New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-28
A Doubtful Dispatch.

A messenger rushed into the REPUBLICAN
office yesterday with what purported to be
a telegram from distinguished prelate of
this city, now on a political mission to
Columbus, Ohio. There was nothing in the
appearance of the messenger to excite sus-
picion, and the dispatch was receipted for
in our counting room in the usual way. 1t
is probable, however, that the telegram was
intended for one of our Democratic con-
temporaries, or that it is the production of
some practical Joker. We give it for what
it is worth:
Especial to the New Orleans Republican
COLUMBUS, o., February 27, 1877.
Bid our brethren be of good cheer. God
will surely smite the Philistines hip and
thigh. Colonel G-ge Sh-d-n, Judge
Sl-n-k-r, Colonel G. w. Ctr, Senator
P-h-bk and myself had an interview with
Governor Hayes this morning. The latter
received us kindly, and stated that while it
was his opinion that the Republicans would
have carried Louisiana last fall had there
been perfectly fair election, and that the
equities of the case were in favor of the
Returning Board decision, still in view of
the fact that the taxpaying portion of the
people are so evidently averse to recognizing
his authority, and that such recognition
could only be enforced with the bayonet,
he should favor some arrangement for recon
Cling both parties, if such an arrangement
could be made without absolute abandon
| ment OF principle. He had said in his letter
of acceptance that he desired Justice for all
portions of the country, and it would be his
policy to encourage in the South measures
tending to renew an era of good feeling
between that section and the North. He
| hat - l..
au adjustment by appointing Packard col
lector of the port, and allowing him to
name sill other Federal officials in Louis
| lana, On the other hand Nichols to be
recognized as Governor after a recanvass of
the votes by the Legislature, the latter body
to be reorganized on the basis of the find.
ings OF the Returning Board, with power to
make such further changes as the Legislsr
! ture might agree to. Governor HAYES
stated that in his opinion a mutual agree
ment on this basis, or on a similar one, he
should regard as eminently preferable to
the unsettled condition of affairs which
would inevitably snsue were he to recog-
nize either Nichols or Packard, and
at the same time highly honorable to both
parties. Governor Hayes stated that he
would himself write an autograph letter to
both Packard and Nichols advising that
those gentlemen, each with q few chosen
friends have a meeting for the purpose OF
discussing the subject of some such con-
ciliatOry measure, and that any arrange
ment which they might make would meet
with his approval provided it be not in
violation of law. He thought, from what
he had learned of Governor Nichols char,
acter that he could safely rely upon him to
protect the rights of the colOred people.
Colonel Sh-dn, Judge Sl-nkr, Colonel
Ctr, Senator Ph-bk and myself then
withdrew.
Could the friends of Governor Nichols,
including Fl. MIR Th-sn, DR.. P-lmr
and others arrange meeting at once with
| Mr.. Packard and his friendsl
commend to yoG Luke H., IA: "Glory to
God in the highest; on earth peace and
! good will toward men,"