Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-04-25
Collapse of the Packard Government.

NEW ORLEANS, April 21.---A COM
mittee from the Packard Legislature
waited upon tie commission to-day and
requested their friendly offices in secur-
ing from the Nichols government some
compensation for the policemen and
employees who have remained faithful
to Packard. The commission assured
them that they would endeayor to meet
their wishes, and Immediately reqested
an interview with Governor Nichols,
Lieut.. Coy. Wilt, Speaker Bush and a
numbers Of the Nichols Legislature, to
whom they made known the request OF
the republican committee.
The subject was favorably considered,
and Governor Nichols, with the advice
and consent of his associates, promptly
offered to devote the Governors contin-
gent fund to this purpose. This fund
amounts to between thirty and forty
thousand dollars, and was appropriated
to aid Nichols in establishing his gov
eminent. This prompt aid to republic
can employees will provide fol- their I'M
mediate wants and remove much Of the
dlsaffection among them consequent up
on the breaking up Of Packard's govern
ment, and the commission seemed to be
highly gratified at the absence ofresent-
ment on the part Of the Nichols party.
Long before these arrangements We're
contaminated a number of Packard
members of the Senate and House had
taken their seats in the Nichols Leg
islature. subsequently concurrent re-
solution was passed IN the Nichols
Legislature paying the republican mem
bers who were not elected but We're re-
turned by the returning board their
mileage and per diem as contestants.
4 notable feature of the proceeding up
on the floor Of the Nichols House was
the withdrawal Of seven democratic
members who gracefully yielded their
seats, Introducing colored republican
members who claimed the seats on the
face Of the returns.
| At O'Clock great excitement prevail
ed. Republican members dropped in
one by one during the morning. and at
2.3O p. NJ. loud cries from without indi-
Gated something unusual, and there was
great commotion all over the House. A
deafening shout arose rs the tall form OF
ex-Gev. Warmoth moved up the central
aisle. When silence was restored, War
moth said:
''Mr. Speaker I apper here with a
number of my colleagues for the pur-
pose of taking Our seats III the House.
In caucus of Senators and Representa-
tives a resolution was adopted that it
was useless to further continue contro-
versy. We have no apologies to make.
We have been whipped in the battle.
but have at least preserved our selt-res-
pect in an honorable conflict and are
prepared now to offer our allegiance to
the only existing government and to
fairly cooperate IN anything which may
be suggested"
Mr.. johnson. Of De Soto, d returning
board member. in a short speech, said :
''All / say is, just give Johnson his mil
cage, and let him 90 home. Elect your
best man. Don't eject q man who will
trade OF the democratic party ike the
republican party was traded Oh. | want
what is due me, and then am prepared
% follow any man Of honesty and
ability"
Henry Blair, colored, Of Morehouse.
said he stood up for the republican ship
as long as it was in sight. bat as it had
entirely disappeared from sight he wish
ed to tender his resignation. He hoped
when he returned home his constituents
would rejoice that he had not done any
more harm than he had done. lie had
believed he was right. and that ne was
constitutionally elected, but finding
himself in the wrong he came forward
to resign his claims. Holt, Of De Soto,
also Withdrew his claims to a seat.
Some Of the republicans who went
over say they mold the balance Of power
in the matter Of the election ola United
States Senator.
Before the House assembled this
morning Nh. Kenochan. democrat, of
Plaquemine parish, who was unseated
by the arrangement admitting the re-
publicars, called the House to order
informally, whcreupon Nj. Kidd, demo-
crat, in a feeling address, presented a
handsome gold-headed cane to VIM.
Ridgewav. a colored member from
Concordia, who had been seated Oh con-
test, but who was the first to reijnquish
his claims to colored contestant in the
interest OF the adjustment.
z. J. Irrelevant, clerk of the Nichols
House. furnished the commission the
following statement of membership,
which was included in their telegram TO
the President this afternoon. Total
number Of the constitutional House
l2O; number returned by the returning
board III; number thrown out by the
returning board 3---total 100. Number
ofreturning board members not answer
inc roll call IS; returning board MEM
Der dead |; number of members elected
and not returned by board, but whoea
opponents have withdrawn andao,Ava-
| lodged their claims, IL; number elected
and now occupying their seats, but not
returned by the board, 9; members
elected and returned who have not an
swered TO the call Of the House Is; total
number l20. Number answering roll
call to-day, republicans Y; democrats 81
---total l06. Senate, total number So;
present to day 80; absent 3---Harper,
Wakefield and Dumont, all republicans.
The Senate stands, republicans Il
present; democrats 20 present.
| The commission closed their labors
7 to-day, and left for Washington via
Mobile. The results achieved by them
are more complete than could have
been anticipated. The general feeling,
5 even among intelligent republicans, is
that these results will be Of immense
advantage to the State. The commits.
sion have been more than ordinarily
= circumspect, and have devoted them.
e selves in the most laboriouc manner tc
= their work. In their innumerable inter.
views with delegations, committees and
. individuals OF both parties, they have
been courteous and patient. 1t is un.
s derstood that an ovation was rendered
: them by the people of this city, but this
was declined with thanks.
Commenting on the order for the re.
moval of troops the Times says: "Mr
Hayes has carried out his policy to q
S fuller extent than could have been ex.
: pected, and with the elimination CT il
, has secured formal and public pledge OF
L