The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-03
PACKARD'S LAST.g
Address to the Republicans of Louisiana

New ORLEANS, April 25.-By five
o'clock this morning, Governor Packard
and all his adherents, except one Metro
politian, had left the State House, and
Colonel Boylan, Chief of Police, direct
ed a squad of his men to take possession
of the building. Packard's militia left
behind them two hundred stands Of arms
belodging to the State,
Ex Governor Packard printed an ad-
dress last week to the Republicans of
louisiana. 1t commences as follows;
"On this day, the fifteenth anniversary
of the surrender of New Orleans to the
forces of the United States, it becomes
my duty to announce to you that the aid
and countenance ofthe National Govern
ment has been withdrawn from the Re-
bublicans of Louisiana, and that gov
ernment revolutionary in form is prac-
tically on the point Of usurping the con-
troll affairs in this State,
Packard next briefly summarizes the
historical events which have occurred
since the election, and says that Cover
nor Nichols, in the expectation ofTilden
being President, "establ shed mosaLess
gislature and went through the form of
an Inauguration, in order that there
might be a resemblance ofa government,
which Mr.. Tilden, if inaugurated, could
possibly galvanize into vitality" He
then shows how this has been done by
Grant and Hayes. In regard to the ac-
ton of the Commission, Packard says:
"The Commission found the legal
legislature still in session at the State
House, and my title unassailed, and un-
assailable, except by force. The result
of their labors during the two weeks they
remained here is known of all men.
They induced number of the members
ofthe legal House of Representatives to
take seats in the Nichols House, thus
giving it Returning Board quorum.
"Prior to the meeting of the Legisla-
ture, the Dem. claimed to have elected
only sixty members Of the House, one
less than quorum. One, at least, OF the
members so claimed by them, was abb
sent on the Ist of January last. No Re
publican or Independent member would
consent to act with the NICHOLS House,
and consequently, in order to obtain
even the appearance Of an organization,
thev had been compelled to call to their
aid three men defeated at the polls,
whose election had not previously been
claimed,
THE inquiry, therefore, seems perth
nent in this connection: If a Returning
Board quorum was so effective TOR Mich
olss claim, why was it thg t such quorum
was ignored while it remained faithful to
the legal government Of the State! That
government had a Returning Board
quorum from the day on which the Cen
eral Assembly convened, and the Legis-
lature was duly organized and remained
in legal existence till disintegrateo by
the direct action of the Commission
This result having been achieved, It is
matter of record that congratulatory
messages were exchanged between the
President and his Commission.
'I should have deemed it my duty to
have asserted and defended the govern
ment to the last Notwithstanding the
withdrawal of the troops, but with the
Legislature disintegrated and no pros
pect of present success, l cannot task
your tried fidelity by asking you longer
to continue to aid me in the struggle
have thus far maintained. l therefore
announce to you that | am compelledto
abstain for the present from all active
assertion of my government l waive
none ofmy active rights, but yield only
to superior forces
Mr.. Packard concluded by advising
the Republicans of Louisiana to maintain
their party organization. He adds; ITO
those who have so gallantly stood by me
in the long contest we have passed
through, l tender my heartfelt thanks.
To ali | counsel peace, patience, fortitudee
and a firm trust that eventually truth and
justice will prevail" J"