Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-05
The Louisiana Commission.
rphiladeIphis Weekly Dem, J Times

solution of the issue between the
Nichols and Packard governments
has been finally completed and an
nounced as follows:
Judge G. B. Lawrence, Rep. Ill.
Ex-Gov. ]. G. Brown, Dem. Tenn.
Ex-Goy. ]. r. HawIey, Rep. Conn
Gen. J. NJ. Harlan, Rep. Ky.
Wayne McVeagh, Rep. Penn.
At first blush, commission com
posed of four Republicans and one
Democrat would inspire but little
confidence in any decision il is likely
to make, and especially when the
public mind is net profoundly i'm
pressed with the integrity of CON-
missions in solving grave political
| disputes; but we incline to trust the
men charged with the Louisiana in
quiry, and shall be disappointed if
they do not, by large majority if
not with entire unauimity, report in
favor of the withdrawal of the troops
from the Southern States, and thus
practically make Nichols and Hamp-
ton the undisputed Governors of
Louisiana and South Carolina.
Judge Lawrence has not been in
political life and little is known of
bis political inclinations beyond the
fact that he is conservative Re-
publican. He has been nine years
on the Supreme bench of Illinois and
has been Chief Justice of the State.
He was the Republican candidate
for Senator last winter after Logan
had been dropped, and be was reius-
ed the full Republican vote because
be was distrusted by radical Repub-
licans of the Logan stripe. Govern
or Brown is one Of the ablest men in
the State, and will take positive
grounds against the use of troops to
interfere with the local governments.
He is one of two brothers who have
been elected to the Gubernatorial
chair of Tennessee, and is highly re-
spected for his broad rational We've.
Governor Hawley is positive parti-
san, and is Inclined to bow TO party
necessities, but he is an honest man
and was one of the promptest and
boldest in supporting the policy OF
the administration when the early
withdrawal of the troops from the
South was accepted rs the settled
purpose of President Hayes. He will
not be likely to get estray now after
having followed the soll for better
growth in place of the bountiful crops
of arpe'-bag disorder and desola-
ton. He has been Governor of his
S ate, member Of Congress, nominee
of his party for Senator and Presi-
dent of the Centennisl Commission.
General Harlan is Kentucky pCli-
tician of the Bristow-Schu.Z school,;
has been State Senator and candi-
date for Governor, and will reflect
the we'll known Conservative views
of Schulz in the discharge Of the re-
sponsible duty assigned him. Mr.. Nc
Veagh is cox sentative Republican
of the heightened reform school, and
is constitutionally az war with bay
onet.eiections and baiIot-stufiing
generally. Although the brother-in-
law of the new Serato Cameron, and
not individually es,ranged from the
Camerons in politics, he differs rsdi.
cally from them in his ideal admins
trslioD, and it is safe to assume that
he will report sqarelg 10 favor of the
prompt withdrawal of the armyplaced
in the South by his brother in-law,
the late Minister Of War. He has
been member of the Constitutional
Convention, Minister to Turkey
chairman Of the Republican State
Committee and generally active in
the better line Of Republican leader
ship since 1860.
We much mistake the compositloD
of he commission if it does not un-
derstand Itself as simply the agency
chosen by President Hayes to re-
store South Carolina and Louisisn a
to self-government by tho withdraw
al of the army from those States.
No attempt will be made to review
the election on its merits, nor to de-
eide whether Nichols or Packard is
| CiCCloo Wv ci nOi oUt INV iOPOi
| will doubtless place the issue on the
higher and broader plane'of obedi-
ence to the constitution aud the
laws Probably some feeble efforts
may be made to compromise the dis
pute, as the Whet Ter committee did
in 1875, but they will certainly fail
The NAKED question will have to be
passed upon by the commission, and
its Judgement cannot be anything
else than that the occupancy of the
capitols of sovereign States by Fed
eral troops, to maintain pretended
governments which are without the
support OF the people, is forbidden
by the constitution, against sound
policy, and should be promptly erd-
ed. Unless all signs are at f. uIt, the
commission is to pull the chestnuts
out OF The fire for Hayes and enaole
him to fulfil his pledge to the ma
ton. to give every State in every
section The peace and prosperity
which only lawful government can
| furnish.
| 80 ~, ,phn in 70