Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-03-22

Letter from Gov. Packard.


Stanley Matthews wrote a letter
to Gov. Packard of import similar to
Gov. Chsmberlain's in last weeks
HERALD. Gov. Packard replied as
follows:
New ORLEANS, Mar. 14--My Dear
Sir: Your letter of the 9th ult. duly
received. La my communication to
you. referred TO in your letter,
aimed to exhibit TO you the reasons
aud sterling facts why the govorn-
ment OF which | am the head ought
to receive prompt recognition from
the notional administration. In your
reply you suggest difficulties that
you deem to exist, without reference
10 the rightfulness or origin of my
title, and say that as soon as exist
ing military orders are Withdrawn
the Nichols government will be-
come the only existing government,
and will have to be recognized then
as such. Iuasmucb "a you say that
your letter only expresses your own
individual views, il ia not necessary
to attempt TO correct your opinion
that circumstances are such that il
will be out of the question for Re
publican administration TO maintain
it my title. As that is a subject
which now engages the attention OF
the President under the constitution
and laws Of the United States. /
Judge the purpose of your letter TO
have been in a friendly way 10 ac-
complish the abandonment by me OF
the office of Governor, to the end
that my defeated opponent might
assume unquestioned the Office 10
which | have been elected. Admit
ting the value of the opinion of one
so learned, of so deservedly great in
fuence in the councils of the nation.
| am constrained by high sense OF
duty TO unqualifedly entertain
any proposition to relinquish or
abandon the position which | hold.
| received majority of he legal
votes cast at the last election; have
been declared Governor by the leg~
islature, in joint session, with an un-
disputed quorum in both houses; and
having been fully vested with au-
thority az Governor, cannot, with
due regard TO my oath of office, and
in duty to the 10000 voters who
have elected me to the chief magis-
tracy, though / should receive CON
sideration and position in some APP
propriate way, abandon those faith.
full men TO the merciless vengeance
of the White League Democracy.
am the head of a government as per.
feet as that of any State in the
Union. My predecessor, together
W TIL his Secretary of State, Auditor
of Public Accounts, State Treasurer,
Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton and Attorney Genneral, with
all the archives of their several off.
ces, surrendered these positions into
the hands Of those lawfully elected
to receive them. | now represent
this government, with the possession
OF all these offices. am opposed to
an organized and armed mob of men
in this city known as the White
League, who have maintained during
my administration a force held to-
gether more by tho encourag emont
given them from abroad than by any
other means-by those who APP
parently seem to measure the legal
existence Of government by the
amount of force il can present. Were
this force removed, as il will be
when the Legitimacy of my govern
ment is determined by the President,
nothing then will seriously impede
the success of my administration.
Personally, ny position has been,
is, and will be, until the general gov
erDment shall see fit to recognize
my authority as Governor, q most
perilous one; and it would be q
source of satisfaction did the respon-
eiblity rest upon some other than
myself. Hundreds of Republicans
who have given their lives as sao-
rifice TO the cause of liberty and free
government, thousands who have
deposited their votes at the peril OF
their lives, are ever present in my
mind, and demand that l shall faith
fully perform the duties which have
devoIved upon me. Should exhibit
less devotion than these faithful peo-
pie, though the effort cost me my
life, still that devotion would be
better heritage to my children than
the plaudets of the White League of
the State, when gained by the sur-
render of both manhood and duty.
am Governor, aud no armed force or
violence can give my competitor
lawful title
Signed, PACKARD.