Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-04-25
NEW ORLEANS.
Packard and All His Adherents With
draw from the State.hOuse.
PaCkard's Proclamation 10 the Re-
pnblicans Of Louisiana,

us odhCtCutoi CASSpe oho
had left the State.house, and Colonel
Boylan, chief Of police, directed a squad
of his men to take possession of the
bsilding, Packard's militia left behind
them about 200 stands of arms belong.
ing to the State.
Governor Nichols yesterday received
many kilograms from points in Louisi'
ana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas
offering congratulations over the with.
drawsl of troops, indicating great re.
joiciDg among the people. firing %salutes,
ringing bells, displaying flags, etc.
PAcKARD's PROCLAMATION.
STATE OF LOUISIANA. EXECUTIVE DRP'r.,l
New 0RLEANs, La. April25, 1877. !
To the Republicans of Louisiana:
On this day, the fifteenth anniversary
Of the surrender Of New Orleans to the
forces Of the United States. it becomes
nv duty to nounc to you that the aid
and countenance OF the national govern
ment has been withdrawn from the Re-
publicans Of Louisiana, and that a gov.
ernment, revolutionary in form, is prae.
tically on the point of usurping control
of affairs in this State. ] recall the cir
eumstGnces Of the last electoral cam
paign only to thank you for the fidelity
to principle you then displayed. The
Republican party, as you know, entered
upon the canvass united and stronger
than ever before 1t had enlisted under its
banners an iDhuestial class Of native
born citizens, of old Wing altecedents,
wio, TO their honor be it said, still remain
faithful to the principles they espoused
and the government they supported. 1t
was further strengthened by the alb
sence from the State or opposition of
that element whose previous adherence
TO party had brought it into d~isrepute.
These causes combined to bring about
the remarkable success which was
achieved by the Republican party in ell
doubtful parishes, with one exception,
even where the white population prepon-
derated, and which gave us amsjority in
legislature. Except where organized VIC.
lence prevailed our State ticket carried
every Republican parish. and also a num-
Der Of parishes which in the last legisla-
ture were represented by Democratic
members. / briefly summarize histor-
ieal events, which have since occurred:
TIE general assembly met on the irskof
January last organized with q full legal
quorum in both houses, passed laws
which we're approved by the executive Of
the State, and, onthe second of January
last, ~canyassed and declared the vote for
governor. At this time the nation was
agitated by doubt as to the result
Of the Presidential election. With the ex-
pectation that Samuel j. Tilden might
possibly become President Of the United
States, and With no hope Of success
otherwise, my opponent in the late cam
psign established a moot legislature and
went through the form Of an Inaugural
ton in order that there might be q sem
blsuce Of a government which Mr.. Til.
den, Il inaugurated, could possibly gal.
vanize into vitality. In the few days that
followed, General Nichols ard his adhe-
rents we're encouraged by the unex-
pected refusal Of President Grant
to recognize the State government
or to respond to the constitutional call
Of the Legislature, though he questioned
the legality Of neither. On the 9th OF
January / had scarcely taken my seat
in the executive chair when the White
League rose in armed insurrectionn and
by a coup de main took possession OF
the Supreme Court, arsenals and sta.
tons of the Metropolit n police, all
located at the capital. Then came or.
ders frsm President Grant establishing a
State government, the practical effect OF
which was TO confirm the insurgents in
the advantages they had gained, and to
prevent any effort to dispossess them.
On the Inauguration Of President Hayes
the State authorities made preparations
70 organize a militia force for the defense
o. the State government. General Mich
OILS police seized npon the recruiting
officers and imprisoned them for treason,
without the benefit Of bail, or the
writ Of hsbeas corpus. / telegraphed
this fact to President Hayes, asking,
t these men we're resisted By
force, all civil remedies having
been exhausted, would be so considered.
The President replied: Your dispatch
Of the 24th is received. The secretary
Of war has telegrsphed to General Au
CUR A commission will shortly visit
Louisiana. Ia the meantime the Presi
dent desires hat the situation remain
unchanged" The commission came.
10 the meantime Nichols government
had erystalized into shape. So far from
permitting the situation to remain IN
changed, it had broken into the tax col,
l%ectors Offices Of the city, had taken
iorcible control Of State institutions, and
had strengthened itself on all sides
Notwithstanding this however, the com.
mission found the legal legislature still
in session at the state-house and my
title unassailed and u~nsssailable except
by force.
The result Of their labors during the
two weeks they remained here is known
Of all men. They induced a number OIL
members Of the legal house Of represen.
lives to take seats 10 Nichols house
thus giving it q returning board quorum
Prior to the meeting Of the Legislature
the Democrats claimed 10 have elected
only sixty members to the house-ont
less than q quorum. One at least Of thl
members 80 claimed by them was sbsenI
on the lat OF January last No Republican
or independent member would oonsen
to act with the Nichols house, and con
sequently, in order 70 obtain even th,
appearance Of an organization they hsC
been compelled 10 cell 10 their aid tire,
nen who we're defeated at the polls and
whose selection had not been previously
claimed. The inquiry therefore SEEM
, pe|rtinentin this connection, II a return
ing board quorum was so effective for Tho
I Nichols claim why was il that such
A D L.. - -. iii.