Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-07
Louisiana.

Of New Orleans was held at Lafayette Square,
yesterday. 1t is estimated that from lO'0oO
to $4,000 persons we're present. Resolutions
were adopted denouOciug the Packard govern.
r,eot and declaring that of Nichols to be the
choice CT the people, The resolutions are as
follows:
We, the citizens Of New Orleans, iu mass
meeting assembled, representing, as we hrmly
believe, the sentiments of large majority OF
the people of Louisiana, proclaiming anew our
devotion to the constitution Of the United
States and our unqualified acceptance OF all the
amendments thereto; asserting that In loyalty
to our re established union and in true netlonal
patriotism we do DOT yield 10 tho people OF ANY
section Of our common country, az zee stand
ready to prove by any test; declaring our ear.
nest desire to oblerate the feelings OF sectional
bitterness which were left as the result oil the
late unhappy war, and to rcunlte the whole
people OF the United States IN common bond
Of Brotherhood; equally desirous OF breaking
down the barriers Of prejudice and diStrnst
which designing political trckster5 have l?om
base motives reared between the white and col
ored citizens Of the State, and to re establish
the relations of the two races upon bass Of
lust laws, equal rights, common protection' ana
harmonious and kindly sentiment toward each
other, profoundly impressed with The gravity
Of the crisis through which CUR state is pass
iDg and the feeling that We should publicly
nroclain cur sentiments touching the same, We
| hereby adopt the following resolutions
First, That the right Of local self-goTcTnmeDt
| is the fundamental principle Of our republican
system; that it is the iualenable privilege OF
| every state 10 the union, deprived OF which
state ceases to exist as such IL 2 constitutional
sense, and becomes mere province Ct 40 alien
| government. =,
Second. That lor Jour yeats The people u
Louisiana have lived under usurplng goVtrn-
meut never elected by the people OF the state.
never voluntarily acQuiesced in, established
originally and maintained throughout Its career
| by the military power OF the Federal govern
meot. ADD different from direc! military gov.
erpment only ia name AID 10 the particular Of
jts greater cytravlgance and uubTdled corrun'
ton, after uDGtaess 0! persons entrusted with
its administration, contemplate weakness and
inability to enforce the laws or to protect the
rights Of the persons and property OF It's clti-
Z.us, and the greater hatred anu contempt With
which IL was regarded by the people.
Third. That the results OF this nsurrat!ou
have bceu 10 destroy happiness aud prosperity,
TO loment discard and disorder; to lessen re.
spect for Iaw aud government; to encourage
violations Of the rights OF person aud property
to repress all business enterprises; to impair
confidence aud almost toanphilate the value Of
property. That whatever Of enterprise 10 busi-
ness, value in property, cohesion ia socletyoT cou
tcntmcnt in lille have survived tGls unhappy
condition Of affairs, are due solely TO the conti'
dent hope that the late election ~ oar state
would result in restoring its government TO the
control Of its people; and if that hope shall now
be disappointed We see uOtEing 10 til" future
but anarchy. ruin and despair.
Fourth. That the government OF Which
Francis u. Nichols is The head is the c0Dsttu-
,ional government of the State Of Louisiana,
elected by majority OF more than seven thuu-
sand votes, fully organized in all parts, eyercl$
ing tho ouly governmental iuucliOns that are
exercised in the State, making aud eriotcing
laws, administering justice, collecting revenues
and preserving the peace and order o! $0cltI%.
That there is cot within the limits oil the State
an officer exercising any actual authority, cS.
cent those whose official titles are recos oiZod
by this government because duly elected; that
many CT those elected as republicans have al
ready recognized the true government, and
those who have net yet done So will hasten &c
recoguze it as soon as federal iGterfere2cc shall
cease; that this government is not cnly capable
Of perpetuatiug itself aud enforcing its author.
ily, but that it would encounter 10 resistance,
nor even desire TO resist on the part Of any
portion Of the people, except 40 insignificant
clique Of ambitious politicians, With small
following Of ignorant GupcS.
Fith-That the pretended g0VeruDeat, OF
which S. 3. Packard claims to be the head, is j
mere simulacrun. without body or substance,
the offspring Of legislative conspiracy Of the
late usurpers TO perpetuate their poser in d.
tiance Of the will Of the people Is expressed
at the ballot box by fraudulent manipulation
Of returns; that it does cot and cannot com.
maDd moral or physical support Of any con.
siderable portion Of the people; that IL exercises
and is capable Of exercising none Of The lunc'
| tons OF government, and that its authority Is
recognized nowhere outside OF the limits OF
. single building 10 the State; that Il! The hope
Of federal interference we're withdrawn, 1t "0a!d
disband without the uplifting Of an arm again!
it; that it presents not single title to respect
or confidence, and that an attempt 10 establish
and maintain it by the military power Of the
United States would be not only an outrage On
constitutional liberty, but the greatest crime
against civilization that has been Witnessed 10
the nineteenth century.
| Sixth. That the people Of Louisiana Oh
served with deep satisfaction the conservative
sentiments expressed 10 the inaugural address
of President Hayes, and hailed them Us omcEs
OF return to constitutional methods Of gov
ernmcnt, under observance Of which tho affairs
of Louisiana would arrange themselves speeli,
y aud peacefully, and need give the Federal
government no greater concern than the affairs
Of New York or Massachusetts; that by the
adoption Of such policy he would confer an
nestimable benefit upon the whole nation, as
we'll as upon this State. and would gain the
respect aud gratitude Of the people q! the
United States, and especially Of the people Of
Louisiana; that Notwithstanding the disap-
pointing delay which has INTERVIEWED, We ar.
preciate the difficulties Of his position, and
have not lost confidence in the sincerity Ct his
declarations and the rcctitude OF lis laica-
| tioLs
Seventh. That the eminent geutamtn who
are about to visit us by invitation Of the Pfesi-
dent be heartily welcomed and extended every
| facility III their labors, assuming that they arc
IMPARTIAL citigsDs who come here only for the