Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-05-03
Packard'S Address.

%, 1S77.-To the Il sDubdcaaas of
Louisiana: -On this day, the fifteenth
anniversary Of the surrender Of New
Orleans to the forces of the United
States, it becomes my duty to an
ncunce to ycu that the aid and couten-
ance Of the national government has
been withdrawn from the Republicans
of Louisiana. and that government,
revolutionary in form, is practically on
the point Of Usurping the control OF
affairs in this State, [ recall circuIn-
stances of the last electoral campaign
only to thank you for the fidelity to
principle you there displayed. The
( Republican party, as you know. enter
ed upon the canvas united and stronger
than ever before. 1t had enlisted I'M
der It's banner an finueutial class Of
nativeborn citizens Of old Wing ante
cedents. who. to their honor be it said.
still remain faithful to the principles
they espoused and the government
they supported. It was further
strengthened by the absence from the
state of opposition of that element
whose previous adherence to the party
had brought it into disrepute. These
causes combined to bring about the
remarkable success achieved by the
Republican party in all doubtful
parishes, with one exception, even
where the white population preponder-
ated, and which gave US majority in
the Legislature Except where organ
lied violence prevailed, our state ticket
CARRIED EVERY REPUBLICAN PARISH
and also number of parishes which
in the last legislature were represented
by Democratic members. l briefly
summarize historical events which
have since occurred. The General
Assembly met on the 1st of January
last, organized with full legal quorum
in both Houses, passed laws which
were approved by the then Executive
of the State, and on the I'd Of Janu-
AIRY last canyassed and declared the
vote for Governor.
At this time the nation was agitated
by doubt as to the result of the Pres
idential election, with the expectation
that Samuel j. Tilden might possibly
become President of the United States,
and with no hope Of success otherwise.
My opponent in the late campaign
established a moote Legislature, and
went through the form Of an inaugu-
ration in order that there might be a
semblance of government which Mr..
Tilden, if inaugrated, could possibly
galYanize into reality. En- the few
days that followed Gen. Nichols and
his adherents were encouraged by the
unexpected refusal Of President Grant
to recognize the state government, and
to respond to the constitutional call
of the Legislature. though he question
ed the legality of neither, On the
9th day Of January | had scarcely
taken my seat in the executive chair
when the White League rose in armed
instruction, and b. coup de main
took possession Of the Supreme Court,
arsenal and stations OF the metropoli-
tan police, all located at the capitol,
Then came orders from ID resident
Grant establishing statw quo, the
praticai effect of which was to con
firm the insurgents in the advantages
they had gained, and prevent any
effort 70 dispossess them. On the
inauguration of President Hayes the
state authorities made preparations to
organize a militia force, all civil rene
dies having been exhausted, and APP
piled to the President for his permits
sion. The President replied: "Your
dispatch of the 24th is received. The
Secretary of War has telegraphed to
Generel Augur that a commission will
shortly visit Louisiana. In the mean
; time the President desires that the
situation remain unchanged"
The commission came. In the
mean time the Nichols government
had crystallizad into shape. SO fal
from permitting the situation to re-
| main unchanged, it had broken into
tax collectors Offices of the city, had
taken forcible control of state iustitu
tons, and had strengthened itself or
all sides. Notwithstanding this
however, the commission found the
| legal legislature still in session at The
state house, my title unassailed and
unassaible except by force. Their la
bors during the two weeks they re
manned here is known of all men
They induced number of member,
: Of the legal House of Representative
to take seats in the Nichols House
thus giving it a Returning Boar(
quorm. Prior to the meeting Of thu
Legislature the Democrats claimed tt
e have elected only
$ SIXTY MEMBERS
; of the House, one less than a quorum
, One at least Of the members so claim
ed by them was absent. On the frs
day of January last no Republican o
Independent member would consent t,
: act with the Nichols house, and con
: sequently in order to obtain even tn,
appearance of az organization, the!
had been compelled to call to their al;
three men defeated at the polls, who's
selection had not been previousl,
claimed, The enquiry therefore Seems
e pertinent in this connection, if re
, turning board quorum was so effectua
for the Nichols claim, why was ii tina
: such quorum was ignored while it re
: manned faithful to the legal govern
a ment of the State? That government
had Returning Board quorum from
the day on which the General Assem-
hIy convened aud the Ierisiatura du},