The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-04-23
A Possible Crisis.

SAN dASCIlOii VI SAiti SoIh
tested seats in the Legislature. Dur
ing the regular session the House seatet
certain Republican contestants from til,
parishes OF st. Helena, St. Martin, St
Landry, and Seventh Ward of Orleans
who had not been returned by the Re
turning Board. The Board reported n(
legal election i'll one or two parishes
and the congressional committee came
to the same conclusion in regard tt
Grant parish. Mr.. CAN'T has resigned
in favor of Mr.. Vidrine, but there arc
four seats still in dispute. Under the
head Of local brevities the Times OF
Tuesday says:
Its more than probable that when the
House Committee Oh Elections and
Qualfl&atI0nS report this morning
MesSrs. Collins of St. Helena, Delh0m-
mer and VOORHEES, of St. Martin, and
Burkhart of the Seventh ward of this
city, Will be awarded seats in the House.
Lower down in the same column, it
says:
A telegram was received from Mr..
Wheeler on Monday morning in which
he stated that it was his opinion that
Martlnht and ROcheOn, of the parish of
st. Martini, Floyd, of St. Helena, and
ReciIard, OF Orleans, could not be IN
seated IN the House without a violation
OF the award.
Roundabout discusses the matter as
follows:
The latest phase of the situation dis
covers Il cloud much larger than a mans
hanG, II unless great prudence is exer-
clSed the politicians will plunge lis into
another political crisis. The history of
the next two days demand an exercise
or the utmost Sagacity. Roundabout
has been assured that the moment Mar
tinet, ROcheOn, Floyd and Richard. at
present sitting members of the Honse,
are unscated, the Senate will take a re-
cess for three days. The law author
ICES such a course. They can reassemble
at the expiration Of that time, again ad-
jOurn, and so or ad intinitum until the
conclusion of the session.
The act is claimed by the Republicans
to be a breach of the agreement, which
once biOken, they insist relieves them
from every pledge. If Roundabout did
not wholly m~ISc0nstrue the expression.
he overheard Hon. W. W. Phelps say
that ltsWaS not contemplated by the az
bltratl0n to interfere with the status of
the Hu1}Se except so far as seating the
members reported on in the award.
thOu@lI no eas0n was given for either
this opinion or Mr.. Wheeler's. We do
not know that any reason can be given 4;
we are simply reviewing facts.
Mr.. Wheeler is reported by several
perSonSto have stated emphatically that
these -Four were to remain in their seats.
Roundabout hears that Mr.. Estilette, in
Il conversation with General Sheridan,
pledged his wold to in no way interfere
with them, but of course could ONLY
promise for himself, having no power to
blnd another member. 1t is also stated
that prior to his departure for Mexico
M. Phelps left a letter for Judge
Wheeler, authorizing him, in case Oc-
caSlon required 1t, to represent him as
a member of the arbitration, aud act as
hisiudglnent dictated. This letter ngh
to have been produced. Mr.. Packard
states that before leaving WASHINGTON
he CONSULTED Messrs. H0ar, Frye and
Marshall upon this subject, and the
opinion was unanimous that these mem
6ers were to retain their seats. It will
thus be seen that sufficient testimony
has been %adduced, according to Repub
ilcan opinion, to throw the Onus of break
ing the compact upon the Conservatives.
and toEreneW the chaos of the pasti is the
secret desire of more than one Republi-
can party leader.
Roundabout, who has watched this
issue fTom its incipiency, regards the NET
result ns far above a partisan triumph.
POLITICAL contests in Louisiana have be-
come IN angry fever rather than an
honestd:tterence of OpiniOn. So heavily |
upon every II has borne the spolia-
tons OF the past, and so deeply affected
!by thrSevents now Transporting is every
interest. that a calm review of the sit
uatlOn is quite impossible. To allay
TINS fever, to restore the community to
its normal condition should be the mis-
SION OF every patriot. We can no Ion
ger. trust to the guidance of stormy
petrels OF the political tempest. They
have everything to gain, while better
men have everything to lose. A return
to the chaos from which we are lust
emerging means to plunge an entire
people into the depths of detpair. They
will never tamely submit to it. On the
contrary the INSTRUCTORS to harmony
must sodOwn in the general INDIGNATION.
md when they fallit will be "like Luci-
never to hope again." "FOoIs rush
where angels fear to tread,n but
hose who are leading this latest move
nent had better pause before it is too
ate. Policy may be an idol and prin-
,iple d god, but Roundabout fails to
zee the principle involved. The arbitra-
ion must have been conversant with
'ertaiFly the mOstimportant facts in the
premises. From the latest develoD-
ents3tlere seems to be little doubt of
heir Intention.
The Republicans have accepted that
construction of the award. Few facts
been elected which materially
it, and until they are elected the
conservatives cannot be too prudent or
ouch upon what their political oppo-
Ients will endeaVOr to prove a violation
Il good faith too cautiously.
The committee, consisting of Messrs.
1owell, Levisse and Guichard, appoint
d by Speaker Hahn, during the last
session of the Legislature, to in
estigate the accounts of the Auditor
Treasurer, have reported, and re-
Ommend the House to adopt this reso- s
on 4: !
Resolved, That Charles Clinton, Au- !
itor OF Public Accounts of che State !
t Louisiana, be impeached for high i
and misdemeanors in office. S
The Auditor, in a communication to :
House, says the examination of his !
ooks by previous committees has been !
one with evil intentions, and asks for
n examination by a competent and
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