Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-04-12
~ l0uisian q Commission.

The Louisiana Commission, com.
posed Of Messrs. Lawrence, Brown. Hawley,
Harlan and MacVeigh held their first meet
renee was chosen chairman and Gen. Hawley
Secretary. Informal calls were mady by the
Commission upon Packard and Nichols and
the question of uniting the two legislatures
was discussed, but no real business vas trans
acted.
The Louisiana Commission met a
joint committee from the Nichols Legislature
on the 7th, but the conference was secret.
The committee made detailed verbal state
ment of status OF the government, giving a
number OF parishes and officials that had
acknowledged allegiance to the Nichols gov
ernment, and will, at a future interview, pre-
sent documentary facts. When the Demo-
cratic committee retired Packard's Supreme
Court Judges were admitted to the parlor and
begun their argument as to the status of their
case. At three o'clock District Judges Marks,
Cole and Hunter, for the 4th, 9Th and 9th
Judicial Districts Of the State, each elected on
the Republican ticket, had long interview
with the Commission, and emphatically de-
clared the sentiment Of their districts to he in
favor Of the Packard government. These
three districts embrace eleven parishes, with
total population of 100, ,694. An exciting in
terlude in the interview was the cross.exami-
nation Of Judge r. A. Hunter, who was asked,
"Who did you vote tory" "For Governor
Nichols" "Who did you vote tor ior Presi-
dent?" "Tilden." "How long have you
been Democrat :" "An my lite; l was
born Democrat right in this State, and ex-
pect to die a Democrat" "Why do you now
desert the Democratic party and support Mr..
Packard?" "Because the Democratic party
has lett me and DOES not protect the rights OF
citizens, but advocates murder, and do moi
approve Of murder, and because l believe
Packard was squarely elected, and majority
Of white people OF my district. Rapides,
Grant and Vernon parishes prefer him fol-
Governor
The Commission held q niue hours
session, on the 9th, the time being occupied
in receiving and hearing delegations OF citi-
zens. The President OF the cotton exchange
with leading bankers and merchants called in
the interest OF the Nichols government. The
Commission said to them that they had sough,
Louisiana, but could not ind it. They found
two Governors, two Supreme Courts and an
alleged dual government in all departments,
but in fact by the acknowledgment Of all par
ties there is only one Legislature, though il
meets in two halls. The moment that Legis-
lature meets in one body it will be the State
OF Louisiana, and while it is in session the
only power in the State that can secure the
Intervention of the army. 1t selt-govern-
ment is desired, and the withdrawal Of the
army, it can probably be secured in a day,
should the public opinion ofthe State COM
pei its Legislature to meet as one body. There
are 80 of the &c Senators, and l04 Of the 100
Representatives, whose election is not dis
puted by either party, and the Commission
urged that when they assembled as such the
Commission could have nothing whatever to
say about its action. The discussion con-
tinued three hours. The delegation was not
inclined to accept the suggestion, maintaining
that Nichols must be defended ss Governor
to the full extent.