The Portland daily press., 1877-04-04
The Louisiana Commission.
The Presidents Letter of Instruc-
ton.
What the Commission is Expected to
Do.

WASHINGTON, April 3-The following is the
Presidents letter of instructions to the Louis
lana commission;
Washington, april ITO Hon. Charles B.
Lawrence. Joseph r Hawley John M. Harlan,
John Q. Brown and Wayne MacVeisb, Com
ssioners:-Gentlemen, | am instructed by
the President to lay before you some observa-
tions upon the occasion and objects which have
led him to invite you as members OF the COM
mission about to visit the state of Louisiana to
undertake this public service 1t will be readi-
ly understood that the service desired of and
entrusted to this commission does not include
any examination into, or report upon, the facts
of the recent state election or of the canvass of
votes cast at that election. So far as attention
to that subject may be necessary the President
cannot but feel that the reports of the commit
tees of the two Houses of Congress and other
public information at hand will dispense with
andsshould preclude any original exploration by
the commission of that field of inquiry. But it
is most pertinent and important in coming to a
decision upon the precise question of the execu-
tive duty before him, that the President should
know what are the real impediments to regular
legal and peaceful procedures under the laws
and constitution OF the state of Louisiana, by
which the anomalies in government there pre-
sented may be put in the course of settlement
without involving the element of military power
as either an agent or make-weght in such solu
ton. The successful ascertanment of these
impediments the President would confidently
state the wisdom and the mode of their removal
The President both hopes ana believes the
great body of the people of Louisiana are now
prepared to treat the unsettled results of their
state election with calm and copciliatory
spirit. The President, therefore, desires that
you should devote your first and principal
attention to the removal of obstacles to an
acknoWl edgement of one government for the
purpose of an exercise of authority within the
state, and representation OF the state in its
fa fIn
section of article of the constitution of the
United States, leaving if necessary to
judicial or other constitutional arbitrament
within the state the question of ultimate
rights.
Ii these obstacles should prove insuperabe,
from whatever reason, and the hope of single
government in all its departments be disap-
pointed, it should be your next endeavor to ac-
complsh the reorganization of single legsla-
ture as the depository Of the representative will
of the people of Louisiana. This great depart
ment rescued from dispute, the rest of the
problem could gradually be worked out by the
prevalent authority which the legislative power,
when undisputed, is quite competent to exert
in composing conflicts in coordinate branches
of the government If, therefore, the disput
ing interests can concur in, or be reduced to, a
single legislature for the State of Louisiana, it
would be q great step in composing this I'M
happy strife.
The President leaves entirely to the COM
mission the conciiatory influence which in
their Judgment formed on the spot may seem
to them to conduce to the proposed end. His
own determination that only public, considera-
lions should inspire and attend this effort to
give ascendency in Louisiana to TIE things
that belong to peace is evinced by his selection
OF The commissioners who ofer 10 tne country
10 their own character every guaranty OF the
public motives and methods of the TRANSACTION
which they have undertaken. Your report OF
the result of this endeavor will satisfy the