New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-21
The SPIRIT AND TIE LETTER OF CON-
PROMISE.

| THE SPlklT AND I46 k6II66 VI W.
> PROMISE.
, When on the first day of the extra SCI
sion Republicans, Conservatives and Den
ocrats came together in obedience to tt
: PROCLAMATION Of the Governor to considt
the measures Of reform contained in b
. summons there was doubt that the con
promise would be- faithfully carried OF
according to its terms.
It was reasonable doubt. There wei
in both parties to the contract those wh
consistently opposed its ratification o
principles Numerically opposed to eac
other. But the doubts were dissipated
The distrust which was on both sides e1
hibited even on tho floor of the Hous
vanished when Matthews, Of the Reput
lican side, carried his resolution seatin
the Conservatives included in the award
and Young, Of the other, offered hi
securing the Governor from attack
pledging him support, and guaranteeing
the integrity Of the House and Senate q
then organized.
/ That resolution lacks only the Gov
ernor's signature to be law.
The argument against compromise tha
| the Democrats would break faith was
considered refuted and brighter era o.
peace and prosperity to the State eloquent
| ly predicted.
When last Saturday the Democrats were
asked and refused to concede one Of the
Offices Of the House to the Republicans ii
was again predicted full faith would not
be kept nor the understanding adhered to.
Yesterday these prophecies were full
filled.
Four N embers of the House, Republi-
cans, were deprived Of their seats and
four Democrats put in their places. The
only argument of any weight offered by
the. Democratic majority that carried the
measure, was that the members unseated
had not been returned by the Returning
Board, whose other acts that same ma
jority have repeatedly denoh ced as
illegal. .....
These Republican members were seated
on resolution of the regular session, in
troduced after contest before the regular
committee, the same committee that on
the sixteenth seated the Democrats on the
award, conducted with all the forms Of
notice, delay and evidence the law pre-
scribes, thoroughly discussed and vehe-
mently opposed by several Republicans,
and passed because the House believed
districts in o fair election
would cleo. Republican Representatives
They were members of the House on its
took part in the award,
voted on every question, and used every
exertion to secure seats to these Demo-
Gratis whose votes yesterday unseated
them.
Whether or not the Democrats believed |
these four members we're guaranteed their.
seats or not is not important. They knew
rom the first the Republicans believed |
hat was the understanding. They knew
he Republicans had derived that impress
rom Mr.. Wheelers declaration that they
vere legally occupying their seats, and
to be disturbed. And up to the in
of the report expelling them
heir acts confirmed the impression that
hey construed the award. in the same
ray, and that the roll Of members was
0 remain intact. i
They agreed to the majority assigned
D them by the award. Did they under
tand the intention to be that they were
, use that majority to still further reduce
le minority? They accepted the advan-
lges of the decision Of the committee
lat the Returning Board had acted
in some cases, but gave no
int they would disregard a similar de-
sion of the House Of which they became I,
part. They demanded with impotence {
10 action Of the Republicans in seating
eir friends, but were equally impatient {
hen Republicans pleaded for justice to t
eirs. They gave every pledge, save that l
Office, that the compact would be OBJ
rived, and 50 far as silent acquiescence
IS concerned, these four members were Il
cure in their seats by Democratic sup t
'rt. r
They went further, and should the q
overnor sign that resolution, bound f
by law not to disturb them. u
lie resolution Of Mr.. Young reads: t.
by the General Assembly of the !.
ate of Louisiana, That
9 House Of Representatives ZIP
all remain without change, except by s.
'ignation or death of members, until
W general election. s.
This to the Democratic majority, who, Q
thout dissenting voice, adopted it, is r
inality. Yet three days after the pass t
. Of that resolution, in the. face of the 81
ter and spirit Of the award, in violation d
the compact to which both were par W
s, regardless Of the known understand U
:, and Indifferent to appeals to keep
tn, the Democrats voted solidly to expel
II Republican members who hid aided