Stephen B. Packard
Encyclopedia
Stephen Bennett Packard (April 25, 1839 - January 31, 1922), a native of Maine
, emerged as an important Republican
politician
in Louisiana
during the era of Reconstruction. He was the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1876.
A captain in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
, Packard was appointed United States marshal in New Orleans in 1871 during the administration of U.S. President U.S. Grant. He emerged as a leader of what was called the "Customhouse Ring", a faction
of the Republican Party opposed to Governor
Henry Clay Warmoth.
In 1872, Packard directed the successful gubernatorial campaign of William Pitt Kellogg. Packard supported the impeachment
of outgoing Governor Warmoth. The Democratic Party disputed the results of the election, and both parties claimed victory. The legislature impeached Warmoth as governor, on charges of having sold the election. His election board had certified John McEnery as governor. Packard obtained federal recognition of the African American
P.B.S. Pinchback as governor for the thirty-five days left in Warmoth's term. Kellogg was then recognized by President Grant as the legitimate authority in charge.
In 1876 Packard was the Radical Republican candidate for governor in 1876. In another disputed election, both Packard and his Democratic
opponent, Francis T. Nicholls
were inaugurated. In the elections since 1868, there was increasing political violence. By 1876, the paramilitary White League
, effectively an arm of the Democratic Party, had conducted open campaigns of intimidation and physical attacks, to keep freedmen and other Republicans away from the polls. Nicholls had led in the balloting by some eight thousand votes, but the Republican-controlled State Returning Board cited fraud and declared Packard the victor. Pinchback, however, refused to support Packard and endorsed Nicholls.
The New York Times, in an article datelined New-Orleans, February 16, 1877, has the headline "The Democratic Assassin. Gov. Packard's Attempted Murder.". At that time in New York, Packard was perceived to be Governor of Louisiana. The article describes the wounded condition of the assassin William H. Weldon, after being himself wounded in the attempt.
After the contested election of 1876, the Democratic-backed legislature, allied with Democratic Governor Francis T. Nicholls, selected Henry M. Spofford
as United States Senator. However the Republican-dominated legislature, allied with Republican Governor Packard, had separately selected William Pitt Kellogg. The United States Senate, which was at the time dominated by the so-called Radical faction of the Republican party, refused to seat Spofford.
In the Compromise of 1877
, the incoming Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes
recognized Nicholls as the legitimate Louisiana governor. In exchange the Louisiana electoral votes were cast for the Hayes-William Wheeler
ticket. Similarly, Hayes had recognized the "Redeemer" Democrat Wade Hampton, III
, a Confederate
general, as governor of South Carolina
, rather than the incumbent
Republican Daniel H. Chamberlain
. As a result of the national compromise, the US government removed remaining federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, despite the pattern of violence and assassinations related to elections.
As a reward for his services to the party, which had then acquired the nickname Grand Old Party, or GOP
, Packard was named United States consul
at Liverpool. Packard returned to the United States in 1885, purchased 1,100 acres of land near Marshalltown, Iowa
, and spent the next twenty-five years there as a notable livestock breeder.
Packard's was the last strong Republican campaign for governor until 1964, when Charlton H. Lyons, Sr.
, a former Democrat, launched a campaign to rejuvenate the previously moribund GOP in Louisiana.
Stephen B. Packard is inturned beside the remains of his son, Stephen B. Packard, Jr., at the Washelli Columbarium at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
in Seattle, Washington
.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, emerged as an important Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
during the era of Reconstruction. He was the unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1876.
A captain in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Packard was appointed United States marshal in New Orleans in 1871 during the administration of U.S. President U.S. Grant. He emerged as a leader of what was called the "Customhouse Ring", a faction
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
of the Republican Party opposed to Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Henry Clay Warmoth.
In 1872, Packard directed the successful gubernatorial campaign of William Pitt Kellogg. Packard supported the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
of outgoing Governor Warmoth. The Democratic Party disputed the results of the election, and both parties claimed victory. The legislature impeached Warmoth as governor, on charges of having sold the election. His election board had certified John McEnery as governor. Packard obtained federal recognition of the African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
P.B.S. Pinchback as governor for the thirty-five days left in Warmoth's term. Kellogg was then recognized by President Grant as the legitimate authority in charge.
