New-York tribune., 1875-02-22
LOUISIANA.

AO 1o1 hN a.
PROSPECTS OF TIE COMPROMISE.
Mr. LEONARD NOT AUTHORIZED TO ACCEPT THE
WHEELER PROPosITIoN-HE HIMSELF NOT WILL
ING TO ACCEPT 1T WITHOUT AMENDMRNT-BET-
TER HOPES FOR THE COMPROMISE SINCE MR..
PINCHBACK's DEFEAT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRTBUYEI
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-Mr. A. II. Leonard. editor
OF The Shreveport Ua) Times, and the third repre-
sentative OF the Conservative caucus In New
Orleans, appointed to negotiate compromise, has
arrived at Washington. The report, which has been
extensively published. that he was authorized by
the caucus to accept the Wheeler propositions, is
incorrect Mr.. Leonard is personally in favor OF
agreeing to the Wheeler compromise, provided no
other can be made but bis own statements, as well
as dispatches from Mr.. Witt show that he has no
different authority from that conferred upon his
associates, Mr. Zacharie and Major Burke. and
that he Is expected to cooperate with them.
The report referred to probably arose from some
telegraphic correspondence between Mr.. Leonard
and Mr.. Wheeler The latter asked how many
members Of the caucus could be held to an agree
ment to the Wheeler compromise and Mr. Leonard
replied that 80 was the number. But 30
is not even O quorum Of the caucus, which has 20
members. While Mr.. Leonard is willing to go fur
ther than the other two representatives of the eau
cus and accept the Wheeler proposition without
change, provided no better terms can be made,
rather than have settlement of the present diit-
cultes the three gentlemen will act entirely in har-
moDy. While Major Burke is not 10 favor Of laying
down any specific proposition and saying that that
shall be the utimatum of the Conservatives, but is
willing to meet the other side aud to make such
concessions as may be eDecessary-provided no com
promise Of principle by the Conservatives Is re-
quired. and the terms of the arrangement are such
as are likely to command the approval and support
of the people Of Louisiana generallyhe is not WILL
ing under any circumstances to accept the Wheeler
proposition without amendment He is not willingto
place the Conservatives in such position that they
cannot at any future time take advantage OF any
decision by Congress, OF by the Executive branch
of the Government against Mr.. Kellogg ; ana ne
does not believe that the State would accept any
such terms even though the members OF the cancus
should. If therefore the Wheeler plan Of com
promise is made the ultimatum by the Republicans,
Major Burke will withdraw and return home,
leaving Mr.. Leonard If he feels 80 disposed. to
duct further negotiations. Since the defeat of Mr..
Pinchback last week, some of the leading
Louisiana Republicans who are very intimate at the
White House, and are understood to represent the
Presidents wishes in this matter, have shown more
disposition than eyer before to enter into COM
promise. There is no doubt that the President ex-
pected the Senate to admit Mr.. Pinchback to the
scat he claimed and that that vote would be an ap-
proval Of all that he has done in Louisiana within
the past two years; but the decisive
vote By which Mr.. Mortons resolution was laid
upon the table seems to have opened Gen, Grants
eyes. Should no further action be taken the only
Interpretation Of that vote will be direct dsap-
proval of the Executive interference by which Mr.
Kellogg was at first inaugurated and has since been
maintained, and the report of the Special Com
fnittee Of the House declaring the ilegaity Of the
action Of the late Returning Board will not help
matters any from an Administration point OF view
Under these circumstances it is very natural that
Gen. Grant, who wanted no compromise few days
ago when he supposed be was either to have the
approval of the Senate or no expression from Con-
gress should now really desire to be relieved from
any further responsibility in regard TO the matter.
The report that the President wishes to have
Collector Casey elected to the United States Senate
IA no doubt true, but how this desire may affect the
proposed compromise still remains to be seen. The
representatives of the Conservative caucus have
arranged for an interview with the President to-
morrow. Lieut.-Gov. Penn of Louisiana arrived
here yesterday but says th at his business is not Of
political character.
MOVEMENTS OF THE CONSERVATIVE COMMITTEE
(0EfERAL PRESS DsPATCHJ
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-The Conservative Com
mittee from Louisiana, consisting Of Messrs Zach
ary Burke and Leonard, will meet Mr.. Wheeler Of
the Congressional al Select Committee on LOuisanaAf-
fairs tomorrow morning at o'clock, to determine
the basis Of adjustment of the Louisiana election
Of 1874 excluding the questions growing out of the
election of 1872 when it was claimed that Mr.. Kel-
| lopg was elected Governor Of the State. The
| Committee will also call upon the Presi-
| dent at II o'clock tomorrow The Com
| mitteo claim the results of the election
| Of 1874 gave the Conservatives majority OF
20 in the House Of Representatives, and 10 members
of the Senate which leaves majority OF the latter
body to the Republicans. and in addition to the ma
jority in the House, gives the Conservatives the
| State Treasurer. But they leave to the Congress
| sional Committee the terms Of arbitration under
these circumstances their object being to pacify
The State and event further injury to It's material
Interests.
| PROBABLE REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE.
NO PROBABILITY OF AGREEMENT ON SINGLE
REPORT-UNANIMoUs ONLY IN CoNDEMNING THE
ACTS OF THE RETURNING BOARD-vIEws TO BE
EXPRESSED IN THE DIFFERENT REPORTS.
IBY rELEoRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEI
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2l.-The report of the Commit
tee appointed to investigate Louisiana affairs has
not yet been fully determined upon, and the present
| prospect s that upon many points the Committee
will fail TO agree. They will be unanimous as has
already been reported. in the opinion that the act
of the Returning Board was entirely illegal, and
that the Conservatives were entitled to the organ