The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-28
THE GIsT OF IT.

the Wheeler compromise meant, and hay
grown weary Of the disagreeable task 3
pointing out lis cunningly concealed enor
mites. The following elucidation of tn
matter, however, by Hon G. L. Walker, is s.
admirably lucid and 50 thoroughly conclusiv
that we print it for the benefit Of those VIII
may be still in doubt as to what the specific
objections to the delu i've snare are
81 CAMP STREET,
February q, 1915. /,
To the Editor Of the y. O. Bulletin:
For the information Of the voters Of the Thirt
Ward and those Of our fellow citizens who no
fully informed as regard the effects Of the conf
promise, the undersigned, in the present exciting
discussion Of the compromise measure, having
in the vote upon this question, expressed for hi
constituency and in accordance with his own de
liberate convictions, decided opposition to the
measure as did also his three colleagues, deems
it proper to convey to You, and especially to thoss
few of bis constituents who may be inclined t6
favor the measure, trusting that they may indeed
be very few in number, the objections upon which
such opposition is based.
In the first place, discarding and waving all
those considerations Of due regard for princi-
pie and consistency, which alone would suffice as
an incontrovertbe reason for opposition to the
measure, it seemed to me from the first, and
after the most earnest and attentive considera-
ton for three weeks Of the strenuous arguments
urged by the leaders Of the measure through a
series Of the most exciting and elaborate debates
in the Caucus, my convictions rot only tn
changed, but are more decided, that the measure
is insupportablc for the want Of tina. which its
advocates claim for it. and that which only could
commend its adoption, viz: necessi y, political
expediency and the obtaining Of practical beneli
cial results.
In my opinion the compromise is unnecessary,
unwise and incXpadient.
If the majority insist that they can cons silently,
accepting only Involuntary under compuls IN
and as mere opponents Of arbitrary superior
power and military coercion, the present do tdcfo
Executive, the present illegally composed Senate
and bogus House, am convinced that equally
substantial resu ts, If any, can be accomplished
well without with comprolnise in which
the Caucus would exceed its jurisdiction (as well
in regard to It's unanimity resolution Of January
12,) in the exercise of It's representative pow
crs and would sacrifice the benefits and rights
of an honorable and consistent political position,
and would deprive us OF all right in the future to
object to the expressions Of illegal two-thirds,
the Executive and the Senate Of the Admiuistra-
ton.
The Antoine Senate thrty-six members,
eighteen Radicals holding over from 1872, en-
tans eleven bogus members Of the eighteen holc-
ing over, who occupy the seats Of Mes-rs. A. J.
Lewis VOORHEES, aud others: Of the eighteen newly |
VI,
the Returning Board gave us only eight jMes8rs
Eusts, George, Grover, Kelly, Ogden, Robertson,
Stevens and White.
The Wheeler compromise may give rs two adj
titional Senator'S thus making ten.
The Senate properly composed should stand
twenty-one Conservatives to fifteen Radicals, but
as the Wheeler compromise would have it, it will
tasten upon Us the eicyen bogus Senators. making
the Antoine Senate stand, twenty-six Radicals to
ten Conservatives, giving them an illegal major
ity of sixteen Senators.
1t is not reasonable to suppose that the three
honorable Congressman, when they dishonesty
and unfairly refrain while admitting that we
have maority) from stating how many ma ority
we entitled to, when the Caucus invited them
to declare it fair and impartial men, for US
to presume, that they will have the generosity
to give us a majority in the House which shall be
sufficient TO exceed their Is majority in the t
Senate.
The probability is almost certainty that they
will so arrange il for a Radical majority on joint
ballot. This vii, eventUate notwithstanding tile !
hopes to the contrary of our compromise friends
in our being a party to the sending to tile United Z
States Senate Radical whose status then, we 6
~
question forever. i
The recent action Of the United States Senate c
putting MI. Pinchback the shelf seems to me :
to have been actuatod with view to the advent
of Mr. Casey or Mr. Packard or another Of that |
Tx, under the present arrangement. To my t
mind, it is preferable that Mr.. Pnchback should =
be admitted, especially his would be an uncer- n
Jain tenure only Prihta tt1cie perhaps lasting II
only until the next session. I
The only consequence Of the compromise is "
hat we will have bare ma ority in the House t,
md two additional seats in the Antoine Senate.
In consideration for this, we give them or -
ldmit-so that we can never in future question
ia majority III the Antoine Senate and re. II
inquish forever all right Of reputation, or when
IN overwhelming Democratic House in Congress X
md an influence which the United States Senate
With its much diminished Radical majority, will Il
lot dare resist, VIII compel the President to re- !.
eve us of the military incubus. V
Furthermore, the advantage Of their conceling T.
IS House majority is entirely neutralized by ;,
heir retaining the Senate majority. The one IL
ounterbalances the other, and we have no sub 81
tantial consideration for the capitu!ation. ~
Again, suppose the compromise concluded, and 4
ye have one-third of the administration, and
,sue, through the House, all the reform legisla-
ion desired, where is the power to induce the
enate to concur or the Executive to approve
Mess we. having begun trading, find ourselves s.
ompelled to continue to trade and concede dd
.ti,.H,un to every exaction which they may put in
pom u.s. and what power will the House have to
omplete any laudable undertaking? -