The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-28
The Louisiana Question.
WAsH1NeToN. Feb. 19, 1878.

WASHINGTON, FeD. IL, 1910,
The House spent thoroughly unprof-
liable day in wrangle over the toui-
siana returning board. Mr.. Hale made
what Was generally thought to be a feeble
speech, indirectly attacking the President.
Gen. Gibson replied in good temper, and
after several other speeches Gen. Garfield
closed the day with speech in which he
declared the President all optimist, who
had "gone to the verge Of the constitu-
tion"-whatever that may mean-ln his
efforts to produce reconciliation. He de-
clared himself to be, next to the Presi-
dent, the most anxious of Republicans
for Cancellation and an era of good feel
ing, and apparently to prove this he i'm
mediately went on to tell the Southern
Democrats that they ought to be devoutly
grateful to the Republican party that it
did not hang them all. Mr.. Garfeld's
notion is that the best way to call out
mans friendly good nature is to fling
brickbat at him.
The notable part of his speech, how
ever, was his explanation of the relative
rights of Packard and the President to
Office, and here be attacked the anti
Hayes Republicans, who hold with VIM.
E. Chandler that if Packard is not Gov
ernor ther Mr.. Hayes ought not to be
President; that the President WAS bound
to support Packard in self.defence, and
that when he failed to maintain Packard
by force Of arms he, as Gen. Butler said
some time ago, was like man who
should tear up the marriage certificate of
his parents. Garfield answered all this
by saying that the returning board were,
by the constitution and laws of Louisiana,
the final judges of who were chosen Pres.
idential electors, and when they declared
the Hayes and Wheeler electors chosen
that ended all controversy OH that ques-
ton. But, said he, the returning board
were not, under the laws, the final judges
of the returns for the Legislature, nor
for those of Governor, which were can
vassed and decided under the law by the
Legislature, and as that declared Gov
ernor Nichols to be elected, their dccis-
ion was final and must be accepted as
such, although he added his own belief
that Packard vas really and fairly elec-
ted.
So far his speech was not amiss, but
he then broke out into TRADE against
the South generally, calling up the Ham
burg and Ellenton riots and various
other Southern troubles; declared it an
outrage that Wells and Anderson should
be tried, and thought the President must
have seen it in the last few weeks that it
was impossible for him to continue his
policy of cohciliation. He did not e1-
plain what he thought the course of the
President ought to be hereafter, OF
whether he, too, wanted new army sent
down to occupy the South, as some of the
other visiting statesmen" have suggest
ed. But the truth is the Republicans dc
not expect the President to change his
Southern policy. They know that it il
too late. There is nothing to change
and Mr.. Hayes sees no reason for change
What they are now driving at is the fall
canvass, and these anti-Southern speeches
are made in the hope that they may once
more excite the North against the South
and in the expectation that angry words
from the Republicans here will lead tc
angry retorts in Southern newspapers
which can next fall be quoted in the
North as Southern sentiment" Mean
time the fact that outrages have entirely
ceased since the Presidents policy wen
into effect is conclusive testimony of it
success, and people see with amazemen
eminent Republicans like Hale and Gar
field furiously defending two men of no
torioualy bad character-Wells and An
derson-and wonder why this extreme
rage, which looks 30 much like fear
C6respondence Me,D York Herald.