New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-16
lfEom The Washington Republican. May ILL
Mr.. Wheeler and the Louisiana Compro

mise.
Con gresham Wheeler, of New York, has
| evidently become FESTIVE under the crit
clsms OF the press of the country upon the
| result OF the Louisiana compromise. and
now attempts to explain that after all il
was not failure. n this attempt he places
| himself in direct conflict with the state
nents OF his colleague, Mr.. Frye, of Maine,
| and asserts new construction of the com.
| promise which VIII, to say the least aston
ish large number of Republicans who
have heretofore believed that they under
stood every detail of il. We print his ex.
| PLANTATION in full elsewhere, and commend
| It to the careful attention of our readers,
| with the suggestion. however, that they re-
| call the fact of MIR. Wheeler's silence bend
lng action on the compromise when Mr..
Frye was outspoken and decided in his
determination OF its meaning. 1t is true
this suggestion may give rise to the idea
that MIR. Wheeler should not have renamed
quiet SO long as ha has, but with that we
have nothing to do. We think, however,
that while he has this explanation business
on hand he should clear up all doubts and
suspicious and let the public know who has
told the truth, Mr.. Frye or himself.
The argument that the Legislature had
con stltutlonal authority to act as it pleased,
advanced by him, is the same that was ad-
vanced Dy the more earnestly Democratic
Legislature against the adoption or accept
ance OF the compromise, Mr.. Frye under
stood this, as did also leading members of
the admins ration and the ma iority party
n Con ,ress. 1t was further understood.
however, that both parties in the Legisla.
ture yielded all constitutional authority for
the purpose OF securing harmony. There
could have been no compromise without
this mutual yielding. The very word COM
promise with IL tho al
sertlon that the contending parties had
met on middle grounds. and in that
meeting was governed, not by any strict
construction OF the law, but by the equally
binding law of mutual consent. This mu-
tual consent, it must be remembered, was
pledged upon the word of honor of duly
delegated representatives of the Conserva-
tive majority of the Legislature. 1t was
acceded to in good faith by the Republican
members OF that body, simply because it
had the sanction Of committee of the
House OF Representatives of Republican
Congress There was no understanding
then that only those members whose sigma
lures we're procured to the compromise
should be bound by it, bat the declaration
was plain that the majority wings of both
parties should overcome the objections of
their respective minorities. and abide by |
agreements or decisions of the congressional |
committee We did not believe then that |
the Democrats would faithfully live up to |
those agreements and decisions. and we |
predicted the bad faith on their part which |
followed as soon as the extra session of the !
Legislature had convened under Governor |
kellogg's proclamation.
Mr.. Wheeler boasts that good govern. |
ment has been established as the result of |
his compromise, notwithstanding the |
treachery OF which we insist the COnserva-
tives have been guilty. We admit all this,
but further insist that it exists simply be.
cause the policy OF the Republican admins
tration OF the State, begun before the com
promise, has, fortunately, not been inter
tered with. But tie facts prove that as
soon as the Conservatives obtained control,
as the result of their treachery, they began
A system of extravaganza which increased
he expenses of the government to an
alarming extent IN the matter OF support
ng the legislative branch. No one can
ieny this, and while We deplore it, we ara
v Hing to join Mr.. Wheeler in his congratu.
atoms that peace and quiet are the order
If the day. But we know the people of the
State go well-or more properly speaking,
We doubt the sincerity of the mob element
70 much-that, We are fearful of the future.
n other words, we confidently predict a
enewal OF the White league and banditti
errorism which has disgraced the state
md destroyed the prosperity of her people.
g soon az the provocation of political ex.
itenent shall b developed.