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

Important Correspondence.
The following correspondence between
Hon. Stanley Matthews and Governor
Packard will be read with interest and will
in time come to have historic value.
Whatever comments may be evoked by
the letter of Mr.. Matthews, Lonisianians
can not but feel proud that their interests
are in the hands of one beyond the reach
of corrupt political tricks and bargains:
STANLEY MATTHEWS TO GOVERNOR PACKARD.
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBERl
Washington, February q, 1877. )
Hon. s. B. Packard, New Orleans:
MY DEAR SIR received and read with
attention your Communications on the sub
iect of the public affairs of Louisiana, and
the subject has been carefully and anxious
ly considered by myself and others in its
relation to the general policy of Repub-
lican administration toward it.
Without reference to the rightfulness of
the origin of your title as Governor, / am
of the opinion that the circumstances are
such that it will be out of the question for
q Republican administration to maintain it,
as it must necessarily be, by force of Fed
eral arms.
As soon as existing military orders are
Withdrawn, the Nichols government will
become the only existing government, and
will have to be recognized then as such, In
the meantime it will be the duty of the ad-
ministratiOn to take care that the result
shall not lmperil the rights and equality of
the colored people of Louisiana, SO far as it
has lawful power to prevent, and also to
take care that staunch Republicans like
yourself, against whom nothing disreputa.
BILE can be alleged, should not suffer and
should receive consideration and position in
some appropriate way.
These are, in short, my own individual
views. l regret the condition of affairs,
but can not help it, and see no better way
to improve it.
Respectfully,
STANLEY MATTHEW'S.
GOVERNOR PACKARD TO STANLEY MAT
THEws
STATE OF LOUISIANA, }
Executive department,
New Orleans, March IA, 1877.
Hon. Stanley Matthews;
MY DEAR SIR-Your letter OF the twenty.
seventh ultimO was duly received.
In my communication to you, and re-
ferred to in your letter, aimed to exhibit
to you the reasons, and sterling facts, why
the government of which / am the head
ought to receive prompt recognition frsm
the national administration.
In your reply of the twenty seventh ulti-
mo you suggest the difficulties that you
deem exist without reference to the right
fulness of the origin of your (myl title"
and say that "as soon as existing military
orders are withdrawn, the Nichols govern
menJ will become the only existing govern
ment, and will have to be recognized
then as SUCH"
Inssmuch as You say that your letter only
expresses your own individual views, it is
not necessary to attempt to correct your
opinion that the circumstances are such
that it will "be out of the question for q
Republican administration to maintain it''
(my titlel, as that is q subject which now
engages the attention of the President un-
der the constitution and laws of the United
States.
Judge the purpose of your letter to have
been, in friendly way, to accomplish the
abandonment by me of the office of Cover
nor, to the end that my defeated opponent
might assume, unquestiOned the office to
which have been elected.
Admitting the value of the opinion of one
30 learned and of so deservedly great in
huence in the cOunsels of the nation, / am
constrained by my high sense of duty to
uuqualifedly decline to entertain any prOpo-
sitiOn to relinquish or to abandon the posi-
ton which hold.
received q majority of the legal votes
at the last election; have been declared
Governor by the legal Legislature in Joint
session, with an undisputed quorum in both
hOuees, aud having been lawfully vested
with authority as Governor, can not, with
due regard to my oath OF office and duty to
the $4,000 voters who have elected me to
the chief magistracy, though I"shOuld re.
| eeive consideration and position in some
appropriate way" abandon those faithful
men to the merciless vengeance of the
White League Democracy.
am the head of government as perfect
as that of any State 10 the Union. Ny prede-
cessor, together with his Secretary Of State,
Auditor of Public Accounts, State Treasurer,
Superintendent of Education and Attorney
General, together with all the archives Of
their several offices, surrendered these Do
| sitiOns into the hands of those lawfully
elected to succeed them. l now repre-.
sent this government, with possession of all
these offices. am opposed in this city by
an organized and armed body of men known
as the White League, who have maintained,
during my administration, force held to-
gether more by the encouragement given
them from abroad than by any other
means, by those who apparently seem to
measure the force of government by the
amount of force it can present.
If this force were removed, as it will be,
when the legitimacy of my government ie
determined by the President, nothing then
will seriously impede the success OF my ad-
uLuASbE&gAUAs OESOublly NY pObl6lDu mas
been, is, and will be, until the general gov
eminent sees fit to recognize my authority
as Governor, q most perilOus one, and Il
would be q source of satisfaction did the
responsibility rest upon some one other
than myself.
The hundreds of Republicans who have
given their lives as a sacrifice to the cause
Of liberty and free government, the thou
sands who have deposited their votes at the
peril of life, are ever present in my mind,
and demand that faithfully discharge the
duties which have devolved upon me.
ShOuld exhibit less devotion than these
faithful peOpleG
Though the effort cost my life, still that
devotion would be better heritage to my
children than the plaudits of the White
League of the State when gained by sur
render of both manhood and duty.
am the Governor, and no armed force
or violence can give my competitor lawful
title. Respectfully yours,
S. B. PACKARD, Governor.
The Vienna correspondent of the Times
saws: The information thai the negotiations