The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-25
HAYES PLAN.
The Commission to Investigate the Vote
for Members Of the Legislature.
IL win See Who Are Elected to the Legis-
lature by the True Return.
This Legislature 10 be Recognized by Hayes
tSpf cial TO the N. o. Democrat ]

Especial TO the N. 0. Demoorat.J
WASHINGTON, March rs, 12 80 a. m.--
SO much able-bodied lying has been
done by carpet baggers and their friends
respecting the reasons that have i'm
PEELED the President to move slowly In
regard to Louisiana, that I am re-
auested to lay before our people what
the Presidents real views are and what
| considerations move him.
The position assumed by Blaine in
| the Senate, that Packard's claim rested
on the same grounds as Hayes elec-
toral vote, gave rise to widespread mis-
apprehensions in the minds Of North
ern people who, without examining into
the facts and the law In the case, took
Blaine's statements as correct.
The President wishes to remove this
misapprehension, and wishes to get the
facts before the people Of the country
to show that, under the constitution
and laws Of Louisiana, there is no con .
nection or relation between his tenure
and Packard's claim. The President
has given the laws of Louisiana, bear
ing on the subject, personal examina-
tion, and has reached the conclusion
that, under strict Interpretation OF your
laws, nobody has been legally declared
elected Governor. He holds that neither
Legislature Is or has been the legal
General Assembly Of Louisiana, and
that hence the declaration Of the
election OF Governor by either of them
is illegal. He maintains that the Re-
turning Board has nothing to do with
the declaration of the election Of Gov
ernors or members OF the Legislature
as a tinality, but that each House is q
Judge Of the qualifications OF Its own
members, and that the Legislature as
whole, Is judge. Of the qualification Of
the Governor. No legal Legislature
having been In existence at the time OF
the rival declarations Of Governor, 1t
| follows that no Governor has been
duly declared elected and duly judged
qualified.
This view Of the case, Of co urse. dis
poses of Packard, to begin with, as far
as his legal status Is concerned.
The first thing to be done then, under
the Presidents view of the case, Is to
organize the legal Legislature Of the
State. Then this Legislature can pro-
ceed, according to law, to declare the
result of the vote for Governor.
The political object Of this commits
sion will be to examine the vote Of the
State, as cast for members Of the Leg
islature, without regard to the return OF
the Returning Board, that is to say
upon the basis of the original returns,
and to report to the President who have
been elected, and who constitute the
true Legislature Of the State Of Louis
ana. Then the Legislature will be re-
cognized in some way Or other, and its
subsequent proceedings, including the
declaration Of the election of Governor,
will not be interferred with by the COM
mission or by any body else.
It is not thought here that Packard
will attempt to maintain his pretensions
under these circumstances, since on the
basis Of the regular returns the Legisla-
Iture is certain to be organized In oppo.
sition to him. u BuELL.
Fsderaf Appointments.
wAsxTuGToM Marnh 24-Henrv C Wavyo