extended its authority over the state
and was in full existence as the _de facto_ government of Louisiana,
supported by the great body of the white men and nearly all the
wealth and intelligence of the state, and by the tired acquiescence
of a large portion of the colored people, some of whom deserted
Packard's legislature and entered that of Governor Nichols. The
delay and hesitation of General Grant had been fatal to Packard,
and when Hayes became President the practical question was greatly
changed. One thing was clear, that a legislature had been duly
elected in November previous, and was then in existence, though
separated into two parts. If the members lawfully elected could
be convened, they alone could decide the question of who was
governor, without the intervention of troops, and their decision
could be supported, if necessary, by the general government.

"The most anxious consideration was given to this question. Days
and weeks of anxious deliberation were given to it by the President
and his cabinet. But one way seemed open for a peaceful solution,
and that was to gather, if possible, a single legislature that
could be recognized as the depositary of the representative will
of the people of Louisiana. If this could be done it had the
unquestioned right to decide who had been elected governor, and
all other questions would settle themselves. To aid in this object,
a commission of the most eminent men, high in position, from
different states, and distinguished for judicial impartiality, was
selected and the result is known to all. They went to Louisiana,
and, with great difficulty, brought together these hostile legislatures
which met, organized, promptly settled the question in dispute in
favor of the government of Nichols, and thus ended this most
dangerous controversy. No other change was made, no other act done
except, when the solution was almost accomplished, the few troops
which had then occupied that state house were withdrawn a few
squares away, to their barracks. Thus, in this peaceful appeal to
the legislature of Louisiana, this controversy, which not only
endangered the peace and safety of this state, but the peace and
safety of the whole people of the United States, was settled. This
is the sum and substance of all that was done in the southern
policy, as it is called, of the President.

"Perhaps I ought to state that his policy has a broader motive than
a mere settlement of a local