The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-01-25
GEN. AUGUR'S STAND.


Following is General Augur's reply to
Packard's open letter of Tuesday night
H'DoRs DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF
New OELEANS, January ~ 1877. J
Hon S. B. Packard, State House. New
Orleans.
DEAR SIR: Your letter, dated 10th inst
which you had published in the news
papers and telegraphed North before it
was possible for me to see it, is received.
Though addressed to me, ! understand
very we'll that it is not particularly inten-
ded for me, and but to some errors af-
fecting me personally, | should not
think 1t necessary to make any reply
You state that "orders had been issued
early on this day (the 9th inst. by the
Honorable Secretary of War directing
that all unauthorized armed bodies
should be required to desist etc.
81 (you) consider this order otthe Sec
retary ofWar as virtually commanding
the maintenance of the Stafn gRO,' con
sequently the State forces in charge of
the different positions outside of the Cap
itol olwere directed to make such resistance
as would compel manifestation offorce
and breach of the peace on the part Of
their opponents 1t was my understan-
ding that neither side should be permit
ted to interfere with the status of the
other side
In reply to this would state that the
time OF day at which this order was is
sued is immaterial. 1t was not received
here until some time after the surrender,
without resistance, of the Supreme court
room, arsenal. and all of the police sta
tons and it isquite new thing to me to
hear that you ever considered that order
as Commanding a maintenance of the
statu quo. Yourself and the officers in
command Immediately under you have
repeatedly stated that it was the inten-
ton to seize any favorable opportunity to
recover the court room, and have twice
that time made written applications to me
for troops to assist in such recovery.
This does not look as though it was your
understanding that neither side should
be permitted to interfere with the status
of the other side. 1t was the fact of these
threats to recover lost ground whenever
opportunity presented itself that has fur
nished an excuse for the Nichols party
to keep force in readiness to resist them
and it was in view of this very condition
of affairs that yesterday morning di-
rected two Of my staff-one to see you
and one to see General Nicholls-to in
quire, not request, if some agreement or
understanding could not be entered into
by which the statu quo could be guaran-
teed, until such time as the President
should make his decision. Such an ar
rangement would do away with the sup
posed necessity of keeping up body of
armed men on either side, and diminish
very greatly the chances for violence and
bloodshed. made no request in the
matter, had no right to make any re
quests. was simply suggestion in
the interests, as thought, of peace and
to give moments Of quite to citizens of
this excited city; neither General Mich
oils or yourself thought it advisable to
adopt it, and there it ended. An error
was made, too, in the form of a memo
randum left you by Major Russle last
night. Though ofno particular moment
still prefer to be reported correctly In
directing the staff officers last night to
deliver to you and to Nichols each a
copy of the dispatch of the 10th from the
Secretary of War, he was told to say to
each that hope to give assurances that
the Presidents wish shall be respected.
| made no requests for such assurances.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
&C. AUGUR.,
Brigadier General.