The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-07
The Louisiana COmmI ssIOn-An
Interview with Packard.

New ORLEANS, April 6.-The Louiai.
ana Commission, Messrs. Lawrence,
Brown. Hawley, Harlan and McVeigh
this morning by a special invitation
visited the Cotton Exchange, 0ccompan-
led by Gen. Buissey and ex.Congressman
Levy, where they remained for some time
converHng with the members Of the Ex.
change. Shortly before 3 o'clock the
members Of the Commission waited on
Gov. Packard in the Executive Office a,
the State House. The interview lasted
over an hour. At first the discussion was
extremely formal but on the Commission
expressing wish for a free Interchange
OF views, Gov. Packard assented but stip.
ulated that the stenographer who had nc.
companied the Commission should be re-
quested TO withdraw. This was acceded
to. The discussion was opened BY
the comprehensive question addressed
to Governor Packard, "What do you ask
the President to do, and what are your
reasons for 80 requestingW
In reply to this, Packard made n brief
statement Of the organization Of his Leg
islature, with a Returning Board quo.
rum in each house, and the canvass By
that body, on the day named and in the
way prescribed by the constitution, Of
the votes for Governor and Lieutenant.
Governor.
This brought up the decision in the
Luther vs.. Borden case, referred to in
Secretary OF State Evarts' letter Of in.
structions TO the commission and Pack.
ards letter to the President telcgraphed
yesterday.
A map was produced by Packard
showing that very large area Of the
State OF Louisiana is presided over
by Republican District Judges, who
be claimed had TO u man refused
to acknowledge the authority OF Nichols
or 10 enforce the mandates OF his Supreme
Court. The names OF the Judges pre-.
siding over these districts and their
places Of nativity were attached to the
map, the great majority OF the Judges
being natives OF the State. This led 10 a
discussion OF the resolution recently
passed by the Nichols Legislature i'm.
peaching Judge Fonteien, one OF the na.
live born Republican Judges, for not re-
Cognizing the Nichols government, and a
messenger was dispatched for copy oil
these ARTICLES Of impeachment, Ii was
claimed by Packard that nearly all of the
officials in these districts had been
qualified and obtained their con-
missions under Kellogg, but many
OF them, rs Il measuTe OF precaution, had
since filed M oath Of office with the
Nichols Secretary ofState.
The members Of the commission then
took hold Of the discussion, and asked
especially rs to the feasibility Of uniting
the undisputed members of the two Leg.
islatures into one body. Packard replied
that he had not consulted any member
OF the Legislature on this subject, but he
believed it TO be entirely impracticable.
He did not think the Democrats would
consent to any such arrangements.
In answer to question, Governor
Packard said he was satisfied that, il
recognized by the President and reinsta.
ted in possession OF the court buildings,
arsenals and arms, OF which he Contended
he had been illegally despoiled, and ac.
corded the moral support Of the National
Government, he could sustain himself
without intervention Of the United
States troops.
The Commission on leaving were es.
corted to the street cars by General
Mcmillan and expressed themselves graf
flied with the interview. They left to
wait on Gov. Nichols at the Odd Eel.
lows Hall.
At 7P. NJ. a committee, consisting Of
A. H. Leonard, Of Shreveport; John Ray,
OF Ouachita, and J. Fl. Burch (colored),
OF Baton Rouge, appointed by Governor
Packard, met the Commission at the st,
Charles Hotel by appointment.
In the morning, at II o'clock, the Lud.
cling Supreme Court is to present legal
arguments in support OF their claims to
be the Supreme Court OF the State.
NOTE.-The above was obtained from
friends Of Packard, but is believed to be
substantially correct.