Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-05-02
the insurgents in the advantages which they had
gained. and prevented any effort to dispossess

the insurgents in the advantages which they had
gained and prevented any effort to dispossess
them.
On the inauguration of President Hayes the
State authorities made preparations to organize
militia force for the defense of the State Gov
eminent. Gen. Nichols police seized upon the
recruiting officers and imprisoned them for
treason, without benefit of bail, or writ, or
habeos co,pts. photographed this fact to presi-
dent Hayes, asking if this was violation of the
sfntns quo, and II not, whether the release of
these men by force, all civil remedies having
been exhausted, would be so considered The
President replied: Your dispatch of the 24th
graphed to Gen. Augur. A Commission will
shortly visit Louisiana. In the meantime the
President desires that the situation eman un-
changed.
The Commission came. In the meantime, the
Nichols Government had crystalllzed into
shape. So far from permitting the situation to
remain unchanged, it had broken into the Tax
Collectors Offices of the city, had taken forcible
control Of the State institutions and had
strengthened itself on all sides. Notwthstand-
ing this however the Commission found the
legal Legislature still in session at the State
House, and my title unassailed and unassail-
able except by force.
The result of their labors during the two
weeks that they remained here is known to all
men. They induced number of the members
of the legal House of Representatives to take
seats in the Nichols House, thus giving it Re
turning-Board quorum. Prior to the meeting of
the Legislature, the Democrats claimed to have
elected Only sixty members Of the House, one
less than quorum. One at least of the men,
bers claimed by them was absent on the lst
of January last. No Republican or Independent
member would consent to act with the Nichols
House, and, consequently, in order to obtain
even the appearance ofan organization, they had
been compelled to call to their aid three men
who were defeated at the polls whose election
had not been previously claimed. Tins inquiry,
therefore, seems pertinent IN this connection; If
n Returning Board quorum efectual for
Nichols claim, why it that such a quorum
was ignored while it remained faithful to the
legal Government of the State? That Govern
ment had a Returning Board quorum from the
day which the General Assembly convened,
and the Legislature, duly organized, remained
in legal existence till disntegrated by the direct
action of the Commission
This result having been achieved, it is mat
ter of record that congratulatory messages were
exchanged between the President and his Com
mission. On the following day the President,
10y formal order, made public through the
press, directed that the United States troops oc-
cupying building III the vicinity of the State
House should be removed to their barracks.
Those troops bad been placed there by President
Grant, without formal call of the Governor to
protect the Returning Board while counting the
vote for President.
firmly believe that had the legal Govern
ment been recognized, 1T could have sustained
itself without the intervention of the troops.
but the order for withdrawal, issued under the
circumstances, and in the manner that it WAS
issued clearly Indicated that even the moral
support which the legal Government of I.ousi-
ana should have received from the National Adj
ministration would be denied. Had the General
Assembly continued in session in the State
House, shou ld have deemed it my duty to have
asserted and defended the Government to the
last, notwithstanding the withdrawal of the
troops; but with the Legislature dislntegrated
and no prospect of present success. | cannot
task your tried fidelity by asking YOU longer to
continue Ia aid me in the struggle that | have
thus far maintained. | therefore announce to
you that am compelled to abstain, for the pres
cnt, from all active assertion of my Govern
ment ! waive none of my legal rights, but
yield only to superior forces.
i am not wholly discouraged by the fact that
one by one, the Republican State Governments
of the South have been forced to succumb to
force, or fraud, or policy Louisiana, the first
State rehabihtated after the war il the last
state whose Government thus falls, and be-
heve 1t will be among the first to raise itself
again to the plane of equal and honest repre-
sentatioh, | advise that you maintain your
party organization, and continue To battle for
the rights of citizenship and free government.
We strive for these, and not for man or men.
IL grieves me beyond expression that the he
roic efforts YOU have made, and the cruel suffer-
iugs You have undergone 10 maintain Republic
can principles III Louisiana, have h ad this bit
ter ending 70 those who have so CALAMITY
stood by me in this long contest that We have
passed Though, | tender my heartfelt thanks.
| counsel pence, patience, fortitnde and firm
trust that eventually right and justice will pre-
vail
(Signedl =. b. PACKARD, Governor.