The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-13
Packard Interviewed.

Packard interviewed.
New ORLEANS, March l2.-Governor
Packard remains constantly at the State
House attending to such business as
comes before him. He said to re-
porter to-day, he had as full confidence
as ever in the final success of his govern
ment, but he added, "I am annoyed at
the persistence with which the most
glaring mlsststenents are repeated, even
by the journals usually we'll Informed;
tor instance, it seems to be widely believ'
ed my legal claims to the office of Gov
ernor of Louisiana are based en-
tirely on the decision of the Returning
Board and that the constitutional provls-
ion requiring the canvass of votes by
the General Assembly has not been
strictly complied with in this respect,
thst there were less tnsn quoram OF
the Senators present when that canvass
was made. The provision of the consti-
tuition upon the subject is this:
Article 48. The returns OF every elect
ion shall be sealed up and transmitted by
the proper returning officers to
the Secretary of State, who shall
deliver them to the Speaker of
he House OF Representatives on
the second day of the session OF the Cen
eral Assembly then to be held. The
members of the General Assembly shall
meet IN the House of Representatives to
examine and count the votes. The per-
sons having the greatest number OF votes
tor Governor snail be declared duly
elected. This provision was complied
with in every particular on the 22d day
of the session. On January I'd, the Cen
eral Assembly met In joint convention,
with 68 Representatives and q Senators
present, made canvass AID declared the
result, quorum of the house
SIS 81 and OF the Senate l9. VI the oe
Republicans present all were returned oy
the Returning Board, and OF the Il Sen
stors l9 we're so returned, and two were
seated on contest. Thus it will be seen
that there WAS al u2doubted quorum OF
the members of each branch OF the Leg
stature present and participating in the
canvass, whose names appeared on the
rolls OF the Secretary OF State Ms entitled
10 participate IN the original orgshiza-
uon. The impression Lnat there Was not
Quorum present has probably
slisen from the fact that five
of the Senators present when
the votes We're counted tor Goyerpor,
and when Kellogg was elected Senator
were after induced 10 withdraw, and
some OF them are now acting with the
Nichols Senate. Two have since re-
turned. There was no legal quorum OF
either house present III the Nichols
Legislature when The pretended canvass
WAS made for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor. The House has but torty-two
legal members, the Senate but seventeen,
nor had they before them any returns,
as prescribed by the Constitu-
ton. on which 10 base
their canvass. DeslouIe, Kellogg sec
re.sry OF state, then undispu.ed secretary
OF state, lot only refused the returns
when a committee from Nichols
formally waited on him to request them,
but presented them, as directed by law,
to the speaker OF the legal House, IN
whose presence the vote was csnvsssed,
as sbove stated. Referring TO President
Hayes' Southern policy, Packard said, 81
don't understand why the President
should sacrifice any principle or
the abandonment OF the friends
OF the Union and Republican
party in the South. l don't understand
it TO be his desire 10 force the colored
people from the Republican party. On
the other hand, | understand that he Will
sustain, under the constitution and laws
OF the United States, each State OF Inc
Union in republican form OF govern.
ment, and will suppress lnsurreetion ana
domestic violence. | understand him as
wishing to avoid the constant use OF
troops in the Southern States at elections
and as policemen. A foundation
for this very desirable state OF
affairs has been laid here already.
1t has been my desire to facilitate sn ell.
trance into the Republican party OF the
old line Wings and Conservatives, and
during the past canvass nay efforts IN
that direction were crowned with gratl-
fyirg success. All OF that class Of scces-
sions, which number among them some OF
the best Of the native whites ofthe State,
are now firm supporters OF my gov
ernmen. Our temporary difficulties have
the effect Of relieving Us Of the worst e!e-
melt OF the party. l stall try to AID
President Hayes in his Southern poiicy
by administering the government of
Louis!s ana honestly and economically and
IN the interest OF the whole people, white
and black. shall try 70 have some OF
the detsulting Cticers sent TO prison and
some of the murderers hung. This State
i IN a condition which admits OF 8 dlvl-
SION L n other than color lines. The Re
publican party will lose Pinchback snd
8 small following of colored men whe
will go to the Democratic party. sad on
the other hand the Republicans will gain
largely from the Conservatives and
old line Wigs. If, however, the
revolutionary Nichols party, repre-
senting the extreme Democratic
element, succeed in supporting
lawful State government the coiored
line may be expected 70 be drawn t!gh.
er than ever snc the persecution Of COT
ored men continue IS in Mississippi
Texas and other Republican States
which have been stolen by white lesguers,
till the las, vestige of Republicanism has
been crushed out.
Banks Enjoined.
Bo>roX. March l2.-The Herald says