Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-04-28

Gus reconsidcred its action, and the |
matter remained in allegiance until the |
24th of February, when number of
the country members were gettingim-
patient as to the little matter Of 5000
mileage and per diem they were about
to see slip from their grasp. Having
no means to pay board or wash bills,
they were ready to enter into any
agreement that would get them from
the horns of the horrid dilemma they
had straddled. On the date named,
the matter was brought up again, and
after a heated debate the items were
once more accepted by vote of 81 to
81. The articles were then signed and
forwarded to Mr.. Wheeler, who, with
the other members Of the committee,
including Potter, Foster, aud Phelps,
met in New York and framed the
award, seating one Democratic Sena-
tor aud twelve Representatives,
against the adjustment.
The award was then forwarded I'M.
der seal to Governor Kellogg, who
called the extraordinary" The leg.
islature assembled on the 18th, when
the terms proposed were strictly OBJ.
served by the Republicans. Those
who wero unscated, retired without
murmur, and the Democrats were
sworn in.
named above, and upon that all of the
Conversation but seventeen voted in
the affirmative, declaring by their vote
that the House of Repret entatives as
(then) organized as to its members, as
constituted under the award, shall re-
main without change, except by rcsig-
nation or death of members, until q
new general election"
Upon this. seven of the Democrats
who had voted against tho adjustment
voted in the affirmative. As their
caucus had repeatedly passed a reso-
luton binding the minority to abide
by the action of the majority, it was
not even supposed that the city men,
bers would inaugurate new scheme
TO increase their majority on joint bal
lot, but such step was even then con-
templated by the very men who had
pledged their honor not to disturb the
members then holding seats.
Only three days after the passage Of
tho joint resolution, introduced by ono
Of their own leaders Gen. Young), in
the face Of the letter and spirit Of the
award, in violation of the compact to
which both were parties, regardless of
the published understanding, and ut.
terly Indifferent to appeals, even from
their own party, to keep faith, they on
the third day voted solidly to
ENpEL WITHOUT TRIAL OF CONTEST,
four Of the Republican members who
had voted with them to pass it, and
noteven one solitary Democratic vote
is recorded to prove an exception to
the whole.
After this plain violation of honor
IL there any sane man in the country
who would place faith in the Demo.
cratic honor of Louisiana / fear not.
The result is not difficult to predict.
The outraged minority in the House
have no remedy, but in the Senate the
case is reversed, and that is the only
place where the proposed ruinous leg
islation can be checked.
But what opportunity, asks the tax.
payer, is there of passing measures of
reform? What guarantee have they
now that the adjustment they believed
in, will produce harmony in this dis
tracted State? None whatever, and
In breaking the compact the Democrats
(they call themselves Conservatives)
have confirmed the truth of the argn-
ment, that they intended no justice to
their opponents, and by their course
they have rendered ali but partisan
legislation impossible, destroyed the
hope ofbetter days aud less bitter
feeling, and defeated every effort for
the benefit Of the people tho adjust.
nent was intended to promote.
They even have the effroptrv to
deny that the award intended that the
four elected men should remain in
their seats, but elected them simply
TOR the reason that they were seated
by the Republican House in january.
They assert, also, that the Congressio.
nal Committee will carry them out in
their Views. Now let us look. Mr..
Wheeler, who was telegraphed says :
II remain ofthe opinion that they
could not disturb the four Republican
Members Mr. William Frye in his
reply to Marshal Packard says: By
agreement and award the status OF
your legislature was to remain as qre
.lettH. The Democrats violated good
faith and their plighted honor in their
attempt to change It."