Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-17
louisiana.


change 10 the political situation last evening.
The democrats had recovered from the depres
sion caused by The Presidents telegram 10
Gen. Augu7, aud were again hopeful, while
tie radicals mautalued that the telegram tore
shadowed az early AID complete recognition OF
their governmeot.
Governar Packard had cot received any re.
ply 70 I.s r, quisiioo upon Gen. Augur TOR The
restoration OF the c,urt house. The city Was
remark .biy quiet, and there was 90 change 10
he s!'uatIou.
Sheriff Handy refused to recognize the writ
Of nat,eas corpus issued by Judge Sha" Tor the
Assistant Serseaots-at.Ar OF the radical
Senate, who are 10 prison here.
10 the democratic House yesterday JOINT
resolution Was unanimously adopted TO the ef'
!ect that the policy OF kiodness, talr and eqmt..
able treatment towards the coore people OF
the State, as announced BY Gov. Nichols IN
his Baton Rouge speech, 10 letter to Mr:
PIuchback on the 18th inst. Is endorsed, and
will be strictly adhered to by the Legislature.
The dispatch from Secretary Cameron TO
Gen. Augur regarding the latter's understand
log of the Presidents telegram OF the I4t6 was
published here last night aud caused much re-
ioicing among the democrats, ADD was regarded
by the citizens generally as preventing any col
hsioD between the opposing parties.
The following explains itself and was sent to
Gen. Augur at ii o'clock last night:
STATE OF LOUISIANA. EXECUTIVE DEP T.
New ORLEANS, January Is.
10 Briqadter General L. L. -dugW, Com-
munltug the Department.:
| ~ oh nfpl OF no
receipt of a communication from Brevet Major
Russell. aide de Camp, OF 'hls CRY. as follows !;
Hon. s. B. Packard NeaO Orleans:
SIR:-Upon delivering to you copy OF a
dispatch of the Hon. Secretary Of War of this
date informed you that Geu. Augur, COM
handing the department, r. quested that you
give assurances that the Presl 1eCts wishes
coucerniDg the preservation OF the present
status be respected. You requested me 10 put
the request 10 writing that you might make
writteu reply. | have dooc SO, and remain,
&c.
10 reply, beg to say that when this morn.
iny | received verbal request through Major
Russell to consent to let matters remain 10 statu
quo, TO make 90 effort to relostate the lawful
records of the Supreme Court and o:ner posi-
tons or which they had been forclby dispos
sessed by violent aod revolutionary acts OF the
White League, felt that the request would
have been more appropriate if made imue.
diateIy after my installation as Governor and
before many OF the main branches of the
goveroment had beed forcibly taken pos,
session Of By the opposition. A majority
of the lawfully returned members OF the zen
eraI Assembly, 10 strict conformity With the
laws acd Constitution Of the State, has de-
cared me elected Governor, and on the 9th OF
Jauuaiy | duly took the oath to observe the
Constitution aud maintain the laws OF the
State. My predecessor feeling, l presume,
that there was difference Of opinion 10 the
nation with regard TO the election 10 the State,
as was made manifest by the presence OF the
Investigating committees Of both Houses OF
CONGRESS, permitted, with my full assent, my
contestant to 90 through the form of an l0aug'
uratiou without attempting 10 any manner TO
lnterposc. | had scarcely taken the oath OF
Office when the White League were called to
arms; the Court room and the records OF the
Supreme Court Of the State, Court whose
title 10 welI-iuformed jurst ventures to dis.
quite, we're torcby taken possession ct, and
various predict police stations we're captured
10 like manccr by the display OF overwhelming
forces. Orders had been issued early 90 this
DAY. the 9Th instant, BY the Honorable the
Secretary 0: War, directing that all u1author-
zei armed bodies should be required to de-
sit. \ dispatch of the same date, from your
self to the Secretary of War, conveyed the as.
suraDce that Nichols had promised the dis.
ba neDt OF his armed forces | construed
this order Of the Secretary Of War as virtually
commanding the maintenance OF the Ststu quo.
Cons qucutiy the State forces ln charge ct the
different positions outside the Capitol were d.
rected to make such resistance as would CON-
pei the manifestation of force and breach of
peace or the part Of their opponents. 1t was
my understanding that neither side should be
permitted to interfere With the status OF the
ether side. let i, is matter Of public noto-
riety that on the day after this order was re-
ccivcd and this pledge WAS given d force of
several hundred armed White Leaguers. 90 the
10th lest. repaired to the State Arsenal end
look theretrom into their own keeping i've
pieces Of artillery, Including TWO Calling guns;
that a garrison Of armed me0 was placed IN
and around the Supreme Court buildings, and
that on the following day (llth inst. 40 armed
company Of the White League broke into and
took possession Of the Office OF the Recorder Of
Mortgages 10 this city. The dispatch of the
President OF date OF January ii, a copy Of
which was communicated by you to me, dis
timely affirmed the llepslty oil the pretended
court placed by the White League 10 posses
sion Of the court rooms and records of The Su'
preme Court OF the Stale. Since the publlca-
tioo OF that dispatch Unauthorized armed
bodies, by whom the court rooms are held sod
this pretended court is sustained, have beeo
openly reinforced 10 view of all these facts it
seemed to me that to give the pledge verbally
asked Of NE this morning would be to sanction
revolution, and by acqulescence give II the
force OF accomplished fact, and therefore de.
Glued. IDssmuch, however, as | learn tia it
is the Presidents wish that the present status
shcu'd be maintained throughout the State
Until the Congressional committees DOW 10
Louisiana return; and feeling assured that the
legal status of the existing State government
wi speedily be recognized, and that The
wrougs committed 10 the last eight days will
be set right, | will give the pledge requested
that 90 effort will be made on the part Of the
law ul State government to torciby disturb the
existing state of affairs without further com
uupicaioo With you.
N.-r r,snoo,t,,llc pour nkpS:onI sarcant