New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-16
PLAIN TALK PROM THE pREgrpEnT.

PLAIN TALK FROM THE PRESIDENT.
The language used by President Grant
in his dispatch of the fourteenth is sufi-
GENTLY plain and direct to prevent the
possibility of misunderstanding of the
position of the administration upon Louis
lana affairs. 1t indicates something of
change in the policy from what it has
been in consequence of the illegal acts of
those who are engaged in wild hunt for
Office in this State. The dispatch point
edly states the improperly of sitting idly
by while the State government is dis
persed by illegal means by mere claim
ant. The overt act of treason against the
State which has been committed in GUST
ing the Supreme Court and setting up five
lawyers as pretended tribunal is at once
a contempt of the law Of the State and
substantial breach of the peace. This
high-handed proceeding was resisted by
all the force which the State government
was able to bring to bear at that point on
the day the assault was made. The men,
bers of the court were obliged to yield to
superior force, and have been barred from
the courtroom by the same means ever
since. But no title has passed to the
pretenders. As the President states it
very forcibly they can receive no more re-
cognition than any other equal number Of
lawyers who may meet or be called to-
gether by any other citizen than General
Nichols. The REPUBLICAN observed,
when frst commenting upon this trans
action, that the successful employment of
force against the highest tribunal in this
State could not in any manner impair the
title Of the legal judges nor give any
standing TO the intruders.
The conclusion, then, is that the judges
Of the Supreme Court must be reinstated
in the control of the records of the court,
and their persons and deliberations pro-
tected from molestation by the revolu-
tionists If this hint from the President
is not sufficient to command obedience to
the orders of Governor Packard, there is
no doubt that it will be speedily followed
by something more positive For it will
be seen, whatever construction General
Augur may place upon the dispatch, that
the President arrives at the irresistible
conclusion that in case it becomes neces-
sary for the national government to inter
fere in the matter at all by recognizing
one or the other of the claimants to guber-
material honors, Governor Packard must
be recognized. A legal quorum Of each
house, as returned by the only lawful
tribunal for that purpose, has declared
Mr.. Packard duly elected, and at the same
time made demand upon the President
for assistance against domestic violence
1t is very significant feature of this
dispatch that it directs General Augur to
furnish copy TO both Nichols and Gov
ernor Packard. It is, therefore, virtually
notice to each Of these gentlemen as
well as to the General to whom it is inn
mediately addressed, of the intended
action Of the government in case con-
tingency, which we hope to see avoided,
shall arise in the future. II Is q monition
to the Democratic party that they are
proceeding by illegal means to take pos
session Of positions to which they have
no title except that founded upon sups-
Eior force, and an assurance TO the Re-
publicAns that their legal rights viii be
maintained.
We have never doubted what the decis-
ion Of the administration would be in
this matter when the proper time for ac-
tion came. And IL seems TO rs that noth-
ing but the blindness Of fatnity could
hage deceived che elear-headed men in
ths Democratic party to the extent Of sup
posing that State government, in all lie
departments, can ba captured and perma-
nently held by force. This sort Of tactics
has hesn tried pretty oftsn in this coun-
Try, but alwsys failed, "a il surely viii in
this latest end 70 hope lost attempt