The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-15
Correspondence Between Stanley
Matthews and Packard.

lstter's reply:
U. S. SENATE CHAMBER,
WAsHIHGToN, Feb. 27, 1877. {
To Hon. S. B. Packard:
DEAR SIR:-I received and read with
attention your communication on tn,
subject O. the public stfsirs of Louisiana
and the subject has been carefully and
anxously considered by myself and
Others IN its relation to the general policy
of Republican administration. Toward
it 1 have conversed at length
with Mr.. -, and given to him
the result of my convictions
which he can report to you more in de-
tail than l can ut present. l merely in
dicate the results OF my opinion without
reference to the rightfulness OF the
origin of your title as Governor. ana
of the opinion that the circumstances are
such that it will be out of the question
for Republican administration to main-
tain itself, as it must necessarily, by force
of arms. As soon as soon as the existing
military are withdrawn the Nichols
government will become the only exist
ing government, and will have to be rec.
ognized then as such. In the meantime Q
it will be the duty OF the administration
to take care that the results shall not In
pair the rights and equity of the colored
people of Louisiana, so far as it has law
full power to prevent it, and also to take
care that the staunch Republicans, like
yourself, against whom nothing disrepu.
table can be alleged, should not suffer and
should receive consideration and position
IN some way. These are, in short, my
own individual views. l regret the con.
dition of affairs, but l cannot help it, and
see no better way to improve it.
Respectfully,
iSgned.1 STANLEY MATTHEW'S.
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
NEW ORLEANS, March IA, 1877.
To Hon. Stanley Matthsws:
My DEAR SIR:-Your letter OF the
9th ult. WAS duly received. In my com.
munication to you and referred to in
your letter aimed 10 exhibit to you the
reasons and sterling facts why the gov,
ernment of which / am the head,
ought to receive prompt recog-.
nition fIom the national admins
tration. In your reply you
suggest the difficulties that you deem to
exist without reference to the rightful-
ness of the origin your my title, and
say that rs soon as the existing military
orders are withdrawn the Nichols gov
ernment will become the only existing
government and will have to be recog
nized then as such. Inasmuch as you
say that your letter only expresses your
own individual views it is not necessary
to attempt to correct your opinion
that the circumstances are such
that it will be out of the
question for Republican administers
ton to maintain its (my) title, AS that Is
a subject which now engages the atten-
ton of the President, under tie Com
stitution and laws of the United States.
Judge the purpose 81 your letter 70
have been, in friendly way, to accom-.
plsh the abandonment by me of the
office OF Governor, to the end that my
defeated opponent may assume unques-
toned the office to which l have been
elected. Admitting tho value of the
opinion OF one so learned and OF so
deservedly great influence in the
counsels OF the nation, | am constrained
by sense OF duty TO unquahdedly de-
cline to entertain any proposition to re-
lInquish or abandon the position which
| hold. l rece we'd majority OF the
legal votes cast at the last election, and
have been declared Governor by the
loyal legislature in joint session, with an
undisputed quorum in both Houses, and
having been lawfully vested with
the authority of Governor | can
not, with due regard to my
oath of office and duty to the 10000
votes who have elected me to the Chief
Msgistrscy. though should receive con-
sideration and position in some ap-
propria.o way, abandon those faithful
men to the merciless vengeance OF the
White League Democrat am the head
of government as perfect as that of any
State in the Union. Ny predecessor, to.
gether with his Secretary OF State, Audi
tor of Public Accounts, State Treasurer,
Superintendent of Public 1nstruc ction
and Attorney-General, with all
the archives of their several
offices, surrendered these positions INTO
the hands ofthose lawfully elected to re-
ceive them. l now represent this gov
eminent, with positive possession of all Of
these offices. l am opposed BY sn or
ganized and armed mob of men IN this
CITY, known MS the White League, wha
have maintained. during my administra-
tion, force held together more by the
encouragem ent given them from abroad
than by any other means, who apps
rently seem to measure the legal exist
ence OF the government by the amount
of force it can present. Were
this force removed, rs it will be when
the legitimacy of my government is de-
termined by the President, nothing
then will seriously impede the success of
my administration. Personally, my po-
sitlon has been, is, ard will be, until the
general government shall see fit to recog-
nize my authority ss Governor, most
perilous one, and it would be source OF
satisfaction did the responsibility rest on
some other than myself. The hundreds
of Republicans who have given their
lives as a sacrifice to the cause OF
liberty and free government,
the thousands who have deposited
their votes at the peril of life, are ever
present in my mind, and demand that
| faithfully discharge the duties devoived
upon me. Should | exhibit less devotion
than these faithful people? Though the
effort cost me my life, still that devotion
would be better heritage 20 my children
than the plsudlts of the White League
of the State when gsined BY surrender
of both manhood sn4 duty. | am the
Governor, and no armed force or violence
can give my competitor Il lawful title.
Respectfully.
5. b. PACKARD.
Directors Elected.
NEW YORK, March l4.-Tne directors
of the Western Union Telegraph Com