The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-03-07

| however. the commission was unanimous
in the opinion that the Packard concern
| must be allowed to 90 to pieces. The
/ hope of @ more active interference on
/ the part Of the general government was
| all that had kept il together for several
weeks. Desertions had been frequent,
and a fund had been raised in the city to
break up the nominal quorum in the
| Packard House by buying off some OF the
many vacillating and corrupt negro mem
/ bers.
When this conclusion was reached, the
/ practical sensible thing remaining for the
/ Commissioners to do was to get some as
surance that the power Of the Nichols
I government. welded by its courts. Legis-
lature, and Executive, should not be used
to the injury of Republicans. brutal
mob spirit prevailed in New Orleans, and
even the public prints had talked about
hanging certain Republican leaders to
the lamp posts In the Democratic party
was large element known as the Last
Ditchers," composed of bitter violent,
rancorOus men, who were clamOring for
revenge upon their political antagonists.
Even il the passions Of the mob could be
completely curbed, il was evident that the
courts might be used as instruments of
oppression. With Democratic Judges
and Democratic juries it would be easy
to send almost any Republican to the
penitentiary on some trumped up charge
The Republicans were thoroughly alarmed
and told the Commissioners that they
feared they should have to abandon their
homes and property and leave the State.
There were long talks on this matter be-
tween the Commission and the Nichols
leaders. These conversations came TO
fp4.n q q = lsrN fL..n
curacy of the reports was verified by my
own repeated interviews with nearly all
the prominent officials of the Nichols
government ! must do them the justice
to say that they talked like frank, hon
orable, fair minded gentlemen. They
appeared exceedingly anxious to remove
any apprehension that prosecutions with
a political animus could possibly occur.
The cases Of the Returning Board mem
bers and Of the Election Supervisors were
mentioned by me on more than one occa-
sion, and the reply was always that eve
rybody connected with the Nichols gov
ernment was determined that there
should be no opening of old sores. In
one of these talks / asked if Gov Mich
oils could prevent some petty court con
trolled by Bourbon influence from begin
ming crusade against Republican ex.
OulclalS- Inc aU5NeI WAS budL Alt luOIal
influence of Gov Nichols was so great
that he could put a stop to any such pro
ceeding. The resolution passed by the
Nichols Legislature was intended to
give form and official record to the prom
ises Of the Conservative leaders. Ii was
clearly understood to apply not only to
the members of the Returning Board,
but to all persons OF both parties con
cerned in the disputed election of 1876
! believed at the time that Gov Mich
oils and his associates were honest in
making these statements; / believe so
still They have been intimidated by
the revengeful spirit which dominates
the Louisiana Democracy. They may
yet recover their courage sufficiently to
enable their sense of justice and honor
to govern their course. feel sure that
they will not take refuge behind the
lame excuse made for them in Congress
that Gen. Anderson was aFraigned for
felony, and that the laws must take their
course. There is not a Republican in
Louisiana who could not be put on trial
for felony. without any indictment by
Grand Jury, as Gen. Anderson has been,
and sworn into the penitentiary by the
oath of some revengeful rascal
Very truly yours,
f. V. SMALLEY.