Nebraska advertiser., 1878-04-04

Ut uuciSou III III pTOulseu 10 Ucd
Grant. For six years be traduced tn
Republican party. probably througI
more States, with more rhetoric an
in more languages Than any man liv
ing. Upon that illustrious captail
who from the 4th of July, 1868 to th
4th of March, 1877, led the Republi
can party-who always led his part.
to victory and always lifted his coun
try to renown, and at whose approach
but recently the Eastern continent
stood up uncovered-he threw NOR
mud than any dredge not worked by
steam ever threw in the same time.
After reviewing still further Secre
tary Schurz's career, Mr.. Howe tool
up the Packard case and the LOuisan;
-election, Bnd ssid: When the Presi
dent was inaugurated Stephen P
Packard was Governor Of Louisiana
Within sixty days after that inaugur
alton he ceased to be Governor. Wher
he disappeared the will of Louisiana
was subverted and trampled upon
Such an event is always matter O
sincere regret to all who respect re-
publican institutions. But very few
such events would be requiaed to rem
der republican institutions that by
word and that kissing on this cOntin'
ent which for centuries they have been
on the other.
He then reviewed, st length the
work of the Louisiana commission in
a sarcastic tone, and said: If it was
their mission to depose an actual Gov
ernor, they did not consume time
enough. Under the constitution of
Louisiana, four years are required for
that purpose. / could not, therefore,
see in all that transpired in Louisiana,
the development of a new policy for
the Republican party or the abandon
ment of an old policy. 1 saw only
acquiescence in what seemed to be a
disagreeable necessity. But / was not
prepared to see the act advertised as
on ofe the Presidents choice, which
every Republican, as well as every
Democrat, was bound to approve. 1t
was therefore a matter of surprise,
and profound regret also, that heard
the President declare in his late an
nual message that the discontinuance
of the use of the army for the purpose
of upholding local governments in
two States of the Union was no less
Constitutional duty and requirement
under the circumstances existing at
the time, than it was a much-needed
measure for the restoration of local
government and the promotion of ma
tional harmony.
IF that be a correct definition of
the Presidents Southern policy, I am
no longer in doubt as to whether | ap-
prove it or not. 1t is impossible that
| should approve it now or ever. 1t
is clear abandonment of one of the
plainest and most solemn duties charg-
ed upon the President by the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States.
When the President abandoned the
government of Louisiana to domestic
violence he surrendered the constitu-
tional rights of single State. But
when he advertised that he would
never interfere where the result of an
election is disputed, he surrendered a
national prerOgative vital to our in
stitutions. He ahjured a constitution
al duty essential to every State. He
proclaimed license to insurrectiOn.
He notified the minority in every
State, when defeated by the ballot, to
appeal to the bayonet, and he pro-
claimed in advance that the nation
shall be neutral in the conflict.
II Packard was not elected Govern
or of Louisiana, nothing can be more
certain thanthat Hayes was not elected
President of the United States. With
out the electoral vote of Louisiana
the whole world knows that Hayes
had not votes in the electoral college
necessary to constitute an electoiOn.
If Louisiana did not vote for Packard,
the whole world knows that Louisi-
ana did not vote for Hayes. Packard
received nearly 1000 votes more than
some of the Hayes electors. Under the
Constitution the President had but
one plain duty to discharge; that was
to ascertain whether the constituted
tribunals of Louisiana had declared
Pack ard to be Governor; if so, then
to defend his authority to the extent
of his ability, when legally required
so to do. II they had not so declared
then it was equally his duty, not
merely to have withheld all the sup
port from Packard's pretense, but
to have given all the required sup
port to the claim of Packard's rival.
1t was his duty to have done that,
not, merely on the Goth of April, but
to have done 1t on the 4th of March.
Immediately upon his assuming the
office of President, and If he found it
his constitutional duty to require
to surrender his office, he
should also have recognized the duty |
of surrendering his own.
/ do not mean to intimate a doubt
that President Hayes was entitled to
the vote of Louisiana. 1t is my set
tied belief that Louisiana declared for
him; but all / certainly know is that
if Packard was not elected, President
Hayes was not. If the latter is not a
usurper, Nichols is. / can see no
possible escape from the conclusion
either that the President has usurped
his own office, or that he has aided
Governor Nichols to usurp his.
After long discussion of the Lou
siana case and the Southern question
Mr.. Howe continued: