Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/164

 130 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS turmoil, and thus to open to that section a new career of peace and prosperity. He obtained from the southern leaders in congress assurances that they would use their whole influence for the main tenance of good order and the protection of the rights and security of all, and for a union of the people in a mutual understanding that, as to their former antagonisms, by-gones should be treated as by-gones. To the same end he invited the rival governors of South Carolina, Daniel H. Chamber lain and Wade Hampton, to meet him in confer ence at Washington; and he appointed a commis sion composed of eminent gentlemen, Democrats as well as Republicans Gen. Joseph R. Hawley, of Connecticut; Charles B. Lawrence, of Illinois; John M. Harlan, of Kentucky; Ex-Gov. John C. Brown, of Tennessee ; and Wayne MacVeagh, of Pennsylvania to go to Louisiana and there to ascertain what were &quot;the real impediments to regu lar, loyal, and peaceful procedures under the laws and constitution of Louisiana,&quot; and, further, by conciliatory influences to endeavor to remove &quot;the obstacles to an acknowledgment of one govern ment within the state,&quot; or, if that were found im practicable, at least &quot;to accomplish the recognition of a single legislature as the depositary of the rep resentative will of the people of Louisiana.&quot; The two rival governors S. B. Packard, Republican, and Francis T. Nichols, Democrat stoutly main-