Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-28

| STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DE-
| PARRMENT, NEW ORLEANS, LA,
| April 70, 1917.
To the Repu5liodns Of Louisiana.
On this Gay, the fifteenth anniversary of the
surrender of New Orleans to the forces Of the
| United States, ii becomes my duty to announce 10
| YOU that the aid and counte OF the national
| government has been Withdrawn from the repub-
| licans OF Louisiana, and that government, rev.
dictionary in form, is practically on the point Of
usurplng cont oil of affairs IN TINS State. recall
| the circumstances of the last electoral campaign
only to thank you for the fidelity to principle you
| then displayed. The republican party, rs you
know, entered upon the canvass united aud strong
| er than ever before. 1t had enlisted under us
banners an influential class of native born citI-
| zens of old WING antecedents. who, TO their honor
be 1t said, still remain faithful TO the principles
/ they espoused and the government they support
| ed. 1t was further strengthened by the absence
1 from the State or opposition OF that element
| whose previous adherence to the party had
brought it into disrepute. These causes combined
to biing about the remarkable success achieved by
the republican party IN all the doubtful parishes,
with one exception, even where the white popu Ia
| ton predomnated, and which gave us 3 majority
| IN the Leg islature. Except where organized vo-
lence prevailed our State ticket carried every re-
publican parish, and also number of parishes
which in the last Legislature were represented by
democratic members.
EVENTS SUMMARIZED.
| briefly summarize the historical events that
have since occurred. The General Assembly met
on the LIST OF January last, organized with full
| legal quorum in botn houses, passed laws which
were approved by the Executive of the state, and
| on the "a of January last canvassed and declared
| the vote for Governor. AT this time the nation
agitated by doubt as to the result of the Pres
idt ntial election. With the expectation that Sam
uel j. Iilden might possibly become President oil
| the United States and with no hope OF success
| otherwise my opponent in the late campaign es-
tsblished mock legislature and went through the
form OF inauguration In order that there mig bit
| be q semblance of government which Mr.. Tilden,
II inaugurateo, could possibly gaivaniZe into vi
| talty. In the few days that followed General
Nichols and his adhe,ents were encouraged by
the Unexpected refusal OF President Grant 10 rec
ognize the State government or to respond to the
| constitutional call OF the Legislature, though he
| questioned the legality of neither. On the 9th Of
| January, before had scarcely taken my seat in
| the executive chair, the White League rose in
armed Instruction and by coup de main took
possession of the Supreme Court, arsensls and
stations Of the Metropolitan police, all located at
| the capital. Then came orders from President
Grant establishing sdfu quo, the practical effect
| of which was TO confirm tue insurgents IN the adj
| vsntages they had gained and to prevent any eff
| fort to dlspossess them. On the Inauguration of
President Hayes the state authorities made prep
arations to organize militia force for the defence
| OF the State government. General Nichols po.
| lice seized upon the recruiting officers and i'm
/ pllsOntu tutU LOT utasOu. Without the dement, Oh
| bail OF writ of habeas corr us
THE PRESIDENTS COMMISSION.
| Itelegraphed this fact to President Hayes, ask
| ing him ii this was violation OF the statue quo,
aud n not whether release OF these men by force,
| all civil remedies having been exhausted, would
be so considered The President replied -
"Your despatch OF the Path is received. The
| Secretary OF War has telegraphed to General Aug
ar. commission will shortly visit Louisiana.
In the meantime the President desires the situa-
uon to remain unchanged.
The Commission came. In the meantime the
Nichols government had crystallized into shape.
80 far from permitting the situation to remain I'M
changed, 1t had broken into the tax collectorof.
fee oil thu city, had taken foIcbe control Of State
institutions, and had strengthened itself on all
sides. Notwithstanding this, no viewer, the Commits
SION found the legal Legislature still in sess at
the State House, and my title unasailed and unas-
sailable, except by force. The result Of their la.
| bors during the two weeks they remained here is
known Of all men. They induced a numoer OF
members Of the legal House OF Representatives 10
take seats ia the Nichols house, thus giving it q
Retui ming Board quorum.
Prior 10 the meeting of the Legislature the
| democrats claimed to have elected only sixty
| members of the ilouse-one less than a quorum
one, at least OF the members SO claimed by them
| was assent on the LIST of January last. No re-
publican or independent leader could consent to
act with the Nichols House, and consequently, in
order TO obtain even an appearance OF organlzi-
ton, they had been compelled to call TO their aid
three men defeated at the polls, whose ele ction
had not previously been claimed
PERTINENT INQUIRY.
The inquiry. therefore, seems pertinent in this
connection. Ii Returning Board Quorum was
| so effective for Nichols claim why was il that
such quorum was ignored while it remained faith.
iul TO the legal government of the State; That
government had u Returning Board quorum from
the DAY on which the General Assembly convened
and the Legislature duly organized re-
manned IN legal existence till disnteg rated by d.
rect fct0n of the commission. This result having
been achieved, 1t is matter of record that con-
gratulatory messages were exchanged between tie
President and hi, commission.
REMOVAL OF THE TROOPS.
On the following day the President, BY formal
order, made pubic through the press. directed
that the United States troops occupying a building
In the vicinity OF the State House should be re-
moved TO their barracks. Those troops had been
placed there by Gen. Grant without formal call
OF the Governor, TO protect the Returning s Board
while Counting the vote for President. 4 firmly
believe that had the legal government been
reorganzei, 1t coald have sustained itself
without the intervention of troops but
the order Tor the withdrawal, issued under the
circumstances and in the manner that il was is
sued, clearly indicated that even the moral sun-
port which the legal government OF Louisiana
should have received from the national admins
sembly contiaued in session at the State House |
should have deemed 1t my duty to have asserted
and defended my government to the last, notwith-
standing the withdrawal OF the troops: out with
the legislature di-lntegrated, and no prospect of
present success, l cannot task your tried fidelity
by asking you longer to continae to aid me 10 the
struggle lave thus far maintained.
COMPELLED TO YIELD.
therefore announce 10 you that am compelled
TO abstain for the present from all active assertion
OF my government. / waive none of my legal
rights, but yield only to superior force. am not
wholly discouraged by the fact that one by one
republican State governments of the South have
been forced to succumb to force or fraud or policy
Louisiana, the first state rehaoltated after the
war, is the last State whose government thus falls
| and believe it Will be among the first TO raise it.
| sell again to the plane Of equal and honest repre-
| sentation. ] advise that you maintain your parry
organization and continue to battle for the rights
| Of citizenship and free government. We strive
Tor these ard not for man or men. Ii grieyes me
hey ond expression that the heroic efforts YOU have
made and The cruel suiieiings yon have undergone
| TO maintain republican principles in Louisiana
| have had this bi ter ending. To these who have
| SO CALAMITY stood by me 10 the long contest we
| have passed through tender my he artfelt thank.
| To ali counsel peace, patience. foititude, and
firm trust that ev, nually right aud Justice will
I mn