The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-15
LOUISIANA.
The MattheWs-Pac
Correspondence.
GOV. PACKARD REFUSES TO
YIELD HIS POSITION.

NEW ORLEANS March 1.-THE following is
the letter of Hon. Stanley Matthews to Cover
nor Packard and the reply:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
Washington, ID. =, Feb. q.
To Hon. s. b. Packard, Ne1u Orleans My
Dear Sir,-I received and read with attention
your communication on the subject of the pub
lie affairs of Louisiana, and the subject has
been carefully and anxiousls considered by my
self and others in its relation to the general
policy OF Republican administration towards
it. l have conversed at length with and given
him the result of my conviction which be can
repeat TO you more 10 detail than can at pres
ent. | merely indicate the results of my opin-
ions without reference to the rlghtfulness
of the origin of your title as Governor.
| am of the opinion that the circumstances are
such that it will be out of the question for
Republican administrator to maiutain itself,
as it must necessarily by force of federal arms,
as soon as the existing military orders are WITH
drawn the Nichols government Will become
the only existing government, ana VIII nave
to be recognized as such. 10 the meaut'me
it will be the duty OF the administration to
take care that the results shall not imperli the
rights and equity of the coored people OF
Louisiana, SO Tar as it has lawful power to pre-
vent it. and also to take care
that staunch Republicans like yourself, against
whom nothing dsreptable can be alleged,
should not suffer, and should receive cousidera-
ton and position in some appropriate way.
these are, in short, my own individual views.
L regret the condition OF affairs, but cannot
bel il, and see no better way to improve it.
(Sgned) Very respectfully,
STANLEY MATTHEWS.
STATE OF LOUISIANA, E1ecutioe Dept,
New Orleans. March IA.
To the Hon Stanley Mdtthews:-My Dear
Sir, Your letter of the pubic affairs of Louis-
ana of the 9th ultlmo was duly received. In
my communication to you and referred to in
your letter, aimed to exhibit to you the rea-
son and sterling facts, why the government Of
which am the head ought not receive prompt
recognition from the National administration
In your reply you suggest the difficulties that
you deem exists without reference to the right
tulness of the origin of your "my" title and
say that as soon as the existing military orders
are Withdrawn the Nichols government will
become the only existing government and will
have to be recognized then as such. Inasmuch
as you say that your letter only expresses your
own individual views, it is not necessary TO at
tempt TO correct your opinion that the crcum-
stances are such that it will be out of the ques-
tion for Republican administration to main
tain it, "lpy'' title, as that is subject which
now engages the attention of the present under
the Constitution and laws of the United States.
judge the purpose of your letter to have
been friendly way to accomplish the aban-
donment by me of the Office of Governor to
the eud that my defeated opponent might as
sumo unquestioned the Office to which L have
been elected. Admitting the value of the opin-
ion of one SO learned and of SO deservedly great
influence in the councils of the nation, l am
constrained by high sense of duty to unqual-
itiedly decline to entertain any proposition to
reipquish or to abandon the position which L
hold. L received a majority of the legal votes
cast at the last election, have been declared
Governor by the legal legislature in joint ses-
sion with an undisputed quorum, and having
been vested with authority as Governor [ can
not with due regard to my oath of Office and
duty to the 10000 voters who have elected me
To the Chief mapiRtracV th0uph / EhnUl0 a.
ceive consideration and position in some appro-
pirate way, abandon those faithful men TO the
merciess vengeance of the White League De-
mocracy. am the head of a government as
perfect as that of any state in the Union. My
predecessor together with his Secretary of
State, Auditor of Public Accounts, State Treas
urer, Superintendent of Public Instruction and
Attorney General, with all the archives of their
several offices, surrendered these positions into
the hands of those lawfully elected to receive
them.
now represent this government with the
possession of all these officers, L am opposed
by an organized and armed mob of men in this
CITY, known as the white league, who have
maintained during my administration force
held together by the encouragement given them
from abroad, and others means by those who
apparently seem to measure the legal existence
of the government by the amount of force it
can present. Were this force removed as it
will be when the legitimacy of my government
is determined by the President, nothing will
then seriously impede the success of my
administration.
Personally my position has been. is, and will
be until the general government shall see fit
to recognize my authority as Governor a most
perilous one, and it would be source of salts
faction did the responsibility rest upon some one
other than myself. The hundreds of Republic
Cans who have given their lives as sacrifice to
the cause of liberty and free government aud
the thousands who have deposited their votes
at the Derll OF life. DraSeQt
mind aud demand that / faithfully discharge
the duties devolved upon me Should L exhibit
less devotion than these faithful people, though
the effort costs my life, still that devotion
would be better heritage to my children tina n
the plaudits of the white league of the state
when gained by surrender Of both manhood
and duty. L am the Governor and no armed
force or violence can give my competitor lawful
title. (Sgned) Respectfully,
S. B. PACKARD.