, 1877-04-07
PACKARD's LETTER TO HAYES.

Mr.. PACKARD, Of Louisiana, in his letter
TO tho President, published yesterday, under
takes to mako some sharp points, and Of
personal Significance, to show that 1t is tho
Presidents duty to uso the troops Of tho
United States 70 uphold him In bis CHIN to
be Governor Of that Stnte. 1To adroitly ap-
peals to tho partisan feelings Of tho Republic
ans Of tho country, by suggesting Tint tho
Commission now In New Orleans have unrc-
stricted powers Of inquiry, urging TINT, s.r-
less this 10 done, "grnvo wrong will be done
to those by whom WIS called to the Execu-
tiya chair, and whose votes, cast ofteu at tho
peril Of thoir lives, hnve elected your Excel
leucy 10 the Presidency Of tho American
people,"
That kind Of argument has grown some-
what stale. The aiagrncefnt character Of
many Of the Governments erected IN Sout1l-
cru States, nni maintained thero by tho
armed force Of the United States, llavo been
repronch and injury to tho Republican
party. Against the use Of arms to control
elections or 10 decide election controversies
there is all ineradicablo objection in tho
minds of the mass Of tho American people.
The only rational pratext which could ba
offered to justify the maintenance Of such
Governments NJ that Of WARMoru and KEt-
Loeo in Louisiana, and those which have
existed In South Carolina and somo other
Southern States, Inns been that such Govern
mcnts were essential to tho protection Of tho
lives, liberties, md property Of tho colorcl
people. That protext can no longer be
plcndcd. None Of tho carpes-bag Govern
1nents that lavo existed In Louisiana since
the War have afforded protection to tho COL
ored people Of that State. Tho freedmen
lave been for twelve years murdered, mall
gled, beaten, tortured, and subjected to
every species Of barbarity by the White
Liners, md nt tho same time robbed and
plunlorod by the earpot-bag State officers.
These imbccilo Governments havo nover
brought an assassin 10 justice or punished a
murderer or hulldozer. Though tho Gov
crnor has had the appointment Of nil tho
Judges, sherids, Magistrates. md NIL tho
locnl officers, not ono bulltlozer connected
with tho eight years Of continued outrnges
upon tho colored people Of Louisiana has
oyer been punished by tho carpetbaggers for
Ills crimes; and this whilo tho Stato Govern
rnent las been protected by tho rifles, the
cannon, md tho gunboats of tho United
States. OF what ayail, therefore, to tho wenlz,
uon-rosistaut, and suffering colorol people OF
tho State las been the armetl Intervention
OF the Unitod States2 Con. GRANT certainly
gave tho military policy long and full trial !;
for eight years ho kept an armed force there
to uphold the carpet-bag Governments; but
no protection WIS ever Afforded by those
Governments to tho black population. b.
fora md since loAving tho Presidency ho has
declared that 1t lind boon great mistake,
aud that President HAYES in removing tia
troops would only 10 what lo should havo
done had lie continued In oillco. Tho fol.
lowing conversation took place few dnya
ago between one OF tho st. Louis Globe
Democrat editors and Con. GnAST:
''What do you think Of hi. ifArEs' Southern
pol!eys"
~ think 1t In a rood policy. nm very anxious
to sec this color.lne divided, that tic question
becomes more one of pastcs, and less of color or
rucc."
llcrc Mrs. GRANT asked: "Dlvias tho color. line !
What do you meant"
''l}reak up tho distinction nf color, 20 that q
party Il not composed Of atI whites or all co'oscl
people,"
''po yoH think Mr.. 1tAYzs will Withdraw tho
troops ffonl aoas: Carolina and Lou1stauat"
~ expect Him 10. should harA done 10 had !
*tatd In Office. Not take The troops all away.
probably. but relieve them Of thclr present duty.
For neither tito CHANnEnLAtN nor fAcKANu Gov.
erncnt can be sustained without the show of mil
!lary authority, and in this frce country. anl 10
long after The War, anl quiet Las been restored
everywhere elsc, tho exercise Ut military authority
In civil matteEs ID very fepuGnant TO the people,"
This was tho candid opinion Of the cx-
President, after having tried tho other policy
during tho entire period Of hts two terms Of
office.
htr. PAcKARD ,nistakes tho yaluo OF tho
services Of tho carpot-bag Governments to
the Republican pnrty. They have been a
disgrace and repsoach 10 the Republican
party. They hayo bssn burden untlcr
which tho party has staggered for seyeral
yoars. It was tho reproach that the Repub-
lfcan party. WINS cosrciug tile people Of tho
South at tho elections by tho uso Of bayoneta
that caused the widespread detection Of 1871
md 1870. II WIS tho tlIsgraceful character
of the carpet-baggera and the rsproach Of
"bayonet rule TINT cut of 3o,u00 Of tho
Republican majority In Illinois In 1870,
which rendered Wisconsin doubtful Stnte,
reduced tho majority In Ohio to handful,
and lost to the party the Electoral votos OF
Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Now
York. Had tho btates Of Louisiana mud
South Carolina been surrendered four yoars
ago to Governments capable of maintaining