The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-26
LOUISIANA.
Gov. Packard AbandOns the Con.
test
His Farewell to his
Supporters,
The Commissions Report to the
President.

New ORLEANS. April 25.-Packard and all
left the State House and Col. Boytan, chief
of police, has directed a squad of his men to
take possession Of the building. Packard's mi
litia left behind them about 200 stands of arms
belonging to the state.
Gov. Nichols yesterday received many tele-
grams from points in Louisiana, Alabama,
Mississippi and Texas, offering congratulations
on the withdrawal of the troops
Packard's Farewell Address.
Packard's farewell address to the Republicans
of Louisiana says: On this day, the 18th ami
yersary 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 coun-
tenance eff the national government have been
withdrawn from the Republicans of Louisiana
and that government revolutionary in form
is practically on the point of usurpiDg the con-
troll of affairs in this state.
The history Of affairs in the state is reviewed
at length and then Packard concludes:
VI waive none Of my legal rights, but yield
only to superior force. L am wholly discour-
aged by the fact that one by one the Republic
can state governments of the South have been
forced to succumb to force. fraud or policy.
Louisiana, the first state rehabiltated after the
war, is the last state whose government thus
falls and believe it will be among the first to
raise itself again to place of equal and hon
est representation. 1 advise you to maintain
your party OrSduiZdtlOu duu COuUluu6 u UdtLlo
for the rights of citizenship and free govern
ment. We strove for these and not for man or
men. 1t grieves me beyond expression that the
heroic efforts yol made and the cruel sufferipgs
you have undergone to maintain Republican
principles in Louisiana have had this bitter
end. To those who so calamity stood by me in
the long contest we passed through, l tender
my heartfelt thanks. To all counsel peace.
patience. fortitude and firm trust that event.
ualy right and justice will prevail"
Packard's parting with his police before he
he left 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 speech telling them if they could get
any of the appropriation made for them by the
Nichols legislature to take it, Their legal
claims for pay for their services would still re-
main as they had never been discharged from
the force. Several of the most effective men,
beers Of the force waited on Packard at his
house today and told him they had been offered
positions in the reOrganized force, and they
wanted his advice whether to accept or not.
He recommended them to accept.
The members of the legislature in a body at
2 p. "a. passed down st. Charles street on their
way TO the State House, headed by Governor
Nichols.
The Commissions Report
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The following is
the report of the Louisiana Commissioners
given out by the President this afternoon:
New ORLEANS, April 20.
To the President of the United States:
Slr,-ln accordance with your request the
the sixteen days in ascertaining the political
situation OF Louisiana, in endeavoring to
bring about peaceful solution of its difficulties
In view of the declaration in the letter
of the Secretary of State that we should
direct our efforts to the end of securing the
recognition: of single legislature as the de-
pository of the representative will of the people
OF LOUISIANA leaving if necessary to the Judi
cial or other constitutional arbitrament in the
state, the question of the ultimate right, and in
view OF your determination to withdraw the
troops of the United States to their barracks as
soon as it could be done without endapgering
the peace, we addressed ourselves to the task of
securing common legislature and undisputed
authority competent to compose the existing
political contentious and preserve peace with
out any aid from the National government.
10 this end we endeavored to assuage the Bit
terness and animOsity We found existing on
Doth SIDES so as to secure public opinion less
unfavorable to such concessions as were in
dlspensable to our success in obtaining such
legislative and such general acuuiescence in
Its authority as would ensure social order.
The report then details the conferences with
the two governors and various delegations rep
resentlng all classes and interests reviews the
situation as they found it and the status of the
two governments, the legal points involved and
the legal grounds upon which each governme Mt
based its claims, and concludes as follows:
Ihe only hope OF practical solution was the
union OF so many members of the rival legisla-
lures as would make legislature with con-
sttutlonal quorum in both Senate and House
OF members whose title to seats is valid. Un-
der either view of the law with legislature
OF undisputed authority the settlement of other
questions could, as stated in the letter of in
struction to our commission from the Secretary
of State, be gradually worked out by the pre-
valent authority which legislative power when
undisputed is quite competent to exert in
composing conflicts in coordinate branches
OF the government. Within the last three
days the first great step in restoring peace to
the state has been accomplished.
In consequence of withdrawal of members
from Packard to the Nichols legislature, the
latter body has now 81 Returning Board mem
bers in the House, and 80 in the Senate, 81
members constitute constitutional quorum in
the House and 10 in the Senate. 1t is proper
we should say in conclusion that it was in
view of the foregoing facts, especially the con-
solidaton of the legislatures, and our knowl-
edge OF the condition of Louisiana derived
from personal contact with the people that we
were induced to suggest in our telegram of
the 20th inst, that the immediate announce
ment of the time when the troops would be
Withdrawn to their barracks would be better
for the peace of Louisiana, than to postpone
such announcement to some distant day.
The commissioners holding various shades of
political belief cannot we'll concar 10 any
sketch of the past or probable future of
Louisiana We have foreborne in this report
to express any opinion on the legal questions
arising upon the foregoing statement of facts,
because our instructions seemed to call for a
statement OF facts rather than an expression of
opinion by the commissioners.
We all, however, indulge in confident hopes
OF better days. Among the reasons for these
hopes are the resolutions of the Nichols legis-
lature and the letter of Governor Nichols
herewith submitted and which has already
been given to the public. With an earnest
hope that the adjustment which has been made
OF the political controversies of Louisiana will
be of lasting benefit to that state and be an.
proved by the patriotic people of all sections,
we have the honor to be, your obedient SER
wants. (Signed)
Chas, B. Lawrence, John M. Harlan, Wayne
McVeigh, Jos. r. Hawley, John G. Brown.