The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-01-25

4AC SolupIOLAlEO "oo NAOh hS up ~
Mr.. Edmunds made an able argument in
its behalf, at the close of which the Senate
adjourned......In the House, Mr.. Willis, of
New York, made a speech on the Proctor
Knott resolutions on counting the Electoral
vote. Adjourned.
Mopente1.ts of Eetc Orleans MiIttia.
New Orleans, January 15.-The fol-
lowing was received at a late hour last
night, and a copy furnished TO Packard
and Nichols:
WASHINGTON, January II, lST.
Gen. @. @. Augur, Nelc Orleans, L.:
1t has been the policy of the Administra-
ton to take no part in the settlement of the
question of the rightful Government of
the State of Louisiana, at least not until
the Congressional Committees now there
have made their report. But it is not
proper to sit quietly by and see the State
Government gradually taken possession of
by one of the claimants for gubernatorial
honors, by illegal means. The Supreme
Court set up by Mr.. Nichols can receive
no more recognition than any other equal
number of lawyers convened on the call
of any other citizen of the State. A Re-
turning, Board, existing in accordance with
law, and having judicial as well as minis
~ Do"NA ONSA Nv Vi bHS
votes, and in declaring the result of
the late election have given certificates of
election to the Legislature of the State. A
legal quorum of each House holding such
certificates met and declared Mr.. Packard
Governor. Should there be a necessity for
the recognition of either it must be Packard.
You may furnish a copy of this to Packard
and Nichols. U. :. GRANT, Pres't.
Governor Packard, on the receipt of
this document issued a proclamation,
commanding !" persons claiming to act as
Judges of the Supreme Court, and all
persons supporting, aiding or abetting
them thereby, and all persons unlawfully
assuming to act as executive and
judicial officers, and all persons having
possession of police stations and assum-
ing to act as policemen on the streets, and
all armed bodies ofmen not acting under
authority of the lawful government,
as above recited, to Immediately desist
from aforesaid unlawful acts, and to dis
perse and retire to their homes, under
pains and penalties of the law"
The proclamation also commands " all
persons having in their possession, or I'M
der their care and control, any arms and
munitions, or other property belonging
to the State, taken from the lawful
custodians thereof, to Immediately de-
liver up the same to the proper authori-
ties"
Republicans here are much elated over
the news from Washington and the new
phase of affairs, while the Democrats as
sert that the order of the President to
General Augur will not compel him to
interfere unless to prevent bloodshed.
Nichols and the Democratic Legisla-
ture will not heed Packard's proclama-
ton of this morning, and the former
will resist any attempt of Packard to
recapture the courts or the Station
houses.
General Augur does not regard the
order of the President, received last
night, as materially changing his former
instructions.
New Orleans, Jan. 16.-The following
explains itself, and was sent to General
Augur:
STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT |
NEW ORLEANS, January l6. 1877. !
To Brigadier-G General c. c. Augur, Commanding De-
paI1nlent:
SIR: l have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of a communication from Brevet-
Major Russell, A. D. c., of this date, as fol.
lows:
Hon. S. B. Packard, MelO Orleans, L.:
SIR: Upon the delivering to you Of a copy of the
dispatch OF the Honorable Secretary OF War, of this
date, I informed you that Gen. Augur, commanding
department, requested that you give assurance that
the Presidents wishes concerning the preservation
of the present status be respected. You requested
me to put the request in writing, that yea might
make a written reply. have done so, and remain
etc.
In reply Ibeg to say that when this morn.
ing l received a verbal request through
Major Russell to consent to let matters re.
main in statu quo, and to make no effort to
reinstate the lawful authorities In possession
OF the court room and records of the Su.
preme Court and other positions of which
they had been forcibly dispossessed 5y the
violent and revolutionary acts of the White
League, l felt that the request would have
been more appropriate if made Immediately
after my installation as Governor, and before
many of the main branches of the govern
ment had been fercibly taken possession o.
by the opposition. A majority of the law
fully returned members of the General As
sembly in strict conformity with the laws anC
Constitution, and the State had declared mt
elected Governor, and on the Sth of January
l dulytook the oath to observe the Constitu
ton and maintain the laws of the State. Ny
predecessor feeling, 1 presume, that there
was a difference of opinion in the Nation
with regard to tine election in this State
as was made manifest by the pres
ence of the Investigating Committee
of both Houses of Congress, permitted
with my full assent, my contestant to g
through the form of an Inauguration, with
out attempting in any way to interpose.
had scarcely taken my oath of Office, wheI
the White League were called to arms; tn,
Courtroom and records of the Suprem,
Court of the State Ia Court whose title NJ
well informed jurist ventures to dispute
were forcibIy taken possession of, and tn,
various precinct police stations were cap
tured in like n by the display O
overwhelming force. Orders had been ISSUED
early on this day (the 9th inst.l by the hon
orable, the Secretary Of War, directing tina
all unauthorized armed bodies should b,
required to desist. A dispatch of tn,
same date from yourself to the Secretary O
War conveyed the assurance that Nicholl
has promised the disarmament of hi
armed forces. l construed this order of tn,
Secretary of War as virtually commanding
the maintenance of status quo, consequently
the State forces in charge of the differen
positions outside of the Capitol were di
rected to make such resistance as woulC
compel the manifestation of force ant
J breach of the peace on the part of thei
!, opponents. 1t was my understanding tia
: neither side should be permitted to inter
| fere with the status of the other side, We
it is a matter of public notoriety that, OF
5 the day after this order was received AM
: this pledge was given, a force of seyera
hundred armed White Leaguers ION the lott
E instantly repaired to the State Arsenal an
took therefrom into their own keeping fv
pieces of artillery (including two Gatlil
guns); that a garrison of armed men wa
placed in and around the Supreme Cour
buildings; that on the following day (11t
, inst)., an armed company of White Leagu
!. broke into and took possession of the ofic
/ of Recorder of mortgagesin this city.
The dispatch of the President of the dat
of January IA, a copy of which was CON
municated by you to me, distinctly affirme
!, the Illegally of the pretended Cour
/. placed by the White League in possession Q
: the Court-rooms and records of the Suprem
a Court of the State. Since the publicatio
i of the dispatch, unauthorized armed bodies
e by whom these court rooms are held, an
this pretended court is sustained, have bee
S openly reinforced. In view of all thes
i facts, it seems to me that to give the pledg
verbally asked of me this merning would B
n to sanction revolution, and, by acquiescenc'
n give it the force of an accomplished fact, an
l, therefore, declined.
Inasmuch. however. as [ learn thai it