LOUISIANA. 



459 



Shortly after the assurances given by Ni- 

 cholls as to the treatment of colored citizens, 

 already referred to, the following resolution 

 was unanimously adopted : 



Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 

 in General Assembly convened, That the policy of 

 kindness, fair and equitable trentment toward the 

 colored people of Louisiana.announced by Governor 

 Nicholls in his speech at Baton Kouge, and reit- 

 erated in his letter to the Hon. P. B. S. Pinchback 

 and others, of date the 13th instant, is fully in- 

 dorsed, and will be strictly adhered to by the Gen- 

 eral Assembly of the State. 



The following was also unanimously adopted 

 in the House of Representatives : 



We, the Representatives of the people of the State 

 of Louisiana, duly elected by and direct from the 

 people, fully aware from positive knowledge of the 

 reeling and determination that impel and control 

 them, do declare that, under no circumstances, will 

 the people of this State pay tribute to any other 

 State Government than that at whose head stands 

 the man of their choice, their endeared and truly 

 elected Governor, Francis T. Nicholls. 



And we do further declare the utter impossibility 

 of gathering the taxes by any other authority, and 

 that any attempt to gather them by other authority 

 than the Nicholls Government will not only prove 

 abortive, but lead to lamentable civil strife, if not to 

 bloodshed and actual war. 



And we, the Eepresentatives of the people of the 

 State, do solemnly declare that we are in. perfect 

 sympathy with the people, and under all circum- 

 stances we will aid, encourage, and maintain them 

 in their determination. 



The remainder of the regular session was 

 occupied with matters of general legislation. 

 A ballot was taken in joint convention each 

 day for United States Senator, without result. 



On the accession of President Hayes, March 

 4th, it was understood to be his determination 

 to withdraw all military interference from the 

 State, and allow the complications to be set- 

 tled by the people through such legal agencies 

 as were established. General Grant's avowed 

 purpose of removing the troops from the State- 

 House had been in some way defeated or pre- 

 vented, and an order issued to General Aupur 

 with that intent was never transmitted ; but 

 assurances had been given that the new Pres- 

 ident would not continue the policy of milita- 

 ry intervention. This understanding seems to 

 have been brought about through consultation 

 between Mr. Charles Foster and Mr. Stanley 

 Matthews, of Ohio, on the one side, and Mr. 

 John Y. Brown, of Kentucky, and General 

 J. B. Gordon, of Georgia, on the other. The 

 expectation raised by it was generally believed 

 to have an important effect in preventing any 

 persistent opposition in the House of Repre- 

 sentatives to the completion of the electoral 

 count under the decisions of the Electoral 

 Commission. The following writing, in con- 

 nection with this understanding, was after- 

 ward made public by Mr. Brown. 



WASHINGTON CITY. February 17, 1877. 



GENTLEMEN : Referring to the conversation hnd 

 with you yesterday, in which Governor Hayes's pol- 

 icy as to the status of certain Southern States was 

 discussed, we desire to say that we can assure you, 



in the strongest possible manner, of our great desire 

 to have him adopt such a policy as will give lo the 

 people of the States of South Carolina and Louisiana 

 the right to control their own affaire in their own 

 way, subject only to the Constitution of the United 

 States and the laws made in pursuance thereof, and 

 to say further, that from an acquaintance with and" 

 knowledge of Governor Hayes and his views, we have 

 the most complete confidence that such will be the 

 policy of his administration. 



Respectfully, STANLEY MATTHEWS, 



CHARLES FOSTER. 

 To Hon. JOHN B. GORDON and Hon. J. YOUNG BROWN. 



On the 15th of March there was a meeting 

 of white Republicans in New Orleans, which 

 adopted an appeal to the people of the United 

 States, containing the following statements: 



The intimidation, violence, outrages, and murders 

 perpetrated upon tne Republicans in different parts 

 of the State by the White League Democracy, are 

 now matters of notoriety throughout the civilized 

 world. Their policy has been to mislead the peo- 

 ple in other States by reporting daily here what is 

 known to be false : that they have control of the 

 whole of the territory except an aero of ground in 

 New Orleans, and that their authority is alone recog- 

 nized throughout the State, and they ask to be let 

 alone in order that the people may enjoy local self- 

 government. 



The facts are, that an illegal and armed military 

 organization threatens the existence of the lawful 

 government. Instead of Governor Packard's au- 

 thority being acknowledged only at the St. Louis 

 Hotel, it is recognized in the greater part of the 

 State outside of New Orleans. In at least 28 parishes 

 or counties of the State Republican officers were 

 elected, and are in the exercise of their functions, 

 and they everywhere recognize Governor Packard as 

 the Governor of the State. Thirteen out of 17 Dis- 

 trict Judges outside of New Orleans were elected hy 

 the Republicans, and they have officially recognize d 

 Governor Packard. These insurgents boast that 

 they will force the Government of the United Stiitcs 

 to abandon Governor Packard, and thus to disregard 

 its sacred obligations to the State, or to establish a 

 military government. If the President vields to this 

 threat it will be only to encourage rebellion against 

 the laws. 



The question involved here is a question of fact 

 and of law, and not of sentiment. There can be but 

 one lawful government in a State, and when another 

 asserts authority, it is the bounden duty of the Pres- 

 ident to furnish the needful assistance. It has been 

 boastfully asserted that the tux-payers will pay cheer- 

 fully to Nicholls's appointees. The truth is, that not 

 one of his appointees can lawfully collect any tux- 

 es, because tliey have not the tax-rolls ; because the 

 licenses, which are collectable at once, have to be in- 

 dorsed by the State Treasurer, who holds the office 

 from the 1874 election, and who does not recognize 

 Mr. Nicholls's appointees. The funds raised nave 

 been by a sort of prestimos or forced loan. 



We appeal, therefore, to our fellow-citizens of the 

 loyal States not to heed the slanders published against 

 us, and to exert their influence to hasten the assist- 

 ance which should have come to us upon its wings 

 of lightning. Justice delayed is oftentimes justice 

 denied. 



In conclusion, we respectfully but earnestly aok, 

 as we have a right to demand, tnat the hand of jus- 

 tice be speedily extended to the lawful government 

 in Louisiana, to the end that the Republicans of the 

 State may not be forced to follow the example of the 

 Nicholls party, and attempt to settle legal questions 

 by the use of the rifle and cannon. 



Protests against these and similar statements 

 were made from various quarters. 



