Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-16

NEW ORLEANS, March l4.-The following i.
the letter of Hon. Stanley Matthews to Governor
Packard and the reply
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., Feb. q.
TO Hon. S. B. Packard, New Orleans My
Dear Sir,-I received and read with attention your
communication on the svhiect of the public affairs
of Louisiana, and the subject has been carefully
and anxiously considered by myself and others ii
its relation to the general policy OF republican,
administration towards 1t. | have conversed Al
leugth with and given him the result of my con
victon which he can repeat to you more 10 detai
than can at present. / merely indicate the re-
suits of my opinions without reference to the
rghtfulness OF the origin of your title as Cover
nor. | am of the opinion that the circumstance
are such that it w3l be out of the question for a
republican adm Illustrator to MAINTAIN itself, as II
must necessarily by force of federal arms. As soon
as the existing military orders are Withdrawn the
Nichols government will become the only exist
ing government, and will have to be recognized
as such. In the meantime 1t will be the duty oil
the ad nnstraton TO take care that the result,
shall not mperil the rights and equity of the col
OF ed people of Louisiana, so far as IL has Lawful
power to prevent it, and also TO take care thai
staunch republicans like yourself, against whom
| nothing disrepuabe can be alleged, should no
| suffer, and should receive consideration and po
| sition in some appropriate way. These are, 10
short my own individual views. regret the con
| better way to improve 1t.
(Signed) Very respectfully.
STANLEY MATTHEWS
STATE OF LOUISIANA, Executive Dept,
New ORLEANS, March IA.
To the Hon. Stanley NattheWs My Dear Sir
Your letter on the public aft lrs of Louisiana Of
the 9th ultimo was duly received. In my CON
munication to you and referred to in your letter
aimed to exhibit to yon the reason and sterling
| facts, why the government of which l am the
head ought to receive prompt recognition from
the National administration. In your reply you
suggest the difficulties that you deem exist with
out reference to the rghtfuness OF the origin o.
your my" title and say that as soon as the exist
| ing military orders are Withdrawn the Nicholl.
| government will become the only existing
| government and will have to be recognized a.
such. Inasmuch as you say that your letter on ly
expresses your own ndividut views, 1t is not nee
essary to attempt to correct your opinion that the
circumstances are such that 1t will be out OF the
question for q republican administration to main.
tain it, "my" title, as that is subject which
now engages the attention of the President under
the Constitution and laws OF the United States.
| Judge the purpose of your letter to have bee o
in friendly way to accomplish the abandonment
by me of the office of Governor to the end that my
defeated opponent might assume unquestioned the
office to which l have been elected. Admitting
the value of The opinion of one 80 learned and OF
| so deservedly great influence in the councils OF
duty to unqualfedly decline to entertain any prop
ositon to relinquish or to abandon the position
| which hold. ] received O majority of the Legal
votes cast at the last election, have been declared
Governor by the legal Legislature IN joint session
with an undsputed quorum, and having been vest
ed with authority as Governor | cannot with due
regard to my oath of Office and duty to the &c, 900
voters who have elected me to the chief magistrs
cy, though should receive consideration and POI
sition in some appropriate WY. abandon those
faithful men to the merciless vengeance of the
White League democracy. | am the head of O
government as perfect as that of any State in the
Union. My predecessor, together with his Secre-
tary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, State
Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instructed
and Attorney General, with all the archives OF
their several offices, surrendered these positions
into the hands Of those lawfully elected to receive
them.
now represent this government with the pos
session Of all these officers. | am opposed by an
organized and armed mob Of men 10 this city,
known as the White League, who have manta inc d
during my administration force held together by
the encouragement given them from abroad, and
other means, by those who apparently seem to
measure the legal existence OF the government
by the amount of force it can present. Were
this force removed as it will be when the legitimacy
of my government is determined by the President,
nothing will then seriously impede the success Of
my administration.
Personally my position has been, Is, and will be
until the general government shall see fit to rec
ognze my authority as Governor, most perous
one, and it 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 sacrifice to the cause of lib
erty aud free government, and the thousands who
have deposited their votes at the peril Of life, are
ever present in my mind and demand that faith
fully discharge the duties devolved upon me.
Should exhibit less devotion than these faithful
people, though the effort costs 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 a surrender of beth manhood and
duty. am the Governor and no armed force or
violence can give my competitor lawful title.
Respectfully,
(sgned) S, b. PACKARD.
IOLITICdL.