The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-06-01
A VISIT TO GOV. NICHOLAS.

NEW ORLEANS, May 70, ls77.--Your
correspondent has not the slightest dis
position to make \ political raid into
the affairs Of Louisiana, but \ little
more than mere curiosity prompted
me, in company with the Rev. MIR.
Begley, of Trenton, KY, to pay our
respects to his reigning excellency,
Gov. Nichols. His office is in the old
st. Louis Hotel, now used AS State
house.
Hard by the closed door of the Gov
ernor's Office sat heavy-set coiored in
dividual, who seemed to be doing the
honors of admission. AS he politely
invited us in, assuring us that the Gov
ernOr would he in in few minutes, it
was easy to detect in his manner some
qualification that gentlemen from Ken
lucky should call to see the Governor.
On entering the Office we We're shown
a solid. sensible looking gentleman,
who. upon mutual Introduction, we
found to be ex-Lieut.- Gov. Penn, of the
Mcksnery government. A free CONVEX
sation eilsued. Gov. Penn, during his
remarks, spoke of Packard rs one OF
the best men of his party, AS II man Of
ability. In regard to the fraudulent
election of Hayes, he was emphatic !;
but as the parties had agreed to leave
Commission, and as that Commission
had decided in favor Of Hayes, he
thought Hayes could not be censured
for accepting the decision.
About this time Gov. Nichols en-
tered the room and was formally intro
tuced to us by Gov. Penn. His greet
Ing was cordial. Gov. Nichols is, we
should judge, about forty years of age,
some five feet eight inches high, weight
about 16O, dark hair, rather ruddy
complexion, nose not large but slightly
roman, dark gray eyes, small brown
rnustache, with Il calm and determined
expression Of features. He has bat one
arm and one leg, the latter, however,
40 we'll mated by a cork leg :ss to make
the deformity unnoticeable.
The conversation turned upon the
political situation. We asked him
questions as to the meaning of the joint
parade of both parties in thanksgiving
on the 10th; of the foundation of all
the bulldozing stories of the financial
condition OF the relative tendency of
the parties in Louisiana, and of the
effects of Mr.. Hayes's Southern policy.
His replies to these questions were
calm, clear, without equivOcation,
showing that he was man of positions,
firm and determined. He said the
joint parade of the soldiery was de-
signed to show that the bitterness of
party feeling was yielding to an era of
better things. His discussion of the
bulldozings in some of the Louisiana
parishes was apparently sincere and
truthful. He said there was nothing
in it beyond the ordinary eiectioneer-
ing schemes, such as might and do
occur in the other States that no doubt
both parties engaged in the ordinary
electioneering schemes that Eliza
Pinkston and many killing stories had
nothing to do with politics. He went
into details as to the causes OF many Of
the disturbances; stating that the
cotton was often left upon the plants
for naontsss and hands hired to pick it.
Often it was stolen in small quantities
and sold for " hisky to the little stores
that were established for the nafarious
traffic by unprincipled men Of both
parties. No law could reach these
petty thefts. ~+The good citizens of all
parties felt outraged and in self-defense,
independent of politics, formed vigil
lance committees. These committees,
in breaking up drunken rows and de-
atroying the establishments carrying on
this nefarious business, laid the fo,,ntl:,-
tion for the bulldozing stories. M
The financial condition Of the State
was hopeful. During the past two
months the State bonds had advanced
from SO to 80 cents, and would doubt
less be at par soon. ..a' ." ..3sA.a
As to parties, he believed the State
to be Democratic. 1t would depend on
circumstances AS to the effect Of the
Presidents policy on the parties, but
thus far it had inaugurated an era of
good feelings, and that the whites OF
both PARTIES, save a few of the imme-
diate carpet-bag followers, were heart
lily in support of Hayes's Southern pol
icy, and that changes were constantly
occurring among the colored people.
He thought the effect of Democratic
rule In Louisiana would remove pre-
judices from the minds Of the colored
men, and make them better citizens
and more Democratic. He anticipates
no further difficulty in Louisiana, but
looks hopefully forward to a career Of
prosperity. He says that common
politics attract but little attention here
now, after the exciting scenes since the
war. ...
,Gratified with our visit, we left Gov.
Nichols, after repeated and cordial so
ifcitations to remain longer, with re-
newed faith in the future of our whole
Southern people, whose grand history
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