Year: 1876

On the second ballot, Nichols gained one


vote from the second ward, two from the


fourth, one each from the tenth and twelfth


wards, seven from Rapides, one from ST.


Helena, and two from st. Landry; these,


with other gains, bringing him up to l39


This gain he increased to li2 on the third


ballot.


On the fourth ballot, Just as Bossier was
called, Jud 90 Farmer, of Ouachita, with
drew Mr.. McEnery's name in favor of Gen
eral Nichols. Caldwell, Cameron, Cata-
houla, Claiborne, the Felicianas, Franklin.
Iberville, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse.
OEachita and others, went over in rapid
succession to Nichols. Mr.. Gauthreaux
transferred the eleventh ward delegation,
and before the ballot was finished the nom
ination of General Nichols was made unan-
imous.


The nomination of Mr.. Wilt to the sec
OEd place on the ticket was carried by a
sort Of hurrah that took nearly every one
by surprise.


THE CANDIDATES,


Successful or unsuccessful were escorted to
the platform. and were severally called
upon to speak.


GENERAL NICHOLS SPEECH


Was pleasantly delivered, but was not re-
ceived with any marked enthusiasm. His
distinct announcement that he would have
no rev ards to bestow on his friends went
little beyond the views of a majority of his
supporters, and his very marked allusions
to and condemnation OF the displacement
of ballot boxes and the manipulation of re-
turns perpetrated in the Fusion interest at
the last election were received in embar-
RAISING silence. General Nichols said


l thank you, gentlemen of the conven-
tion, for the confidence you have manifested
by rendering me this nomination. The full
extent of that honor can not be appreciated
except by one who is intimately familiar
with the affairs and condition of this State.
90, gentlemen, into public life for the first
time. In choosing me you have chosen one
who kHows nothing further for his guide
than his sense of right for all classes of
this whole State. lApplause.] am
satisfied that by following out that
be 60 called-that the confidence of
this people can be obtained. l feel proud
to have been placed by you in the position
of leader of those thousands of honest men
who are now being massed to wrest the
State from the hands of her despOilers. |
am satisfied we are going on to victory. l
feel proud you have chosen me to lead the
corps d drmee which is to fall in line under
the banner of Tilden and Hendricks.
wish to state to you, gentlemen, that l am
speaking to you without any preparation
xrh fav II I fn Ga hoti |
elected Governor will come into the office
by any man or set of men, by
any clique or any faction, and will do my
whole duty. In the interval between now
and the election it may be necessary to say
that am the candidate of the party, but
the moment l take my oath of Office as
Governor of this State cease to be the
candidate Of party. l become the
of the people not of
one set, but of the whole, l recognize each
and every obligation incumbent upon me
under the constitution OF the United States
and all the recent amendments thereto,
and under the constitution Of the State of
Louisiana and the laws under them. pro-
pose, 80 far as l have supervision OF the
laws, to enforce them without any regard
to race, color or previous condition In re-
gard to the civil service, if be elected to
Office wish it to be distinctly understood
that no friend OF mine shall be appointed
by reason OF that fact. If there be any
trust there are none such-whO
have supported in the conviction or hope
that will so far forget my duty as to take
personal consideration for them, they will
be wofully disappointed. l propose to try
to bring back q proper tone in public af-
fairs. propose to do right myself, and in
20 far as l can control others propose to
make others do right also.


After referring to the kindly relations
which he said had always existed between
himself and "our colored fellow-citizens,"
whom he had loved from his youth upward,
be announced his platform to be honest gov
ernment, and wished to turn aside on no
false issues of tariff, finance or other like
With regard to the manner
in which he wished the campaign conducted,
be said:


I want to announce to you that
I am thoroughly, utterly and COM
pletely opposed to fraud, whether it comes
from our side or comes from the other side.
I want this election to be square, fair and
peaceable. want not simply the letter OF
the law followed, but also the spirit.
want every man who is entitled to vote to
be permitted to do so. want the ballot