, 1875-01-25

-@N.---[--@..:.-9
A FAIR PR0p0s1T1oN.
The telegraph brings tho information that
tho Conservative members Of tho Louisiana
Legislature have adopted the following reso-
luton
R<solred, ny this House carcrs composed Of Con.
scryatlsu 1nelnprs returned BY tho Returning noar
and tcho claining tn hsyo been undoubtedly elseted
hut sleraude hs 1ls Board, That, duafrlng 10 tho H.
tcrest af Inflicted State to have so'ntinu Of the
political troubles, and relying o thn tnfcarily and fair
e.s q tae fons genemcn nct!.hers Of tle congres-
BY ak he fthe saek Is not considered ton onesoup,
reavan. testimony, and nron sui. returns md evl
lence declare what members of tho Legislature were
fairly elected.
This ia proposition to refer tho nction Of
the Returning Board, whose alleged frnudu-
lont returns were tho origin of tho later
troubles i'll Louisiana, to 11essra. HoAnt FRYE,
WHEELER, and MARSHALL, all Of them Repub-
licans except the last. The proposition COM
ing from Conservatives, and directed to these
gentlemen, is peculiarly fair; for tho Com
mittee now in New Orleans consists not only
of three Republicans to ono Democrat, but
these three Republicans hayo gouo to New
Orleans expressly because they wero not sat-
istied with tho findings Of their Republican
associates, Messrs. FosTER and PHELPS, who
composed the majority Of tho Sub Committee
Which recently made its report. Tho
ub-ComMittoe, it will bo remember
ed, reported TINT "tho action Of the
Returning Doard on the whole WIS nrbitrary,
unjust, and illegal and TINT this arbitrary,
unjust, and illegal action alone prevented tho
return by the Board Of majority Of Conser-
vative members to tho Lower House." Tho
Conservative members Of tho House show,
by tile proposition they have just submitted,
their implicit confidence that this fact is so
clear md unmista1zablo TINT the lew Commit
tco must also hnd ssit to be SO, uttor1y ire
.spectivo Of their political bins or preference.
We hope that tho Committee now in New
Orenns will lind tho time to examine into tho
action of the Returning Eoard infinitely with
reference to the above resolution. There is
nothing obligatory upon them to do this,
md their report would not DO bind
ing upon the Legislature under the law.
But if their examination should confirm the
findings Of their predecessors, their report
would exert so powerful moral influence
upon the KELLOGG clique that they would
scnrcely dare to hold out ngaiust it. In other
words, the proposition ia for compromise
on bass which is entirely fair, aud it cor-
tainly ought not, under tho circumstances, to
find any objections from tho Republican side
Of the House. If it is fact that majority
Of Democrats wero fairly elected to the
Legislature and defrauded ont OF their
places by irregular or fraudulent pro.
| ceduro by the Returning Board, no
Republican, consistently with tho princi-
pies Of tho causo, can desire that the
frnud bo sanctioned and porpetuated. If the
present Committee should not feel like going
back Of tho returns Of tho Board, thay may
still examine into the Ave vacat1cies left undo.
termined. Tho Returning Board gaye seats
to LOG Membership Republicans and 50
Democrats, leaving the Legislature itceH to
ill the five remaining seats. To throw this
decision upon body equally divided in poll.
tics, md bitter as gall towards each other,
wns Of itself Nh embarrassment hard to over.
come.
If tho Conservatives Of tho Louisiana Leg.
islaturo aro willing to abide by tho decision Of
three Republicans md one Democratic mem.
Der Of Congress, Republicans cannot roason.
ably object. In fact, m objection On tlei,
| part would be confession that they orc
cognizant of irrogularity or fraud, or were
willing to perpetuate one. The Republicans
Of Louisiana would still have control Of tut
Sonato it tho Housa should be found to bt
Democratic, and they would only have t
| Inn M rrS-oof{c,, 10 ~
their own purity. II the status Of tho presen
Louisiana Legislature can be determined By
such compromise, 1t will bo an castor matte,
to dispose Of what the President has denomi
mated tho Gigantic fraud."