In 1876 Packard was the Radical Republican candidate for governor in 1876. In another disputed election, both Packard and his Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent, Francis T. Nicholls
Francis T. Nicholls
Francis Redding Tillou Nicholls was an American attorney, politician, judge, and a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
were inaugurated. In the elections since 1868, there was increasing political violence. By 1876, the paramilitary White League
White League
The White League was a white paramilitary group started in 1874 that operated to turn Republicans out of office and intimidate freedmen from voting and political organizing. Its first chapter in Grant Parish, Louisiana was made up of many of the Confederate veterans who had participated in the...
, effectively an arm of the Democratic Party, had conducted open campaigns of intimidation and physical attacks, to keep freedmen and other Republicans away from the polls. Nicholls had led in the balloting by some eight thousand votes, but the Republican-controlled State Returning Board cited fraud and declared Packard the victor. Pinchback, however, refused to support Packard and endorsed Nicholls.
The New York Times, in an article datelined New-Orleans, February 16, 1877, has the headline "The Democratic Assassin. Gov. Packard's Attempted Murder.". At that time in New York, Packard was perceived to be Governor of Louisiana. The article describes the wounded condition of the assassin William H. Weldon, after being himself wounded in the attempt.
After the contested election of 1876, the Democratic-backed legislature, allied with Democratic Governor Francis T. Nicholls, selected Henry M. Spofford
Henry M. Spofford
Henry Martyn Spofford , born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, was a judge of the Louisiana Supreme Court. He graduated from Amherst College and relocated to Louisiana, in 1845, where he practiced law. Spofford was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court and served until 1858, when he resigned to return...
as United States Senator. However the Republican-dominated legislature, allied with Republican Governor Packard, had separately selected William Pitt Kellogg. The United States Senate, which was at the time dominated by the so-called Radical faction of the Republican party, refused to seat Spofford.
In the Compromise of 1877
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877, also known as the Corrupt Bargain, refers to a purported informal, unwritten deal that settled the disputed 1876 U.S. Presidential election and ended Congressional Reconstruction. Through it, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes was awarded the White House over Democrat Samuel J...
, the incoming Republican President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
recognized Nicholls as the legitimate Louisiana governor. In exchange the Louisiana electoral votes were cast for the Hayes-William Wheeler
William Wheeler
William Wheeler may refer to:*William A. Wheeler, 19th Vice President of the United States*William F. Wheeler , third U.S. Marshal for the Montana Territory*William Gordon Wheeler, former Roman Catholic Bishop of Leeds...
ticket. Similarly, Hayes had recognized the "Redeemer" Democrat Wade Hampton, III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
general, as governor of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, rather than the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Republican Daniel H. Chamberlain
Daniel Henry Chamberlain
Daniel Henry Chamberlain was a planter, lawyer, author and the 76th Governor of South Carolina from 1874 until 1877....
. As a result of the national compromise, the US government removed remaining federal troops from Louisiana and South Carolina, despite the pattern of violence and assassinations related to elections.
As a reward for his services to the party, which had then acquired the nickname Grand Old Party, or GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Packard was named United States consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
at Liverpool. Packard returned to the United States in 1885, purchased 1,100 acres of land near Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
, and spent the next twenty-five years there as a notable livestock breeder.
Packard's was the last strong Republican campaign for governor until 1964, when Charlton H. Lyons, Sr.
Charlton Lyons
Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr., also known as Big Papa Lyons , was a Shreveport oilman who in 1964 waged the first determined Republican bid for the Louisiana governorship since Reconstruction. Lyons also made a strong but losing bid for the United States House of Representatives in a special election...
, a former Democrat, launched a campaign to rejuvenate the previously moribund GOP in Louisiana.
Stephen B. Packard is inturned beside the remains of his son, Stephen B. Packard, Jr., at the Washelli Columbarium at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park
Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park originated in 1885. It is located on both sides of Aurora Avenue in Seattle, Washington, and occupies roughly . It is the largest cemetery in Seattle.-History:...
in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.