The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-18
THE STRUGGLE IN LOUISIANA.
Initial Success of the Democrats-A
Peaceful Revolution Accomplished.
.sDscta, Correspondence Of the Ee,u York Herald.

Initial Success of the Democrats
Peaceful Revolution Accomplished.
Special Correspondence cfhe Ee,O York Herald.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. 8, 1877.
The long expected hour of contest ha
arrived, and though thus far in its pro
gress no gun has been fired, the events o
the day have left the Republicans NJ
foothold in the State except that bound
ed by the walls Of the State House ant
the Custom House. That this has beer
accomplished and without bloodshed, j:
owing to the fact, which is admitted by
all parties, that the Packard government
like its predecessor, has not one iota o
moral support in this community, while
its physical backing, when deprived Of
the cooperation of federal troops, ha:
proved almost equally Insignificant.
The question upon which the issue wa:
made to-day was solely whether Sheriff
Handy (Democrat) should be supported
in defending possession of the cour'
buildings. It was known that the Pack
ard Supreme Court would sit to-day
The new Superior Civil Court had already
set. and it was believed by the citizens
that if this was peaceably submitted tc
the question of a de tacto government
would be decided against them. This
they were resolved to combat, and all
day Monday Generals Ogden, Penn,
Nichols and other advisers were in earn
est consultation. A preventive policy
was at first determined upon, but the
new members of the Supreme Court being
called in council no decision was arrived
at in time for action on Monday.
It was nearly twelve O'Clock last night
before the Governor aud his advisers de-
termined to act upon the vigorous policy
recommended by Generals Penn and
Ogden. At that late hour orders were
issued through couriers ordering the diff
ferent military organizations in the city,
amounting to between 1000 and 5000
we'll armed men, besides similar num-
Der with side arms only, to be in position
near the temporary State House, oppo-
site Lafayette square, by nine 8. M.
The night, though bitterly cold, was
an eventful one. Couriers dashed
through the streets, cabs rumbled in
every direction, while the rat tat-tat upon
the doors and ringing of bells echoed in
every neighborhood, summoning the
faithful to the field. Scarcely had day
light dawned before groups Of men were
seen hurrying throug b the streets in every
direction.
By eight o'clock armed parties began
to assemble in the neighborhood, but it
was not until ten o'clock that the crowd
commenced auglnenting by the arrival of
organized bodies of citizen soldiers who
were in their everyday clothes, and
armed with every description of weapon
from the Winchester down to the saloon
rife. By. eleven a. m. General Ogden
appeared on the field and rapidly COM
pieted the organization, which shortly
after moved down to the levee toward
Jackson square, numbering about 1000
completely armed men, one battery of
artillery, consisting of two nine pound
howitzers and about 5000 men with side
arms only. AS they marched down, Cen
eral Penn heading the column. their
ranks constantly augmented. From
eyery direction people, armed with every
describable species of weapon, were soon
Fastening to the scene of conflict.
Arriving opposite jackson square,
which fronts the court buildings, where a
large crowd had already assembled, one
company was despatched, under com.
mand of Captain J. D. Hill, to demand
the surrender. In the meanwhile the
Packard Supreme Court had opened at
ten o'clock, with Judges Ludeling, King
and Leonard. Sheriff Handy having re-
fused to recognize their authority he was
suspended and Alfred Bourges sworn in
in his place. About the time the head
of General Ogden's column reached the
ground they had adjourned in respect to
the memory of Judge Saucier, who died
yesterday, and thereupon left the build
ing unmolested by the crowd assembled.
Shortly after the gates were thrown
open by the police, who surrendered the
court room, the Third precint station and
the State Arsenal, all Of which are
locsted in the same building and which
the forces of General Ogden proceeded to
occupy. Sheriff Handy at once notified
the Nichols Supreme Judges, who i'm
mediately repaired to the court room,
where the Supreme Court was duly open
ed by the Sheriff and shortly after ad-
iourned, leaving the former in full pos
session. General Ogden remained in
possession until one p. m., when he
moved the forces to the levee, threaten
ing the State House.
Pending the progress of these events
Chief Boylan, under the orlers of Lieu
tenant Governor Wilt, demanded the
surrender of the Central police station,
corner of Carondelet and Lafayette
streets. He was informed that it only
needed a show of force to effect it, and
this being made by one o'clock p. m. all
the important points, with the exception
of the State House, were in the hands OF
the new government, the other police
stations being abandoned. Shortly be-
fore three o'clock p. m. Governor Nichols
issued the following proclamation:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
NEW ORLEANS, January 8, 1877.
To the People of Louisiana: should
be most profoundly surprised and disap-
pointed should any citizen of Louisiana
at this moment so far forget himself as to
be guilty of any excess whatever. There
is danger in collecting together in large
bodies. urge you, therefore, to return
at once peacefully to your homes. The
greater the wrongs to which you have
been subjected the greater to your credit
should you recognize and recollect your
own simple and plain duty as citizens
Let no one be injured, however obnox'
ious he may be, and let the people of the
whole country see that we are law-abiding
Just and moderate.
FRANCIS T. NICHOLS,
Governor of the State of Louisiana.
In the State House the greatest appre
tensions prevailed. Early in the morn
ing Packard telegraphed to Presiden,
Grant to recognize his government to-
day or all was lost. The Metropolitan
Telegraph wires were cut during tho
morning and application was made by
p,rk.r1 I'm the limited States Sigma