New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-16


nlzed generally throughout the State, and
that Governor Packard has possession and
control only over ian acre of ground"
and the "St. Louis Hotel" This 'hOtel"
happens to be the Capitol of the State,
where, by law, the sessions of the General
Assembly are to be held and where are the
offices of the Governor and other State
officers.
Instead of Governor Paokard's suthori.
ty being only acknowledged at the st. Louis
Hotel, it is recognized in the greater part
of the State, outside of New Orleans. In
at least twenty-nine of the parishes or
counties of the State Republican officers
were elected and are in the exercise of
their functions, and they everywhere rec
OgniZe Governor Packard as the Governor
of the State. Thirteen out of seventeen
district judges of the State, outside of
New Orleans, we're elected by Republic
ans, and they have officially recognized
Governor Packard.
1t has been boastfuliy stated that the
taxpayers will pay taxes cheerfully to the
Nichols appOintees This is a prediction
and therefore unreliable. The truth is,
that not one of his appointees can lawfully
collect any taxes, even if Nichols had the
right to appoint them, because they have
not the tax rolls; because taxes for general
State purposes are not ususuAlly col
lected till the fall, and the licenses
which are oOllectable at once have to be
Endorsed by the Treasurer of the State (who
holds over from the election of 1S74l, who
does not recognize Mr.. NichOll's appointees
To obviate this difficulty the bogus legisla-
ture passed an act authorizing the person
whom they claim to be Secretary of State
to indOrse the licenses instead of the Treas
urer. But, unfortunately, this House of
Representatives has never at any time had
quorum 30 as to transact any business,
NJ 20
bers. The funds raised have been by a
sort of preStimOs or forced loan.
These facts show the shallow pretenses of
Mr.. Nichols, made to falsely create the i'm
preston that he is de fact0 officer. If the
fact were true that his authority was su.
preme in every parish in the State, still the
pretension that he is de facto Governor
| would be unfounded, because he is a mere
usuper, without the shadow of color of
| authority to the office.
| These insurgents boast that they will
| force the government of the United States
to abandon Governor Packard, and thus to
disregard its sacred obligation to the State,
| or to establish q military government. If
the President yields to this threat it will be
only to encourage rebellion against the
| laws. The shotgun policy was successful in
Mississippi-if again it be successful in Lou
isiana, why may it not be attempted in
| Ohio, or in any other Statel 1t is mawkish
sentimentality to talk about "the genius OF
American liberty" being opposed to the use
of the military to establish or pull down gov.
ernments. The question involved here is a
question of fact and of law, and not of sen
timent. There can be but one lawful gov.
eminent in a State, and when another as
serts authority il is the bounden duty Of
the President to furnish the needful assist
ance when called upon to do so in the man.
ner prescribed by law. This principle was
decided in the Rhode Island case, and the
military forces of the United States have
been used to suppress insurrectiOns else
where than in the South.
The Republican party elected their State
ticket and a majority of both branches Of
the General Assembly at the last election
This has been declared by those lawfully
authori zed to decide the question in thil
State. This decision has been confirmed
by the Electoral Commission and by Con
gress in counting the electoral vote OF Lou
isianR for President Hayes, because Gov
ernOr Packard ran ahead of several of tht
Hayes electors.
We have a right to demand that the law
fully elected State officers be recognized
and supported in the discharge OF theil
functions, to the end that our property, oul
lives and our liberties be fully protected
A government which fails 60 protect it
citizens is pusillanimOus. We and a ma
iority of the citizens of Louisiana are loya
to the constitution of the United States
and are attached to the principle of tn
great party of liberty; and we have conf
dence in the ability and willingness of tn
government to afford us the necessary pre-
lection.
We appeal, therefore, to our fellow.cit
zens of the loyal States not TO heed tn
ISLANDERS published against us, and to exer
their influence to hasten the assistano
which should have come to us upon tn
wings of lightning.
Justice delayed is often times justice d.
MED.
In conclusion, we respectfully, but ca
nestly ask, as we have right, and deman
that the hand of justice be speedily 81
tended to the lawful government in Louis
ana, to the end that the Republicans OF tn
State may not be forced to follow the g.
ample of the Nichols party and attempt
settle the legal questions by the use of IL
musket and cannon.
w. H. Dinkgrave, of Madison;
George Drury, of Assumption;
Oscar Holt, of West Baton Rouge;
w. G. Shelton, of Morehouse;
Ebert CAN'T, of St. Landry
C. w. Boothby, OF New Orleans;
WI. Evans, of New Orleansi
A. j. Whittier. of New Orleans.
/ Speeches were made by John II. Din
! grave, Esq, Senator E. L. Weber, Gener
,, Jack Wharton, Colonel A. j. Whittier, Ho
! D. H. Gorham, Judge w. L. Evans al
Hon. Henry c. Dibble.
The address was adopted.
: Appropriate resolutions were al
t adopted.
After transacting SEINE ordinary busine
the meeting adjourned.