New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-09

An0 BeAnOCEhIAC IBRu8ufdLiOps
A large number Of people assembled in |
and around l. fAyette Square yesterday, to
see General F. T. Nicholls take an oath of
Office as Governor of Louisiana, at st. Pat
rick's Hall. Flags, streamers and banners
were flying to the breeze, and band of
muaic assisted to make a noise. The main
hall was tolerably well filed, among the
audience bting some ladies. Between noon
and one o'clock carriage, in which sat
General Nichols and Mr.. l. A. Wiltz, was
driven to the square, and crowd of men
Took ont the horses and then drew the
vehicle themselves up to the hall door. The
instant it became known that the General
had arrived, hearty cheer was sent up for
him and small cannon in the square made
little noise.
Messrs. Nicholls and Wilt were escorted
to the main hall by joint committee and
took positions on the front balcony. Ali
being prepared the Rev. DR.. PALMER offered
prayer, after which Judge Tissot admin
istered the oath which the constitution
says newly elected Governor must sub
scribe to- During the ceremony the people
remained exceedingly quiet, and when
Father Allen pronounced benediction the
assembly began to disperse.
| General Nichols had his address pre-
pared and delivered it feelingly, after which
his friends saluted him in the most friendly
manner. Mr.. Wiltz also met with cheerful
recognition from hundreds of people,
Notwithstanding the large crowd there
occurred nothing to disturb the peace; in
fact there was scarcely notable incident
General Nichols delivered the following
address:
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and fellow-citizens - In
| obedience to the call of my fellow. citizens
as expressed through the ballot box by a
majority Of more than 5000 votes, assume
| the duties OF Governor of my native State
under circumstances of marked difficulty,
and at period Of very general distress.
For nine yeara few men, having no identi
| tication with the people of this State, either
in feeling or interest, have shaped and con-
tr0lled her destinies. The result of this IN.
natural condition of affairs has been that,
in spite of q rich soil, genial climate and
| immense resources, we find the people to-
day in wretchedness and poverty. The
very gifts of a kind and bene6cent Creator
have served to these men as additional in
| cenuVes TO acts OF oppression and wrong.
Not satisfied with the injury which they
have inflicted, the authors Of these Gala.
mites are agsin struggling to maintain
their ascendency by fraud, and to estab.
lish over this people q usurpation more
glaring and infamous than that which
ends to-day its bAneful existence. The peo.
pie of this State are deter mined, and also
am determined, that this effort shall be
foiled. The rights and liberties of Louisi-
ana must not be euffered to be DESTROYED
There may be grave difficulties in the pres
ent manner of dealing with this matter, but
they will be overcome, and hereafter upon
the duly and legally constituted authorities
| Of the State will devOlve the proper admin
istratiOn Of its affairs. The material pros
perity of Louisiana and the happiness of
| her people must be restored, and this can
only be accomplished by the truth and
energy of the people cooperating With hon.
esty, fidelity, integrity and patriotism on
the part of their representatives. Self
must be sunk, and the general good
alone serve as the guide to the civil
and political action of each citizen.
| Laws operating equally upon the
| whole people, without distinction of
| race, el4se, color or con ditiOn, must alone
be found on the statute books, and these
laws should be thoroughly, fairly and i'm
/ partially executed. In this way confidence
and hope will prevail, and this State will
! speedily become a home of happiness and
peace for all her children, for the weak as
| well as the strong, the poor ss well as the
rich. The just object Of all government is
| to secure peace, plenty and prosperity, and
to give the largest possible opportunity for
/ development to the individual citizen. His
| interest should be its constant aim, and the
citizen shOuld recognize and feel the gov.
ernment only through its beneficient and
viVifying influence. How nearly the gov
ernments erected in this unfortunate State
in the last nine years have been based upon,
or have realized these ideas, may best be-
eeen in the picture Of misery which is re-
! fected on all sidee. How nearly the
i government, at the head of which l
have the honor 20 be will realize them,
can only be determined when that gov.
| ernment shall have been fairly put TO the
test; but can assure you that they are the
/ principles by which my conduct shall be
i guided as chief magistrate Of this common
| wealth. shall devote every energy TO the
i great work Of restoration, and to securing
i an efficient administration Of public affairs,
with the least possible cost to those upon
whom the burdens of the State rest. Hon
esty and capacity will be required as Ab-
solute conditions 70 appointment, and every
avenue BY which the people can be injured
will be carefully guarded to the extent of
the legal power OF theexecutive. Itahall be
q great obiect In my administration to pro
mote kindness, sympathy, confidence and
justice between the two races that inhabit
the soil, and who, with common interest.
should cordially cooperate 70 secure the
common good.
Ia fne, felloW-eitixens, I shall, invoking
the blessing and assistance Of Almighty
God, earnestly and conscienti0usly endeavor
TO do my duty.
Y