The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-05-20
Tie Wheeler Compromise in Louisiana.

letter to the New York Times, in which he just
ly claims that the Louisiana Democrats have
acted in good faith, and that the compromise
has proven success. We give the telegraphic
summary of his letter, which will afford a cor
rect idea of the present situation in Louis
lana:
New YORK, May 10.
Mr. Wheeler of the Congressional Louisiana
Committee, in a letter in relation to the ad-
iustment of differences in that State effected un-
der the award of that committee, says there is
a class of people who seem to have expected
that the adjustment was to inaugurate politi-
cal millennium in louisiana that henceforth
that State was to be wholly free from the fric-
ton which attends the workings of political
parties elsewhere. This class will probably
pronounce the adjustment a failure, for un-
doubtedly party warfare will continue to be
waged in Louisiana very much as it is i'll New
York and other States of the Union. She will
have her dishonest officials and corrupt legsla-
tion, as other States have, and she will years to
come stagger along under the load of her accu-
mulated financial burdens, and her obligations
may at times 60 to protest. Louisiana, from
her existence as a State, had an exceptionally
stormy record-this condition of things arising
from diversity of race and character in the
State, with almost unavoidable disturbances
very foundations of labor and society is not to
be changed in day by any one act, however
beneficial; nevertheless, firmly believe that
even Louisiana has at last Caught inspiration
from the new order of things, and that, exhaus-
ted as she is with tumult and violence yet with
lust government and the education of her
people-the last just now her greatest need
She will, with steady but slow pace emerge
from what seemed to be her utterly helpless
condition.
There is another class who will regard the ad-
iustment as failure-those who sought in 1t
simply partisan advantages. Withoutarrogating
anything for the gentlemen who composed the
late Congressional Committee on Southern AT
fairs, I think I may safely claim for them
that they are not of this class. Regarding the
justment has already been violated by the Demo-
Gratis, Wheeler says he cannot subscribe to the
truth ofthis allegation; the arbitrators had moth
ing to do but to pass upon the claims of the men,
bers and Senators who should sign the agreement.
OF course, the award could affect no one else.
It was merely advisory to the Republican mem
bers of the General Assembly. It could not
and did not seek directly to interfere with the
rights of the members then sitting, and who
had certificates of the Returning Board, but
whose seats were claimed by Democrats.
After the Democrats left the House on the
4th of January, and some time during the win
ter session, the Republicans unseated four
Democratic members, who held certificates of
the Returning Board, and whose names were
on the list of members used by the Republican
Clerk At the attempted organization in JAN
uary no one of these four Democrats, who were
reseated at the recent extra session of the Leg
islature, of which complaint is made, was a
party to the article of adjustment; no one can
be found in Louisiana to assert that, at the
time these four Democrats were unseated, there
was quorum of the House present. So these
four Democrats had never been legally deprived
of their seats but it is replied by those who
impute bad faith to the Democrats, that the
agreement contains this provision: "The
House of Representatives, as to its members as
constituted under the award, shall remain with
out change except by the resignation or death
of members until new general election" and
this condition has been violated.
The Democrats never questioned the action
of the Returning Board except in the cases re-
ferred to the committee. They were willing,
with these exceptions, to abide by it. My un-
derstanding of the above provision is that the
House Of Representatives was to be as returned
by the Returning Board, after the errors of that
board had been corrected in cases specified in
the agreement by the award of the committee
and its adoption by the House of Representa-
tives The parties to the agreement having
made no stipulation in these cases, cannot be
fairly asked to deprive these four members of
the seats to which they had been declared elec-
ted by the Returning Board, and of which "less
than majority of the members" of the House
of Representative had attempted to deprive
them. These four men being legally entitled
to their seats, having done nothing to forfeit
them, their reinstatement was an act of simple
justice which all fully understanding the acts
must approve"
Mr. Wheeler says, touching the allegations
of bad faith by the Democrats, that they did
not act covertly. He details the opposition
manifested upon the first acceptance of the ar
ticles of adjustment and says: "On the day
preceding the meeting of the late extra ses-
sion of the Legislature, / met at the rooms of
Gen. Sheridan prominent Republican officials
and Col. Leonard, of the Shreveport Times,
who had been leading man in the negotia-
tions on the Democratic side. The matter of
the four members was fully discussed in Gen.
Sheridans room, and Leonard distinctly in
formed US that he wished no concealment and
that it was due to us that if he should inform
US that if the award of the committee should be
adopted by the House, the Democrats
bers This statement is but simple justice
to Col. Leonard and those whom he represen-
ted. can easily perceive how parties at dis
tance, without knowledge of the facts in detail,
should deem the Democrats guilty of non-ob-
servance of the provision which 1 have cited.
But cannot think them in fairness obnoxious to
the charge and common justice, whiclHought to
characterize parties as we'll as individuals en-
titles them to this explanation. The Repub-
lican party has now put itself in the right in
Louisiana. The action of both parties in the
future will be watched by the country and the
people will mcte out TO each the judgment
which, by its acts, it shall have entitled itself,
and to that tribunal the matter may safely be
confded."
EARLY MoRNING.-The brightest best, the
most beautiful part of the day is early morning.