Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-04-26
Louisiana.
Governor Packard's Appeal to
President Hayes.
Governor Packard has sent the fol-
lowing letter to the President
STATE OF LA, EXECUTIVE
Dept, New ORLEANS,
IL 1S--

APRIL II, 1871,
To Prcst. Hayes, Washington, d. c.:
Sir--It Is evident that the commits
sion sent here by you, intrusted, among
other points, to secure a removed of
the obstacles to the acknowledgment
of one Government, and failing in
that, to accomplish the recognition of
one Legislature as a depository of
the representative will of the people
louisiana, will fail to effect either of
these results. The first proposition
can be obtained only by the abandon
ment of one or the other of the clai-
mants to the Gubernatorial chair.
The second proposition, involving the
unifcation of the two bodies, each
now claiming to be the Legislature of
the State of Louisiana, is possible.
The plan suggested by the commission,
that 104 members of the lower house
and thirty-three members of the Sen
ate. whose election is not disputed,
should be brought together in one
body, and the general Assembly thus
constituted should pass upon the quail
iications of the contested members.
and thus reorganized should compose
the conflicts in the coordinate branches
of the Government, was acceptable to
the Republicans, but is said to have
been rejected by the Democrats. This
plan was understood to eminate from
the President. and to embody his ideas
of what was just and equitable. The
Republicans have indicated a wiling
ness to accede reorganization Of the
Legislature on this basis in Difference
to the Presidents wishes, even if in
so doing they should waive undoubted
legal rights. 1t is presumed that
from the Presidents standpoint any
other Legislative settlement would
work injustice to one or the other of
the contending parties, and it is not
believed that the Administration would
sanction injustice. The Republicans
were willing to submit the claims of
their State Government to the Legis-
lature thus constituted 1t is clearly
indicated that. General Nichols and
his adherents have rejected this prop
osition mainly because of their belief
in the truth Of the statement repeated
ly made that the Foster-Matthews
agreement is eventually in some way
to give the Government of the State
to the Democracy. If this belief were
removed from their minds, perhaps
they would not be so defiant, and
would accept the adjustment you offer.
The reported purpose of the AID
ministration to carry out the sugges-
tions of Messrs. Foster and Matthews
by the withdrawal of the United
States troops IS standing menance
to the Republicans in this State, and
encourages the Democracy to emulate
the arrogant policy of General Hamp-
TON in the South Carolina.
| have received no reply to my let
ter of the 9th instant, requesting that
the instructions of the commission
should be so amended and enlarged as
to enable them to inquire and report
which of the contending Governments
is legally entitled to recognition
whether legal Supreme Court exists,
and who compose it, and whether or
not there is an armed instruction
against the lawful Government. /,
therefore, most respectfully renew
that request in view Of the rejection
by my political opponents Of the rea-
sonable proposition above referred to,
made by the President through the
commission. Your Elk cellcncy can
not fail to perceive that in thus ex-
pressing my willingness to submit my
claims to a commission appointed
without solicitation on my part, or
without either myself or any of my
friends having any voice in its selec-
ton, it at least manifests confidence
in the justice of my claims. Under
present instructions the commission Is
charged with the investigation of mat
ters not essential. Why should in
structions be withheld which would
enable it to report upon matters es-
sential to the ascertainment of the
legality of one or other Government
claiming recognition from the Presi-
dent, one Of which must be entitled
thereto under the provisions of the
constitution Of the country.
The commission thus far, in It's re-
lation to the Republican party, has
only suggested methods which directly
tend to an abandonment of the contest
irrespective of right or justice. | res
pectfully submit that the questions at
issue in Louisiana cannot be disposed
of by mere expedients. The claims
of individuals to office arc of little con-
sequence when weighed against the
rights and liberty of majority Of the
people If lawful Government in
Louisiana can be overthrowf by donI-
este violence with she consent of the
Federal Government, originally called
into existence for the express purpose,
amongst others, of preventing such
occurrence, what State in the Union
may not hereafter be subject to similar
revolutions? Are the American peo-
pie willing to see this precedent estab-
lished
Earnestly requesting your Immediate
action on the facts presented [ have
the honor to be, very respectfully
your obedient servant. (Signed)
S. 3. PACKARD, Governor.
ofSon