political contentious and to preserve
peace, without any aid from the
natioaal government. To this
end, we endeavored to assUaye
the bitterness and animosity we found
existing on both sides so rs TO secure pub
lie opinion less untavorable to such con-
cessions as were indispensable TO our sue
cess in obtaining such Legislature and
such general acQuiescence IN its author
ity rs would insure social order. Ne
nave had full conferences with the two
gentlemen who claim to be Governor,
and with many other members Of their
respective governments in their executive,
Judicial and legislative departments.
We have also cOnversed very freely with
large delegations OF men OF business, with
many OF the district judges, au1 with
hundreds OF prominent citizens OF all
parties and races, representing, not only
tails city, but almost every parish in the
State. We have also received many
printed and written statements OF the
facts, IN leg al arguments, snd every per.
son with whom We CaUIe ID contact. has
sAown an earnest desire to give Us All
possible information bearing upon the
unfortunate politicsl divisions IN this
State.
The actual condition OF affairs on our
arrival IN this city may BE- briefly stated
Us follows:
Gov. Packard we shsll speak OF both
gentlemen By the title they claim vas
at the State House with his Legislature
and friends and 81 armed police iorce.
As there was DO quorum in The Senate,
even upon his own theory Of law, his
Legislature was necessarily luactivs.
The Supreme Court whca recogr lzed
MS authority, had not attempted 10 Trans.
act any business since it was disposessed
OF lis court room and the custody OF its
records on the 9tn day OF January, 1877.
he had no organized mI!ltIa, alleging
that MS deficiency in that respect
Was owing to his obedience to the orders
of President Grant, to take no steps TO
change the relative position Of himself
and Governor Nichols. His main reli-
snce ives upon his alleged legal title,
claiming thal 1t was the Constitutional
duty OF the President TO recognize and
to afford him such military assistance