The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-19
The Louisiana Commission.

The Louisiana COuAlSoAOA, So
posed of Messrs. Lawrence, Brown. Hawley,
Harlan and MacVeigh held their first meet
ing at New Orleans on the 9th. Judge Law
renee was chosen chairman and Gen. Hawtey
Secretary. Informal calls were mady by the
Commission upon Packard and Nichols ana
the question of uniting the two legislatures
was discussed. but no real business was trans
acted
The Louisiana Commission met
Joint committee from the Nichols Legislature
ON the TIN, but the conference was secret
The committee made detailed verbal state
hent of status OF the government, giving q
number OF parishes and officials that nao
acknowledged allegiance to the Nichols gov
eminent. and will, at future interview, pre-
sent documentary facts. When the Demo-
cratic committee retired Packard's supreme
Court Judges were admitted to the parlor and
begun their argument as to the status OF their
case. At three o'clock District Judges Marks,
Cole and Hunter, for the 4th, 9Th and 9Th
Judicial Districts OF the State, each elected on
the Republican ticket, had long interview
with the Commission, and emphatically de-
clared the sentiment OF their districts to be IN
favor of the Packard government THESE
three districts embrace eleven parishes, with
total population OF 1894. An exciting IN
terlude in the interview was the cross exami-
nation OF Judge R. A. Hunter, who was asked,
"Who did YOU vote tor?'' "For Governor
Nichols" "Who did you vote tor tor Presi-
dentp" "Tilden." SHOW long have you
, been Democrat % Cali my lille; was
horn a Democrat right in this State, and ex-
pect to die Democrat" "Why do you nov
desert the Democratic party and support MIR
packard?" because the Democratic part.
has lett me and does not protect the rights
citizens. but advocates murder, and do no
approve of murder, and because believ
Packard was sauarely elected, and majorit
of white people OF my district. hapioes
q Grant and Vernon parishes prefer him to
Governor"
: The Commission held a nine hour
session, on the 9th, the time being occuple
in receiving and hearing delegations OF clfl
zens. The President OF the cotton exchang
= with leading bankers and merchants called
the interest OF the Nichols government. In
Commission said to them that they had sougf
Louisiana. but could not find it. They foun
two Governors, two Supreme Courts and a
ALLEGED dual government in all department
n but in tact by the acknowledgment OF all pa
ties there is only one Legislature, though
:, meets in tive halls The moment that Legl
lature meets in one body it will be the Sta
OF Louisiana, and while it is in session Il
'o only power in the State that can secure Il
u Intervention of the army. II self-gover
ment is desired, and the withdrawal OF Il
to army, it can probably be secured in On
ng should the public opinion of the State COZ
pei it's Legislature to meet as one body. Inc
Ii. are SO OF the IS Senators, and 104 OF the
he Representatives, whose election is not q
nd puted by either party, and the Commlssi
urged that when they assembled Is sucn
fe Commission could have nothing whatever
a.. say about its action. The discussion CO
a. tinued three hours. The delegation was Z
inclined to accept the suggestion, maintain
that Nichols must be defended IS doverr
&c to the full extent.
no The Commission appointed by Pre-
dent Hayes continued to "receive" at n
Orleans ON the 10th. A delegation OF TIM
las colored men frst called and argued in ben
hat of Packard, claiming that his title to be ii
els ernor Was the same IS that of Hayes TO
Presidency. The Mayor and portion OF
ire City Council next called. The Mayor 81
in that the debt of the city in 1874 was ~, =
J i 0oO. and that Is Was new "a, ooo,O0O. II
nd. IN 1874 were az per cent. and now IL g
on On the dollar Ofh9 delegations nom
~ city and various parts q The eaee also 81