River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-03-08
Grant Drnns Packard.

Grant Drops Packard.
Executive Mansion, Washington,
u. c., March Ito Governor S. B Packard,
New Orleans: In answer TO your dispatch OF
this date the President directs me to say that
he feels it his duty to state frankly
that he does not believe public opin-
ion will longer support the mainten-
vnce OF the State government in Louisi-
ana by the use of the military, and that
he must concur in this manifest feeling. The
troops will hereafter, as in the past, protect
life and property from mob violence when the
State authorities fail, but during the remain
ng days OF his official lite they will not be
used to establish or TO pull down either claim
ant for the control OF the State. 1t is not his
purpose to recognize either claimant.
ISigned C. C. SxrFFrx, Secretary.
A New Orleans special states that Packard
will not give uD the Governorship without a
contest Carloads OF lumber have been taken
TO the State House, carpenters have strength
ened the barricades, all the small dealers in
the basement have been ordered TO vacate and
the guards at the entrance doubled. The
forces within number one hundred and sixty
men, well armed and with one Gatlin gun.
=
large labor organization, and a guard con-
sisting OF one company OF militia is constantly
on duty at the court house, the Nichols
headquarters.
Representative Ellis, Gibson and Levi, and
Co oIel Burke, after an interview with the
President, sent the following telegram TO
Governor Nichols.
WASHINGTON, Mtrch 3-TO Governor F. T.
Nichols. New Orleans ,L0uisiana.-Th Presi-
dent says he sent dispatch % Packard
Thursday, notify ing him that troops could no
longer ~ employe to Uphold either claim
ant, and be q, - not believe Packard would
attempt any offensive operations The Pfesi-
dent sent the dispatch So he might have time
20 retire his pTetensiOuS il disposed
The President says Instructions have been
issued which cancel all orders for the pre-
seTyatlOn OF the stain qu", that neither you
or Packard arr longer bound to preserve il,
but he means thar the people Of Louisiana
are IS Tree In their sfairs irum federal inter
ference az the people o. COnneCticut. and that
there will he DO disposition TO lrteriere with
them any more than with the people Of New
York. The President cOncuTs wits. us that
YOU Immediately i-Sue proclamation and
assure the protection OF amnesty and peace
Being asked II posse, executing the pro-
cess OF NichOlls' COUTt, would he inteTered
with by the military the President replied no
more Il an in any other State. Being asked
il Nichols officers should take pOss ssiOs, Of
the offices in the State without
without mob violence. would there
be militsry interference, he replied there
would he none, that the military v ould only
h used "a IL had been once IN New York,
and would be in any OF the States TO over
come mObs too formidable for the civil power
or state authorities. We have submit ID the
foresOing dispatch TO the President, who has
revised Il with his own hand and authorize
M 10 the state that in its present form it is ab-
Snlsltslv cnrrect.
fSlgued. f. A. BURKE,
X. s. GIBsoE,
l. J. Kills.
WN NJ LEVI.
GOV. Nichols ISSUED 3 proclamation con-
tanning the sentiment suggested.