The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-10
THE LOUISIANA BARGAIN.

cal democrats IN congress W slaNc on lHc
completion of the electoral count until after
the Alb of March, SO as to compel the order
ing of a new election for president, was de
f,ated by the southern democrats voting with
the republicans against the "filibusters." The
price TO be paid the southern democrats for
This action WAS an order from Gen. Grant,
'(wi-h which Hayes was not to interfere di.
rectipr Gen Augur at New Orleans to with
draw the troops from the support of Packard,
and to leave the people of Louisiana to settle
their political difficulties in their own way
The order of Gen Grant in pursuance of this
bargain, was issued on the I'd inst, in the fol-
lowing words:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, March
/, 1S77.-To Gov. s. b. PACKARD, New Or.
leans La: In answer to your dispatch OF
hi, date, the president directs me to say that
he feels il his duty 70 state frankly that he
does not believe public opinion will longer
support the maintenance Of state government
lin Louisiana by the use of the military, and
that he must concur in this manifest feeling
The troops will hereafter, as in the past, pro-
tect life and property from mob violence
when the state authorities fail, but under the
remaining days Of his official life they Will
not be used to establish or to pull down eth
er claimants for the control of the state. II is
not his purpose 10 recognize either claimant
c. G. SNIFFEN. Secretary.
The order was ostensibly in reply to dis
patch from Packard, IN which, having heard
of the proposed bargain, he protested against
lat, telling Grant that whe White League are
under orders, and will attack the state house
as soon as the troops are withdrawn from the
city, and that it is their purpose. by the ami
hilation of the officers of the government tc
leave no republican state government for your
successor to recognize"
As soon as Grants order was issued kel
logg attempted to compel Its withdrawal by
publishing bogus dispatch in the Washing
ton papers, stating that 1.-THE Whlteleaguers
we're paradng the streets Of New Orleans in
arms, and making threats against the Pack
ard government" Nichols was at once tele
graphed to on the subject, and his reply came
promptly, that every word OF the Kellogg
dispatch was lie and that no trouble of any
sort existed at New Orleans or was antici
pated.
Nichols also at once issued proclamation
to the people OF Louisiana, telling them that
eve now have assurance that our great com
mOnwealth is about to resume her rightiu
position In the union of states and in the
control of her own internal affairs. You must
therefore, continue to maintain public peace
refrain from all violence, and leave TO those
who are charged with the duties of govern
ment the responsibility of enforcing the laws
and making the future history of our state
To make assurance doubly sure that Presi
dent Grant meant more than merely the pres
ervation of the status quo in New Orleans b,
T his order a number of southern Democrat,
|congressmen waited on HIM but few honr
before the electoral count was completed OF
Friday night, and got from him the explicit
assurance that his order was intended to can
Gel, not to MAINTAIN the status quo and t
"leave the people of Louisiana as free in thei
affairs from federal interference as the peopl,
position to interfere with them any NOR,
than with the people of New York" Being
asked if posse executing a process of TIT
Nichols court would be interfered with b,
the military. the president replied: mo more
than in any other state" Being asked i
Nichols officers should take possession o
the Offices in the state without violence wOult
there be military interference, he replied
"There would be none; that the militar,
would only be used as it had been done ono
J in New York, and would be in any of thu
states, to overcome mobs too formidable TO
the civil power of the state authorities" AS
: surances were also given that Hayes entirel,
concurred In these views and would not inter
fere with Grants orders.
Nothing, certainly, could look iairer ant
souarel this, and of course there was not
democrat in Washington or New Orleans hu
expected that on Saturday all the troops tia
had stood guard ever since the first of Janu
airy around Packard's headquarters an,
around his bogus legislature would be with
drawn, and that all Nichols need do woul,
= be to send his squad OF police and take peace
aDle posscssion oi 'hc state housc, eNcIuue III
: Packard tunc,lonarlcs, and enter upon h;
full executive duties.
But on Saturday the presidential count ha
been completed and Hayes safely counted II
and it is wonderful how rapidly the bearin
of Grant began TO change, or how aRazing
/ his language had been misunderstood. Dl'
patches were received by The Democrat
: members from New Orleans stating that nc
the slightest change had been made by Ger
Augur in the disposition of the troops an
: that Packard was bold ana confident us eyel
= and demanding what il all meant The demo
i cratic members at once sent note Ia Ger
Y Grant, as follows:
|. We beg leave respectfully to inform III
president that the troops have not been viii
drawn from the streets and the vicinity of III
:, state house IN New Orleans IN complain