The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-07
Louisiana.


/ Louisiana.
'tpATRfoTIC RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY-4 N1sss
MEETING, IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE, NEW Or
LEANS, YESTERDAY. .,
New ORLEANS, April GA very large
mass-neeting OF the citizens Of New Or
leans was held at lafayette Square to-day.
1t is estimated TINT from ten to fifteen
thousand persons were present. The fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted:
We, the citizens OF New Orleans, In mass
meeting assembled, representing as we
! firmly believe the sentiments Of q large ma.
iority Of the people Of Louisiana; proclaim
ing anew our devotion to the Constitution
OF the United States and our unqualified ac-
ceptance OF all the amendments there
to-; asserting that in loyalty to our
reestablished Union and true national pa
tTiotism we do not yield to the people OF
any section OF our common country, as we
stand ready to prove by any test; declaring
Our earnest desire to oblterate the feelings
OF sectional bitterness. which were, left as
the result OF the late unhappy war, and to
retfnite the whole people OF the United States
! in a common bond OF brotherhood; equally
destrouS of breaking down the barriers OF
prejudice and distrust which designing po-
| ltical tricksters have from base motives
reared between the white and colored citizens
OF the State, and to recstablish the relation
| of the two races upon basis Of just laws,
equal rights, common protection, and har-
| monious and kindly sentiments towards
each other; profoundly impressed with the
gravity OF the crisis through which our
State is passing, and the feeling in which we
should publicly proclaim our sentiments
touching the same, we do hereby adopt the
following resolutions:
First. That the right Of local self-govern-
ment is the fundamental principle OF our
republican system; that It Is the maizena,
Bile privilege Of every State in this Union,
deprived of which State ceases to exist rs
such in a constitutional sense, and becomes
4 mere province Of an alien government.
Second. That for four years the people OF
Louisiana have lived under usurping
government, never elected by the people of
the State, never voluntarily acquicSced in
established originally and maintained
throughout its career by the military power
of the Federal Government, and different
from direct military government only in
name and in the particular OF its greater
extravaganza and unbrdled corruption,
and utter unftness OF the persons en-
trusted with its administration, in the con-
temptible weakness and inability to enforce
or protect the rights Of the persons and
property OF its citizens, and the greater
hatred aud contempt with which it was re-
garded by the people. ..-..-.- =.
Third. That the results OF this usurpa-
tion have been to destroy happiness and
prosperity; to foster discOrd and disorder;
to lessen respect for the law and Govern
ment; to encourage violations OF the
;nI ~ RI
all business and all business enterprises;
to impair confidence and almost annihiate
the value OF property; that whatever OF
enterprise In business, value in property,
cohesion in society, or contentment in life,
have survived this unhappy condition OF
affairs are due solely to the confidence that
the State election in our: State would result
in restoring its govern ment to the control
of its people, and il that hope shall now be
disappointed we see nothing in the future
but anarchy, ruin, aud despair. .....
Fourth. That the government OF which
Francis T. Nichols is the head is the con-
stitutional government OF the State OF LOU
isiana, elected by 4 majority OF more than
| 1000 votes; fully organized in all its parts,
exercising the only governmental functions
that are exercised in the State, making and
enforcing laws, administering Justice, col
Letting revenues, and preserving the peace
and order of society; that there is not
ercising. any actual authority except those
whose official titles are recognized by
this government, because duly elect
ed; that many Of these elected rs Re-
| publicans have already recognized the true
government, and those who have not yet
! done so will hasten to recognize it as soon
as Federal interference shall cease; that
| this government is not only capable Of pro-
| tecting itself and enforcing its authority,
but that 1t would encounter no resistance,
or even a desire to resist, on the part OF any
portion of the people, except an insignii-
cant clique OF ambitious politicians, with
small following OF ignorant dupes.
Fifth. That the pretended government OF
| which S: 3. Packard claims to, be head is
mere simulacrum, without body or sub
stance, the offspring Of the legislative con-
spiracy OF the late usurpers to perpetuate
! their powers even in defiance OF the will OF
| the people as expressed at the baliot-box,
| by the fraudulent manipulation OF the re-
turns; that it does not, and cannot, COM
mand the moral or physical support Of
any considerable portion OF the peo-
pie that it exercises, and is capable
| of exercising, none of the functions OF
government, and that its authority is re-
cognized nowhere outside Of the limits Of
single building in the State; that If the
hope OF Federal interference were with
drawn it would disband without the up
lifting of an arm against it; that it pre-
sents not single title to respect or con-
fden ce; and that an attempt to establish
and maintain it by the military. power
of the United States would be not only an
outrage on constitutional liberty, but the
greatest crime against civilization that has
been witnessed in the nineteeth century.
Sixth. That the people OF Louisiana OBJ
served with deep satisfaction the conserva-
tive sentiments expressed in the inaugural
address OF Mr.. Hayes as omens OF II re-
turn to constitutional methods OF govern
ment, under the observance OF which tile
affairs of Louisiana would arrange them
selves speedily and peacefully, and need
give the Federal Government no greater
concern than the affairs Of New York or
Massachusetts,; that the adoption OF such
policy would confer an unmistakable bene-
lit upon the whole nation, as we'll as upon
this State, and would earn the respect and
gratitude OF the people OF. the United States,
and especially Of the people of Louisiana;
that, Notwithstanding the disappointing de-
Law which has interviewed, we appreciate
the difficulties of his position, and have not
lost confidence in the sincerity OF his. de-:
cIaration and the rectitude OF his iinten-
TONS. TIC '-2-'.r 1s,-,;: - -, ."
Seventh. Thatthc eminent gentlemen who,
are about toryisit lis by invitation OF the
President be heartily welcomed and eN-
tended every facility in their labors, as
suming that, they are impartial citizens, who
o.n,a lore cplr Tor tho legitimate purnOSe