Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-08
THE LOUISIANA CASE.

Among the last official acts of President
Grant, was an order removing the status quo in
louisiana or in other words Withdrawing the
military from the support of the Packard
government. This was in compliance with q
pledge he had previously made, to withdraw
the military so soon as the result of the Pres
idential election was officially declared. The
result of this action, it is thought, will have
the effect of ending Packard's claims, and be
practical recognition of Nichols as Cover.
nor Under date of the 1st instant, Packard
made the following appeal to the President ::
Statements are authoritatively made here
that YOU have announced your purpose to
withdraw the United States forces from the
various positions to which they have been as
signed in the interest of peace and public
veal in this city and State, 80 soon as the elec-
toral vote shall have been declared. 1t is
further stated that assurances have been Civ.
en- on the part of Nichols and his supporters
who may state are identically the same or
ganization under the name of the White
League that rose in insurrection against the
State government in 1874 and we're suppress.
ed by your orders-that if the support of Uni
ted States troops be withdrawn the govern
ment of which I am the head would disinte-
crate, and Nichols be installed without vlo-
lence and bloodshed. 1t is currently reported
and believed here on the other hand, that the
White League are under orders to attack the
State House, and will attack the State House
as soon as the soldiers are withdrawn from
the city, their purpose being, by the annihila-
ton of the officers of this government, to leave
no Republican in the State for your success
or's recognition. The validity of my title as
Governor of the State having been passed up
on by the only tribunal known to the State
laws and being now confirmed by the decision
of the national tribunal, deem it my duty to
maintain thegovernment by all means at my
command. /, therefore, most respectfully but
urgently request to be informed whether any
changes be contemplated by you in orders
heretofore given to General Augur, command
ing this Department., in order that may be
able to take such measures as circumstances,
and my duty as Chief Executive of the State
may seem to require. l again most respect.
fully request at your hands the recognition of
the legal State government. S. B. PACKARD.
To this appeal Grant turned deaf ear, and
caused the following reply to be sent by tele-
graph to Packard
In answer to your dispatch of this date, the
President directs me to say that he feels it his
duty to state frankly, that he does not believe
public opinion will longer support the main
tenance of State government in Louisiana by
the use of the military, and that he must con.
cur in this manifest feeling. The troops will
hereafter, as in the past, protect life and
property from mob violence when the State
authorities fail but under the remaining
days of his official life they will not be used
to establish or to pull down either claimant
for the control of the State: 1t is not his
purpose to recognize either claimant.
G. G. GRIFFIN, Secretary.