New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-26
IOIJSIANA'S PLIGHT,

EVERY DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT DCPlI-
CATED-ARBITRATloN AND COMPROMISE
NEEpED-THE GOVERNORS NOT TO BE SENT FOR.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 2j.-The Louisiana Commits
sion will be organized early during the present
week. There is still slight possibility that Vice
President Wheeler may serve as its chairman,
Though the probability is that he Will insist on being
excused While he has been in better health during
the mast few months than he was last Fall, a very
little excitement or fatigue breaks him down; and
he IS fearful that his strength is not suficien, to
warrant Journey to New-Orleans at this time ard
the labor and anxiety that will attend the work OF
the Commission there. 1t is understood that the
President has not yet accepted his declination to
90. but expects that he will have to do so.
OF the other members of the Commission the only
name thus far announced is that of eX-Gov. Brown
of Tennessee. Invitations were sent TO several
other gentlemen on Thursday or Friday, but their
replies have not all yet been received In the mean
time there is much uncertainty as to the personnel OF
the Commission. 1t is believed however, that
majority Of the names of gentlemen which have APP
peared in print thus far as likely to be members of
it have been simply cOnjectural and that neither
the President nor any member of his Cabinet has
given any information upon the subject.
II may be said that the delay does not grow ont OF
any serious difficulty in securing the services OF
gentlemen whom it is desirable to send to NeY5
Orleans, as has been currently reported IN wash
inCton during the past day or two nor has the plan
of requesting Cows. Packard and Nichols to come TO
Washington ever been seriously considered by the
Cabinet. The controversy in South Carolina Is
between the Governors If their claims can he
determined satisfactorily TO everybody the South
Carolina case may be easily adjusted. In Louisiana
il is dispute not only between rival claimants for
the chief executive Office but there are also dual
organizations in every other department OF the state
Government. visit to Washington by Packard
and Nichols might not, therefore, result in any
satisfactory settlement, since the claims OF rVai
legislatures and courts would have also to be con-
sidered.
The exact object of the appointment of the Louis-
ana Commission about which there has been SO
much discussion, will DO publicly announced as soon
as il is organized. The announcement Will proba-
bly, be in the form of letter of instructions gwen
TO its members Until then the Administration
thinks it best 70 give no specific information as to
the duties which the Commission is expected 10 per-
form. At the same time the general character OF
those duties very apparent to every one 1ailar
with the Louisiana case and with what 1t is desired
to accomplish
1t is not probable that the Commission will go
into any investigation of the late election III that
State. Two committees of Congress, besides the
unofficial commissions which visited Louisiana In
November last, have made full reports upon that
subject, aud it is hardly probable that any addl-
tona information could now be obtained. Ihe
Commission will undoubtedly endeavor to bring
about coalition by which there shall be
Q single Legislature and a single judiciary
Of undisputed title, which the people OF
Louisiana, irrespective of party, Will rec
ognze. The title of neither Of the governments
IL that State nor of any department OF them is now
admitted to be valid by its opponents. NICHOLS GER
tanly has no title which is legal i'll form to the Office
which he is attempting to administer, ana IL Is
Doubtful if there are not also flaws IN the utle OF
Packard himself Neither Legislature has probably
been organized in accordance with the Constitution
and laws of the State. and everything winch each OF
them has done, including the comforting OF utle
upon Governor would undoubtedly be declared
null and void if submitted TO test III the Unlted
States Supreme Court If these Legislatures are
Illegal In their organization neither OF them cer-
tanly could have conferred a legal title upon any
one as Governor. The courts of the State are also
In an equally mixed condition. Those which recog-
ME Nichols and which have possession OF the
eourthouses and records are asserted to have been
made up in illegal and unconstitutional manner.
III this is true then the citizens OF Louisiana CANNOT
anord TO have them continue giving Judgments
winch affect titles to property and other important
interests. Such judgments would of course be set
aside by the Supreme Court of the United States on
appeal. Ii is therefore equally important to the
NICHOLS and to the Packard parties that any adj
'ustment that may be made shall be one which Is
satisfactory, at least which shall be recognized as