Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-25
THE DISPUTED STATES.
LOUISIANA.

ges, Packard's Sheriff, demanded possession
of the supreme Court building, which was
refused. Several companies of United
States troops arrived from Mobile. Both
sides professed themselves satisfied with
the present condition Of affairs, and it was
believed no aggressive movement would be
attempted by either side. Gen. Augur re-
ceived the following additional order by
telegraph:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Jan. l0.-To. GEN. C.
c.. AUGUR, New o. leans, La: 1t is reported
that the State house in new Orleans is surround
ed by a mob. If this is so. notify all persons to
dispense and compel compliance with your or
der. 1t is the determination of the President to
see that the Legislature is not molested- When
he has full knowledge of all the facts In the
premises he will decide which should be recog-
nized.
(Signed) ,.. j. d. CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
On the 18th, ex-Gov. McEnery, who had
been appointed Recorder by Gov. Nichols,
took formal possession of that office. Gov.
Packard authorized Gen. Badger to organ
re a division OF military. Gen. Augur was in
terviewed by reporter and said he thought
there would be no collision; that his in
structions were not to interfere except to
preserve the peace. Both Legislatures con-
tinued to ballot for United States Senator,
but without a choice. Two more members
of the House withdrew from the Packard
Legislature and joined with the opposition.
Every thing passed off quietly on the 18th.
The Packard Legislature continued to bal
lot for United States Senator, but lacked q
quorum in the Senate. Gen. Badger, Ser
geant-at-Arms, was instructed by the Pres
ident of the Senate to hunt up the delin-
quents, several of whom were reported to
be at the residence of p. b. S. Pinchback.
Gen Badger proceeded with 4 posse to
Mr.. Pinchback's residence, presented
his warrant, and demanded admission
for the purpose of arresting the absent
Senators. Mr.. Pinchback warned him not
to attempt to enter; that he had a force OF
police guarding his house, and that resist
ance would be made if necessary. Gen.
Badger therefore withdrew, but several of
his assistants were arrested by the Nichols
police and locked up upon the charge of
disturbing the peace. The above is the
substance of Gen. Badgers report 10 the
Senate.
Mir. Pinchback, on the 18Th, formally
abandoned the Packard Government, and,
accompanied by Senator'S pemus (colored),
| Wheeler and Hamlet, visited the Demo-
CAatiO cCH"tC. "IC1S thCit IL was
| greeted with cheers. Messrs. Demus and
Wheeler were sworn in and took their
seats, but Hamlet's election being
contested, his seat was already filed. Mr..
Pinchback made a short speech, stating that
they had come there as Republicans, be-
cause they believed the interests of the
State to be above party. He said that the
Republican party in the State was hopeless
ly corrupt, and charged that eX-Goy. KEEL
logg had secured his election as Senator by
corrupt means.
The following dispatch from President
Grant was received by Gen. Augur at a
late hour or the night of the 18th, and i'm
mediately communicated by him to Messrs.
Packard and Nicholas:
WASHINGTON, d. G., Jan Ito GEN. &C.
AuGEk, New Orleans, a. 1t has been the pol
icy of the administration to take no part in t G
settlement OF the question of rightful government
OF the state OF Louisiana, at least not until the
confessional committees now there have made
their report. But it is not proper to sit quietly
by and see the State { government gradually taken
possession of by one of the claimants for
gubernatorial honOrs by illegal means, The
supreme Court set up by Mr. Nichols can re-
celve no more recognition than any other num-
Der OF laWy' re- convened on the call of any other
citizen of the state. A Returning Board. ex-
sting IN accordance witt law, and having Judi
cial AS we'll as ministerial powers over the count
OF votes and in declaring the result
of the late election, have given certificates of
election to the Legislature OF the State. A legal
quorum of each house holding such certificates
met and declared Mr.. Packard Governor. Should
1t mast be Packard. You ma furnish a COPY of
this to Packard and Nichols.
(Signed) L. 5. GRANT, President.
At an early hour on the morning of the
10Th, a proclamation was published, signed
by Packard as Governor, commanding
all "organized and armed combinations
against the lawful authorities of the State''
to disperSe. ETC., under the pains and pen
alties or the law. A demand was subse-
quently made for the evacuation OF the
Courthouse, in possession of Nicholls's
militia, and for the release of the Sergeants-
at-Arms Of the Republican Legislature, who
were captured on the previous night while
endeaVoring TO arrest the three Senators at
Plnchback's house. No attention was paid
to either demand, further than q call upon
Sheriff Handy by the Nichols Court for a
sufficient force to guard the Courthouse.
Packard then made an official requi-
sition upon Gen. Augur for assist
ance to re-instate the Supreme Court
in the building from which they had
been dispossessed, and Gen. Augur re-
L III hdlICI " Tue authorities at
Washington for Instructions. A number
OF bankers telegraphed President Grant
that the Nichols Senate had a quorum of
members about whose member ship there
was no contest; and Nichols te~legrapbed
to representative Gibson that no ATTEMPT
would be made to recount the Electoral
vote Of the State.
The following additional instructions
from Washington were received bv Gen.
Augur, on the 10th, in reply to his inquiry
based upon the application of Gov. Packard
for assistance to reinstate the Supreme
Court in the building from which they had
been dispossessed:
WASHINGTON, Jan. l6.-GEN. c. G AUGUR.
General Commanding, New Orleans: Your un.
of the Presidents telegram of the |
l4th inst. ID entirely correct. The President
desires me to repeat to you that he wishes the
status throughout the State maintained
until the Congressional cnm mittnns nou ~