The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-15

tne question as to the Ilghttul government
OF the state OF Louisiana, at least not until
the congressional committees now there
have made their report, but it is not
proper to sit quietly by and see the state
government gradually taken possession of
by one OF the claimants for gubernatorial
honors by illegal means. The supreme
court set up by Nichols can receive 10
more recognition than any other equal
number OF lawyers convened on call of any |
other citizen Of the state. A returning |
board, existing 10 accordance with law and !
having judicial as well as ministerial pow
ers over the count of votes, and declaring |
the result of the late election, have given |
certificates OF election to legislature Of |
the state. A legal quorum of each house
holding such certificates met and declared |
Mr.. Packard governor. Should there be
a n, cessity for the recognition of either |
it must be Packard.
You may furnish copy of this to Pack |
ard and Nichols.
LSigned. i. s. GRANT,
President
New ORLEANS, Jan. l5.-The following
was issued this morning:
PROCLAMATION.
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
WHEREAS, There exists an organized
and armed combination and conspiracy of
men who are now offering unlawful and
violent resistance to the lawful authority
of the state government; and,
WHEREAS, An unlawful and revolution
ary body, claiming to be a general
assembly, is now holding sessions and
assuming to act as a legislature,i in the city
of New Orleans; and.
| WHEREAS, Certain persons are, with
out authority and in defiance of law,
assuming to act as a legislature, in the city
OF New Orleans; and,
| WHEREAS, Certain persons are, with
out authority and in defiance of law
assuming to act as executive and judicial
officers in places to which they have not
! been elected and commissioned or legally
appointed; and,
| WHEREAS. Certain persons are, without
authority and in defiance of law, assuming
to act as judges Of the supreme court; and,
WHEREAS, During the past week the
aforesaid combination and conspiracy have
eliminated In the masslng in the streets Of
the White League in arms and IN large
bodies, organized in companies and under
commanders, which armed bodies have
taken possession of the streets and thor
oughfares and have marched over the city
and have taken unlawful and forcibe pos
session Of stations of the Metropolitan po-
lice, OF the state arsenal, of arms of the
state, OF the court rooms Of the municipal
Judges and Of the office OF recorder OF
mortgages; aud have also taken torcibe
possession OF the rooms OF the supreme
; court and the records and archives of the
same, and have violently prevented judges
| thereof from access to the same;
Now, therefore, |, Stephen B. Packard
governor Of Louisiana, anu in the name
and by the authority Of the people OF
Louisiana, command said body of persons
pretending to be general assembly to de-
sis, from the further prosecution Of theII
, lawIess ard reasonable conspiracy and Il
Immediately disperse.
And | command the persons aforesaid,
$ claiming 20 act as judges Of the supreme
+ court, and all persons supporting, aiding
or abetti0g them thereby, and all persons
unlawtully assuming TO act as executive
e and political officers, and all persons hav
0 ing possession Of police stations and as
:, sumIOg to act as policemen on the streets
and all armed bodies Of men not actiny
? under the authority OF the lawful govern
= ment, as above recited, to Immediatel!
desst from the aforesaid unlawful acts ant
10 disperse and retire te their homes, unde
7 the pains and penalties of law.
d And | command all persons having il
their possession or under their care an
: control any arms or other property belong
y ing to the state. taken from the lawful Gus
e. todians thereof, to Immediately deliver u
the same to the proper authorities.
| Furthermore exhort and command a
good citizens OF the state to assist me j
restoring order, preserving peace and Ell
forcing the laws.
(Signed,) STEPHEN B. PACKARD.
!. New ORLEANS, Jan. l5.-The Republ
= cans her. are much elated over the new
from " ashington and the new phase {
affairs, while the Democrats assert that til
20 order of the president to Augur will n
e compel him to interfere unless to prevel
re blOodshed
Nichols and the Democratic legislatul
re will not heed Packard's proclamation
ii this morniug, auG the former will resi-
ary attempt of Packard to recapture Il
courts or station houses.
= Gen Augur does not regard | the ord
- Of the president, received last night,
4. materially changing his formerinstruction
81 At this writing, II o'clock, there is /
III material change in the situation.
A large crowd Of color,d people haV
~ assembled around the state house whel
=. the Republican leaders are, jubilant ovt
C the news from Washington.
p Packard declines to state what measure
if any, he will take to secure obedience
'eN his proclamation this morning, farth,
. than the statement that il is bis earne
II desire to avoid bloodshed or create bite
81 ness against his administration for tt
III future. He is now in consultation wi
81 the Judges of the supreme court.
New ORLEANS, Jan. 15.-Nothing fu
"a ther has been received by Gen. Aug
n. from " ashington.
ce 1t is stated that Gov Packard will mal
Y demand for the state house and static
houses dnring the day.
ng A Republican extra says: For the pa
Il few days White Leaguers have had ma
ters all their own way but with the begi
n ming of a new week comes change. II
clear and decisive language of the pre-
Va dent in his dispatch to Gen. Augur cam
AM be misunderstood The proclamation
nd Gov, Packard is expressed 10 terms equaI
ad. plain, The White League interregnum
ais at an end, The state will proceed witno
u, further delay to reassume the control ov
,ck all departments of the government viii
are had been temporarily possessed Dy lawle
~. ~. means in the interest of little ring of
uts cal Office e-seeking politicians.
md New ORLEANS, Jan. 15.-The Repu
ew Iican legislature is 10 joint session with