The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-02-10


Hon. Pierre Landry, State Senator
from this district, has favored us with
!, COPY of letter which he has had
printed fol- circulation among his
friends, explanatory of the political
situation aud his position relative
thereto. We transfer the document
to onr columns:
New ORLEANS, February 8, 1877.
Dear Friend In reply to many inquiries
and in order that may correct certain er-
roneous impressions prevalent III your mind,
/ find it necessary to address you briefly
through this medium upon the causes OF our
present political troubles, which are as fol
lows:
On the seventh day of November, 1876, as
YOU know, u General Election was held
throughout the United States for President
and Vice President, thereupon the two great
national parties nominated us their standard
bearers men of their choice: The Repub-
lican party. with K. b. Hayes and VIM. A.
Wheeler and the Democratic Party with
Sainl j. Tilden and Thos. A. Hendricks. In
this State the Republican Party nominated
as the head of their ticket s. b. PACKARD and
T. Nichols and l.. "A. Wilt.
The national contest is one of such mag
nitude that to avoid Il general national con
tiiet the two parties agreed to set aside the
mode of counting the electoral votes OF
nearly one hundred years duration, and
passed u compromise bill through Congress
creating "A National Returning Board to set
tie disputed cases from the several disputed
colleges.
In our OWL State it appeared by the re
turns made by the Supervisors to the Re
turning Board that the Democrats carried
the State by about eight thousand votes
TO this the Republican candidates protested
and charged the Democrats with frauds, by
intimidating Republican voters in certain
parishes, whereupon the most promnen
representative men from both parties from
the North, came to Louisiana to watch afte
the national interest before the Returnin!
Board, and after the examination of wit
nesses for and against, both parties submit
ted their case, and the Board, after its find
ing, proceeded to promulgate the resul
which gave the Republican party maiorit'
of about three thousand votes. Whereupol
Messrs. Packard and Antoine were declare,
by the Legislature, according to law, Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor OF the Stat
of louisiana and on the eighth day of Jan
uary, 1877, they were inaugurated as such.
The Democratic party still claiming thei
canaluales elecIeu, as per lace OF the rs
turns, proceeded also on the same day to IL
augurate Gen. Nichols and Mr. Wilt, Coz
ernor and Lieutenant Governor (which
the beginning of the two governments in til
State and who at once took possession q
all the offices in the City, outside of tn
State-H House, by force ofarms. Subsequently
Il sufficient number of legally elected Sen;
tors deserted the Senate at the State Hons
and joined the Democratic party ut the Cd
Fellows Hall, thereby leaving the Repul
licans with the legal House without Senat
The President of the United States hsyin
declined to recognize either governme pt la
ordered Statg quo, or every thing to star
MS they are, until he shall have learned a
the facts in both eases. In the meantime,
have determined TO remain in my part,
1.-THE Republican Party" until the,questio
as to which is the legal government In til
State is settled.
Now, as your representative, l would SUI
gest that you call meetings among you
selves and adopt resolutions expressive
your wishes us to what course you wUul
have me pursue, and l shall be guided a
cortlingly. Yours respectfully.
PIERRE LANDRY,
Sena.or eth District.