The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-26
Gov. IInyes mud inc snn,,,.


Gov. Hayes nnd the SOuIh.
There are two difficulties at the South
to meet Gov. Hayes at the very threshold
Of his administration. We refer 10 the
double headed governmentsz-in South
Carolina and Louisiana. A New Orleans
dispatch this morning shows the men.
acing attitude OF the Nichols govern.
ment towards the Packard government in
the latter State. The House OF Repre-.
sentatives Of the Nichols, or Demo.
cratic, government, declared on Saturday
by u unanimous vote that under no cir.
rumstances will the people Of Louisiana
pay taxes to the Packard government,
and that they, the members Of the House,
will stand by the people in this determi-
nation. The attempt to collect taxes
will, in their opinion, bring on civil strife
and perhaps actual bloodshed and civil
war.
The same state OF things exists in South
Carolina. The Chamberlain, or Repub.
lican, government is in danger Of being
gradually starved out. The taxpayers
OF the State are, OF course, largely fol.
lowers OF Hampton, and they propose to
pay their taxes to his government, and
withhold them from the Chamberlain
government. Thus far tle latter GOV
ernment seems powerless 10 enforce its
authority in this respect, Tor the reason
that where mans property is seized for
taxes and offered for sale no one will buy
It. After sufficient time eIapses to
test this determination of large major.
'ty OF the taxpayers OF South Carolina
not to pay their taxes to the Chamberlain
government, We do not see how the latter
government is TO sustain itself, since it
will not be the province of the Federal
government TO Interfere except in case
Of outbreak.
Up to tins time neither the President
nor Congress have taken any action in
Louisiana save to preserve peace. Gen.
Grant says in Washington dispatch
this morning that he does not propose to
interfere. He leaves South Carolina and
Louisiana rs legacies to his successor in
office. The question therefore arises,
what Viii President Hayes do? Will he
recognize Chamberlain and Packard?
and il so, and the people still refuse to
pay their taxes to their Governments,
what next will he do2 This is n very
serious question. How can the Federal
Government enforce the collection Of
taxes in South Carolina or Louisiana for
the benefit Of one side or The other? 1t
seems 10 us that such policy has no end,
Tor the reason that the tax payers are 80
largely on one side, and who therefore,
ia to buy in the property sold for taxes?
In ease Of collision between the two
sides the Federal government would, Of
course. interfere TO keep peace, but unless
Congress recognizes one side or the other
as the legitimate government (Which OF
course it will noi) We are inclined to the
opinion that the new President will fol-
low the example Of his predecessor, and
have as little as possible TO do with either
side.
There will be no peace in Louisiana un.
til there is new election, and this there
ought to be, ii there was only some auth.
ority competent to order new election.
In the matter Of stale officials, it would
not be competent for the Federal govern
ment 10 order such an election, and as re.
yards the members OF Congress elected
last fall their fate is in the hands OF the
next House.
II will be seen from this statement that
the new President has. unfortunately,
two very embarrassing difficulties to en-.
counter at the very start in the matter Of
Southern policy, General Grant has
always cOntcndcd that it was the duty of
Congress TO mark out the policy for the
Executive where there were double.
headed governments in State, and two
years ago he threw all the blame and
responsibility Of the KellogS.McEnery
imbroglio on that body.
1t is MOTTO be expected OF Hayes that
ht will repudiate the Packard govern
ment, since the Returning Board is at the
back Of it, and yet we are at loss to see
what government in State amounts to
that cannot enforce the collection Of
taxes by the sale Of property. General
q rantS opinion is, as expressed this
morning, that it is more of name than
anything else and Of very doubtful value
to the country. ThObcst that Hayes
can do is to worry along, keeping the
peace meanwhile, until The meeting oil
the new Congress, and then put the re,
'ponsbility on that body Of devisinl
some scheme Of conciliation and com
promise. He can make good start ir
the right direction by putting some wei
disposed Representative Southern mar
like Ben, Hill in his Cabinet.
Coal Miners Strike Ended.
KENT, O., February 24..-Thc strike oil
Humphrey u Coleman's miners, at Sill