The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-17
THE MATTHEWs.PACKAgD COHRE.
SpnEDENCE.


was made In our yesterdays edition.
i Packard yesterday stated TO the re-
porter that 1t would not be made public
FOR two days, yet he, for reasons I'M
known, gives It circulation through. q
contemporary not six hours after he
had refused II.
Packard's letter bears the mark OF
Judge Dibble's hand, and was doubt
less prepared by him
Matthews to Packard.
UNITED srATrs SENATE CHAMBER |
| Washington, Feb. ~, 1877 !
Hon. 8. D. Packard. New Orleans
Nh Dear Sir-I received and read
with attention your communications on
the subject OF the public affairs of Lou
lisiana, and the subject has been care
fully and anxiously considered by my
self and others In it's relation TO the gen.
eral policy OF O Republican administra-
| tion toward 1t.
without reference to the rightfulness
Of the origin Of your title Us Governor,
am OF the opinion that the circum-
stances are such that 1t will be out of
the question for Republican admins
tration to maintain Ii, as 1t must neces.
sarily be, by force OF Federal arms.
As soon as existing military orders
are withdrawn, the Nichols govern
ment will become the only existing gov
eminent, and will have to be recognized
then as such. In the meantime 1t will
be the duty Of the administration to
take care that the result shall not i'm
peril the rights md equality OF the col
ored people OF Louisiana, SO far Us 1t
has lawful power to prevent; and also
to take care that staunch Republicans
like yourself, against whom nothing
disreputable can be alleged, should not
suffer and should receive consideration
and position in some appropriate way.
! These are In short my own individual
| views. I regret the condition of affairs,
| but cannot help it, and see no better
way to improve 1t. Respectfully,
STANLEY MATTHEW'S.
Packard tn Matthews.
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
Executive Department,
New Orleans, March IA, 1877.
Hon. Stanley Matthews:
Nh Dear Sir Your letter Of the eth
ultimo duly received.
In my communication to you, and re-
ferred to In your letter, / aimed to ex-
hibit to you the reasons and sterling
facts why the government Of which I
am the head ought to receive prompt
recognition from the National Admins
tration.
LII your Eeply vi bHe 1fbu ultiuO you
suggest the difficulties that you deem
exist without reference to the rightful-
ness Of the origin OF your lmy) title"
and say that ''as soon as existing mill
tary orders are withdrawn, the Nichols
government will become the only exist
ing government, and will have TO be
recognized then as such.'
Inasmuch as you say that your letter
only expresses your own individual
views, 1T Is not necessary TO attempt to
correct your opinion that the circum-
stances are such that 1t will 'be out of
the question for Republican Admins
tration to, maintain 1t" tmy title), as
this Is subject which now engages the
attention Of the President under the
constitution and laws Of the United
States. - --.------- L.
/ judge the purpose Of your letter to
have been. In friendly way, to accom-
,plish the abandonment by me Of the
office of Governor, to the end that my
defeated opponent might assume, UNI
questioned. the office to which [ have
been elected.
Admitting the value of the opinion of
one SO learned and Of SO deservedly
great influence In the counsels Of the
sense Of duty, to unqualihedly decline
to entertain any proposition to relin-
duish or to abandon the position which
[ hold.
I received q majority Of the legal
votes at the last election; have been
declared Governor by the legal Legis-
lature in joint session, with an undis-
puted quorum In both houses, and hay
ing been lawfully vested with authority
us Governor, / cannot, with due regard
to my oath Of office and duty to the
~A.x,e ,xyb. h III tAI
the chief magistracy, though SHOULD
receive consideration and position In
some appropriate way" abandon those
faithful men to the merciless vengeance
of the White League Demo cracy.
/ am the head Of a government as
perfect as that Of any State In the Union.
My predecessor, together with his Sec
rotary Of State, Auditor Of Public Ac-
counts, State Treasurer, Superintendent
OF Education and Attorney General, to-
gether with all the archives Of their sew
eral offices, surrendered these positions
into the hands Of those lawfully elected
government, with possession Of all the
Offices. I am opposed by an
organized and armed body of |
men known as the White League,
lin this cityl who have maintained. DUR |
ing my administration, a force, held to-
gether more by the encouragement |
given them from abroad--than by any |
other means-by those who apparently |
seem to measure the legal existence of |
government by the amount Of force it |
can present.
If this force were removed, as it will |
be, when the legitimacy of my govern
ment is determined by the President,
nothing then will seriously impede the |
success of my administration. Person
ally my position has been, is, and will |
be, until the general government see fit |
to recognize my authority as Governor,
a most perilous one, and it would be a |
source Of satisfaction did the RESPONSE !
bility rest upon some one other than |
myself.
The hundreds of Republicans who |
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