The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-15

DESTROYS OF achieving absolute exactl-
tude and punctuality.
-
THE PRIMAL INVALIDITY OF THE
PACKARD RUMP.
The manner and circumstances Of
the organization OF the body at the st.
Louis Hotel, which Packard claims to
be consti tutionally organized General
Assembly, ought not to be omitted from
the history which the Louisiana Com
mission have been engaged in prepar-
ing for the information Of the Presi-
dent.
Much testimony has been taken in re-
gard to the technical forms OF this or
ganization. 1t Is claimed that the roll
was called in conformity to law, and
included those only who were certified
as elected by the Returning Board.
Packard's advocates neglect to state,
however, that the roll was called
by member Of the House and not by
the Clerk, as the law provided.
But, leaving out OF view these
technical questions. we have not
heard that the Commission has
manifested any great curiosity or
interest in regard to certain very
substantial facts which preceded
and attended the pretended organiza-
tion Of the Rump-the fact of barri-
cading and arming the State House, Of
filling the rooms, corridors. stairway
and approaches with armed police, OF
excluding all persons who were not
ticketed by Kellogg, OF such display
Of armed force and military menace as
no civil officials, and no citizens Of this
or any other free State. could submit to
without q sense of degradation and.
servitude.
These fragrant facts alone were suffi-
cient to strike with nullity and inva-
lidity any such organization. and should
invoke the condemnation and avoid
ance Of all proceedings Of body thus
constituted. To these should be added
the additional fact that these armed
and menacing preparations to overawe
the peoples representatives were aided
and abetted by the presence Of United
States troops. stationed in an adjoining
building, with an entrance leading d.
rectly to the hall of the General AS
sembly.
Can a Legislature be constitutionally
organized under such circumstances
We have the authority Of President
Hayes for the declaration that the
United States military cannot be consti-
tutionally employed to interfere in the
administration Of State governments. |
Was not such an organization there |
fore revolutionary as we'll as unconsti-
tutional? Has it not been SO denounced
by leading members. including Messrs.
Albert Leonard and Fl. O. Warmoth |
And yet this was the Legislature. acting
under and by virtue of this organization,
about the legality Of which five respecta- |
BILE citizens and jurists are wasting val |
liable time in hearing long and specious
arguments. What is this pretended
technical formality Of which SO much
is said, when opposed by the substantial |
illegality Of an organization Of Legis-
lature under such conditions
Inter arma leges silent. is the maxim
of public law. What is done by violence,
by menace of arms and terrorism, can
never be legal, valid and binding on a |
free people.
These facts alone, at the beginning of
the investigation, ought to estop all
pleas or pretenses Of legality In the Or
ganization of the Packard Rump. It is |
an illegality and invalidity, which not
even the Returning Board law can |
remedy. Those who have sanctioned,
recognized and participated in such re-
evolutionary and lawless proceedings,
have placed themselves beyond the pale |
of recognition by the lawful representa-
tives of the people. They must purge |
OF the criminality of such
action before they should be admitted |
To seats liz a constitutionally organized
General Assembly of Louisiana. Thus
FAR they can only be regarded as con-
spirators and revolutionists. who must.
and in due time will. be required to
abandon their unlawful and seditious
proceedings.
$50 ~ re tsss -