The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-04-19
Action of the Packard
Legislature on the
Nichols Propo-
sition.
Hayes Not to be Allowed
to Slip Through the
Loop-Hole Of the
Commission.
Grand Ovation to Governor
Hampton.
The St. Louis Fire Inves-
tigation.

Action of the Packard Legislature
ON the Nichols Proposition.
New ORLEANS April l8.-Both
Houses of tho Packard Legislature met
in Joint caucus at IL o'clock. There
were SO members present, including
Was hington and Brooks, two colored
members recently acting with the Mich
oils House. General Mcmillan, on the
part of the executive committee, laid be-
fore the caucus an official copy of the
resolution passed by tho Nichols Legis
lature yesterday, and which was re-
ceived by him from the commits
sioners. He called attention TO the
long struggle the members had undergone
IN their efforts to establish and maintain
legs state government. de said ne
deplored the necessity for admitting that
their efforts had failed. He regretted
that the repeated appeals to the President
for aid had been silently ignored. The
assurances OF the members of the Com
mission, authoritlvely if not officially
given, that tie President would not rec
ognize either government and would cer-
tainly withdraw the troops brought
them face to face with the Inevitable.
Without the support of the general gov
ernment their case was hopeless. Under
these circumstances what did sound
policy demand2 Clearly to look the in
evitable IN the face and make the most
they could out of the situation, for those
whose representatives they were and IN
the interest of those who have sacrificed
much to aid In maintaining the struggle.
In reply to question General Nc
MILAN said the document had no en-
dorsement from the Commission,
favorable or otherwise, but it had
been handed to him by the Commission,
and at their suggestion he had
subsequently invited number OF mem-
bers of the legislature to meet the Com
mission and discuss the matter.
Mr.. w. Ii. Dinkgrave OF Madison,
said he was one OF the members sent for
by the Commission, and ne would report
as accurately, rs he could remember,
what took place at that Interview.
The Commission stated that they had
been here now two weeks as agents Of
the President, trying to see If somc plan
of adjustment could not be adopted. AS
Republicans the Commission said they
deeply sympsthized with us IN our strug-
giles and sacrifices, but after two weeks
labor We have come to the conclusion,
lone of the Commission here interlaced
the words, "not as = Commission, but rs
individuals, that the terms offered in
the proposition which has been handed
by one of US to the chairman OF your
committee are the best we can get for
YOU. and for the sake of the Republican
party, and for the sake of the peace OF
the State, it was best that we should &C.
cept them. This was endorsed by sll the
members present, except Mr.. McVeigh
Governor Brown was not present. l, TOR
one. was surprised and indignant at the
proposition made to US to thus sacrifice
duty, principle, honor and everything. L
SAID to Gen. Harlan, "Do you speak as
commissioner" Hesaid, ~ do not Then
said, IL deny your right as citizen OF
Kentucky to come here and dictate to
me, q member of the Legislature of
Louisiana, what | shall do l asked
one OF the members of the Commission
if he were member of the Legislature
as | was, and believed Gov. Packard was
honestly elected, whether he would
accent these terms, and after some hesl-
tstion he replied, "no." This in my
opinion is not question of compromise,
it is q question OF law, a question Of right,
and l trust every member OF this caucus
will agree with me to stand firm aud not
let President Hayes slip through the
loophole which this Commission is trying
to prepare tor him. l believe the time
has come when we can say to President
HAYES, YOU were elected by the votes OF
the Republicans of Louisiana, sealed
| by the blood Of hundreds Of
| faithful men, and now iorgettul pf that
and forgetful OF the obligations OF your
high office you are trying to carry out
the bargain made by your advisers,
who came here with nothing but honeyed
words on their lips and nothing but
praises of our fidelity while The Return
| ing Board was csnvassing the votes.
You are trying to carry out that bar
gain by saying the whilst you had the
matter under consideration the Re-
publicsns OF Louisiana gave up the fight,
You shall not whip the devil round
the stump 10 that manner. An excited
discussion followed, IN the course OF which
| it was stated that one member OF the
| Commission asserted that If this pCopo
sltion were not adopted, the troops would
| be removed in less than fortnight and
another commissioner said within week
Governor Yarmouth made lone
speech, urging in defense of President
HAYES that when he came into office he
found Gov. Packard labelled across tht
back with teIegrsphic dispatch from th'
outgoing President that the troop
We're not TO be used for th'
suppnrt OF his government. h'
eulogized the patient endurance and de
termination exhibited BY Gov. Pscksrd
lin defence of his rights. He concluded
as follows: If the mem bers OF this caucus
have the manhood and personal snC
party integrity enough 10 stand together
never to leave their places and go owe
to the enemy, the right thing, the high
toned thing the honorable thing to do i
to send back this document TO the Com
mission endorsed: "Fhe within propo
sition, submitted by the Commission
is respectfully declined" After ms
iority has made the determination 4
stand BY Governor Packard 1
the end Of this contest, if they vii
for psltry sum take their hats an
sneak by the back doors into Mr.. Nichols
Legislature, why in Gods name let u
know It before hand. If you have de