The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-06-28
An Open Letter from Chief-Justice Lud-
cling, Of Louisiana.
MoNRoE, La, June IA

MoSRoE, La, June IA
Senator Morton
DEAR SIR-The publication Of your let
ter on the political situation Of the South
ern States, is an opportune occasion tC
direct the attention OF those IN control
Of the affairs Of the Nation TO the his
torical facts detailed in your letter. and
to their inevitable consequences, that
they may provide q remedy for the evil
before it is too late. II is time that those
in command Of the ship OF State take her
reckoning. and see whittier she is drift.
ing. You state that "the Republican
Governments Of Louisiana and South
Carolina have yielded to force" "The
Administration decided that such a case
OF insurrection and violence was not pre-
sented as authorized the National Gov.
ernment to intervene and that the con-
tending parties must be left TO their own
strength and resources" 1T was appa-
rently worked out through the Commis-
sion. and seemed 10 take the form Of ne.
gotiation" ."President Hayes was urged
to give up Louisiana and South Carolina
at once, and was told il was only a ques-
tion of time; that at the next election,
they would go as Mississippi. Alabama
and other States had, and il would be bet
ter to give them up at once. However
repulsive this argument it was unfortu.
nately too true"
In Louisiana there existed a military
organization, whose avowed purpose was
to inaugurate and sustain General Mich
oils, at all hazards In New Orleans
alone they numbered several thousands,
and they were armed with rifles and ar.
tillery. In consequence Of this organiza-
ton, and the threats and menaces Of
General Nichols and his followers, Gen
eral Grant bad sent part Of the army Of
the United States TO New 0Eleans. on the
call Of Governor Kellogg, who considered
the danger threatened so imminent that
he had caused the State. house 10 be bar
ricaded and fortified to resist the attacks
of the insurgents. The General Assem-
bly, convened, according to law, at the
State house. on the first Of January, and
among the first acts adopted by the Leg
islature was joint resolution represent
ing that an insurrectionary force. too
powerful to be dealt with by the State
authorities, was then at the seat Of Gov
ernment. threatening the lawful State
authorities. On the Sth of January.
Governor Packard and General Nichols
were inaugurated. and on the 9th Of Jan
uary, the before mentioned military or
ganization, in large force, armed with
rifles and artillery, marched TO the build
ing where the Courts were in session and
in sight Of the officers Of the
United States army. and by force.
took possession Of the building and the
records of the courts from the lawful Off.
GERS and custodians thereof They also.
by force, took possession Of the police
. he Il 4 - 4.
State After President Hayes had been
the General Assembly again
called upon the President Of the United
States for aid, in the manner pointed out
by law, and Governor Packard, several
times, requested the President TO furnish
the assistance called for by the Legisla-
ture; but in vain. II this was not such
a case Of insurrection and violence as
the National Government 10
il is difficult to imagine one
that would IL was such "a case Of insur-
rection and violence as proved success
full in subverting the lawful Government,
in the absence Of that assistance which
the Constitution guaranteed. You seem
to think that the Presidents efforts to
sustain the lawful Government in Louis.
lana would have been futile. The Re
publicans here believe otherwise. They
believe that this would be the last des-
perate effort of the Democrats in Louis
lana, If the Republican party was sue
cessful, and for that reason, knowing
their numerical superiority. the Republi-
cans incurred risks Of personal violence.
which, otherwise, they would not have
taken. The lust for office and power had
united the Confederate leaders, whose
fortunes were desperatei and they, en-
couraged by the success Of the Mississ-
ippi plan, inaamed the preiudices Of the
white people Of the State against the con
stitutional amendments, and the recon
struction acts, and especially against
those who favored their enforcement.
and by intimidation, and social and busi-
ness ostracism, they deferred many
white men, old Wings and Union men.
from acting according to their convic.
tions-with the Republican party.
Had the Republicans been maintained.
after their victory at the last election in
Louisiana, a large portion Of the voters
above mentioned would have Joined the
Republican party. A considerable por.
ton OF the Republicans OF Louisiana sup
ported their State ticket (Which. with
some exceptions, was not acceptable TO
them) because they believed that victory
would bring to their party an element.
much needed to reform abuses within
the party Imagine. then. what must
/ have been their disappointment, when,
alter succeeding. in spite Of all the crimes