Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-26
Manifesto Of the Packard Leg
rrr islature.
New ORLEANS, April IS.

- 49, New ORLEANS, April IS.
The Packard Legislature met in cau'
Gus tonight and adopted the following,
on motion of Mr.. Dinkgrave, OF Mad
ison
Members of the House OF Represen
tstives and Senate of the State of Lou
isiana meeting in caucus in the State
House in the city OF. New Orleans this
l9fh day of Aprii, 1877, adopt the iOl-
statement as expressing their views OF
the present condition OF affairs IN this
State:
First-They have an unfalterable
faith in the legality and justice OF the
claims of s. B. Packard and the gov
ernment of which he is head TO be the
legal government OF the State Of Lou
isiana, legally returned, legally install
ed ana legally embodying the will of q
majority Of the people. ----g. -.
Seccnd-That the disiltegration of
the legal General Assembly meeting in
the State House acknowledging the
authority OF Gov. Packard recently
witnessed has been brought about by
direct agencies OF gentlemen, citizens
of other States, sent here by the Presi-
deraS with Instructions which have
been only partially made known, and
the nature of which can be only INFER
red by the actions of said Commission,
their expressed opinions and agencies
they. have employed. Chief among
these We eDumerate the following: On
the evening If Tuesday, 18th day ol
April, on which day the pretended
House of Representatives supporting
the claims of Nichols to the Governor.
ship was without semblance OF legal
quorum, as ii has continuously been
since its organization, certain mem
bers of the Commission appointed by
the President requested consultation
with mem bers Of the General Assem-
bly,. Some Twelve members of the
House and two members of the Senate
responded to this invitation to them
Members of the Commission, known as
belonging to the Republican party,
stated that the terms offered by the
Nichols Legislature. which included
the seating of three Democratic mem
bers from the city OF New Orleans, no
torfousty defested according TO Demo
cratic claims,a but the recognition Ol
whom was requisite to give even d
show of legality to the organization ol
the Nichols House, were the best and
only terms they could procure. They
distinctly recommended Republicans
assembled by their Invitation to accept
these terms, and MFR. MscVeagh, one
of the members of the Commission
while refraining from openly endorsing
the proposition, emphasized it with
this remark, "If there Is any member
of the Legislature who entertains the
most lingering idea that troops are go
ing to remain fer Gods sake disabuse
him of that idea, for they are going t.
be removed"
Third-That as the direct result Of
this intimation and implied threat O.
the Presidents Commission several
members OF the legal Legislature have
to-day joined the so-called Legislature
of Gen. Nichols.
Fourth-Ne therefore charge upon
these gentlemen If, as they assert, they
have acted simply in their individual
capacity, an unwsrrantable siuterfer.
ence with the domestic sffairs of State
to which they do not belong, aud a f..
grant violation of the principle of loca
seif-goverDment Of the State; if, on the
other hand, their action in the manner
set forth has been directed by tht
Chief Executive of the nation, we leave
It to be characterized In befitting ter ns
by the American people. .-..--,
1t was determined at the caucus to
day to hold out to the end.