The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-02
CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS.
Mr. Burke's Statement.
Speeches by Mr.. Leonard and Mr..
Booth.
: Vuie>cence not Acuuiescence. =
Abe Wheeler Adjustment Plan TO
be Carried into Effect.

IN" Caucus was called to order by Speake
y lltz at IL o'clock, and ~ members answere
On call of the roll.
MI Witt read the following dispatch
WASHINGTON, Feb. q, 1875.
- L. A. Wilt:
Wheeler requires to be for yarded to him al
acceptance, to be signed by the members O
me Cancus When you forward it, express
20 lizards our duplicate returns and papers
including DeSoto duplicates
+. c. ZAcHAR1E.
Received lilo Z. NJ, Feb 81.
It being announced that Major Burke would
attend the Caucus during the morning, and
would probably have an address to make, a
motion was made that a recess be taken until
lis arrival. Carried.
At the expiration Of half an hour tie
speaker called the Caucus to order and
stated that Mr.. Burke had not yet arrived,
md asked what tie pleasure of the Caucus
vas.
A motion was made 10 take further recess.
but Mr.. Hammond came forward with a sue
5esuon that in the absence of Mai. Burke
Mr. Leonard give the Caucus such iuforma
ton as he might bo possessed of Mr. Leon
ard declined, saying II would not be in good
Taste as the duty rested with MI Burke, and
that gentleman had made preparation to that
end
The motion then 10 take recess for
quarter Of an hour was carried
The Caucrs was again called to order at
noon, Mr.. Burke having arrived.
Ilr. Burke said he was sorry to have caused
a delay by his absence, bat lie was mistaken
n The hour named Tor meeting thinking it
was II instead OF / / o'clock
lie then read has statement. wlliei, is here
With given:
t@n the 10Th Of February left this city for
Washington, to give nay attention to an i'm
portant lawsuit in the Supreme Court, and
Driar to my departure indicated to Speaker
Wilt and Governor McEnery that would |
most cheertully render any services during
my stay at Washington, and requested that |
>ney should command nee in that respect. |
had no preconcelted understanding with any
person or persons concerning my visi. to
Washington or its object. Immediately upon
my arrival there. consulted with Col Zacha-
fie, ard went to work earnestly, placing be-
fore the authorities at Washington the true
condition Of atf.rs in a.is State, growing ont
u the election Of 1874, the action of the Re
turning Board and Federal authorities on the
1th of January last, with view to secure
such action by Congress or the other authori-
lies as would, if possible, secure to the people
The fruits OF the elections Of 1874.
On the second day after my arrival an
thority was received from your Caucus author
lzing Col. Zacharie and myself to negotiate
with the Congressional Committee or the
President, for an adjustment Of our difficult
ties, all propositions to be submitted to the
Caucus for final action.
Prisr to our departure from New Orleans a
proposition known as the Caucus proposition
was adopted by vote Of 50 to s, and believ-
ing that this proposition represented the views
Of your Caucus, We lent our best efforts to
secure its acceptance, and for some days were
quite sanguine that it would be acceded to.
The hostility that had been evinced in Re
publican circles at Washington to any adjust
ment OF our affairs was removed, and favor
able public sentiment was engendered.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Wheeler and others
nigh in authority became satisfied that the
Wheeler propositiol would be accepted, if in
sisted upon. &
Upon the arrival of Mr.. Leonord, he imme- t
lately consulted with Col. Zlcharie and my t
self, and continued to act ia full accord with
US. (
4 proposition was submitted which was a
modification of the Wheeler proposition, ,
avoiding the question of the election of 1872 i
denying the de i,re title of the Kellogg gov |
eminent, avoiding the obligation not to i'm (
peach the Governor SO long as he is recog- i
nzed by the President, provided that mem t
bers Of the House could be expelled for fu- I
ture Just cause, and that our members Of the
senate should remain unchanged; that the /
1lar Ieo1or al md entitled NV "a |
award should ssemble and proceed to per- q
manent organization, aud that the election of !
State Treasurer should be arbitrated.
This proposition took the form of the :
Wheeler proposition, and embraced the sub !
stance of all the points in the Caucus propo- :
,tion, and the same was submitted to Mr.
Wheeler, subject to your action.
Mr. Wheeler promptly rejected it, and {
frankly informed us that he would entertain !.
10 proposition other than that known as the q
Wheeler proposition. f
Mr.. Wheeler informed me that he did not /
ask or expect our reoplo'to admit the legality
Of the kellogg government or Hahn organi- .
lation: but as Kellogg was recognized by the :
President and supported by the national au- q
thorities, we simply agreed to submit to that i
which we could not prevent; that ne dld not |
see any other mode of perecting the House
organization except the one indicated in his !
.pIOpOSiliOu, anu lllt liC OiSt hob NOAA-NA NAS
Hahn machinery for that specific purpose as e
implying a recognition Of the legality Of that
body: on the contrary, that it has no legal +
existence until our represe natives should at o
tend, and as soon thereafter as the contested y
members were seated the body could perfect
its own organization.
We then visited the President, for the pur
pose of presenting the objections to the .
Wheeler proposition, and to secure his APP
of wa had nrasonfaH The | -
points of difference were fully explained and 4
we're laid before the President, and state
ment of the deplorable condition of aft irs in !:
this State. He stated that he would be glad U
to see a settlement arrived at between the s.
D arties here that would adiustour difficulties,
and that he would be glad to see peace, order ?
and good government restored to Louisiana