The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-30
NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 30 1875
MIR. PHELPS on THE LOUISIANA
CASE.

CASE.
Ex-Congressman Phelps, Of the Roar
Wheeler Committee, pissed through St
Louis few days ago, IA lis way South, AM
while il that " he was interviewed by a re
porter, who publishes the result Of his pump
ing enterprise in the ST. Louis Hc2QJ.tequ 0
the 2Gth inst
Mr.. Phelps stated that lie was on his way
to New Orleans 10 assist in carrying out tht
decision Of the Committee Of Arbitration
which Lately met il his Office in New York
The ex-Jersey Congressman admits that It
Is strange commentary upon the results Of
Federal Interference in the domestic Affairs of
State, TO see seven men, two Of whom are
now private citizens, and none OF whom are
citizens Of Louisiana, sitting as a board Of
arbitrators 70 determine Who were the men
chosen by the people Of that State to repre-
sent them IN their own Legislature. This,
Mr.. Phelps admitted, was a start
ling episode in the political history
OF the country, and it was owing to
the fact that State, technically at least in
vested with all the rights and powers belong
ing to any member OF the Union, had been
made the football Of factions aud the victim
Of frauds until her domestic affairs had
become so tangled that the Gordian knot had
to be cut ia manner wholly unprecedented,
and IN law and usage, utterly unauthorized.
But after all, Dir. Phelps added this was the
best thing that could be done under the cir
cumstances He expressed the hope that as
this WAS the first it would also be the last in
stance in our history where seven citizens OF
distant s ates snoul,i DO called in to arbitrate
upon the domestic political muddles Of any
State.
Mr. Paelps said he was q Republican Of the
straightcst sect, but in this matter lie did not
hesitate to say that the errors, to use no
harsher term, of the present Administration
were at the bottom of all these troubles Mr..
Phelps then gave his interviewer an account
of the m0tus opcrandi of the arbitration. He
said the returns before the board were en-
numbered by a mass Of evidence and state
mentS relative to intimidation Of voters, frauds
of all sorts, and uncertainties which rendered
|
in all cases. Then there We're diverse views
ia the board itself to be barmonized and
shades of opinion to be consulted, all of
which tended to still greater complexity.
Each member Of the board had some Especial
pets among those whose election to the Legis-
lature was to be passed upon, Mr.. Phelps him
self being especially de,irous to reseat Mr.
Vaughn, of Caddo, one Of the five members |
expelled by Gen. De Trobriand, but in this he
had been overruled by his colleagues. {
Passing to national politics, MIR. Phelps re- $
rarked that the Republican party was now t
'Guarely divided within itself, and that from |
his time until the Republican National Con- c
'ention next year, tile contest between the
irant or Radical, ana the Blaine or Conserva- y
i've factions would be unremitting. lie be- Il
eved that Grant was in the field either for a \
e-nomination or to dictate the choice of his Q
uccessor, i'll which case .Conkling would be Il
he man. t
Should either alternative occur, Mr. Phelps
lid, there would be two courses left open to
epublicans of his own views-a bolt and the la
omination Of third candidate, or coalition
18th the Democracy on a fair, conservative :,
atform and a progressive, anti-Bourbon g,
Indidate. He did not however, think tina.
rant could capture the Republican Conven-
Dn III 1876, as he thought his influence upon SO
o party would dgindle rapidly as soon as the CT
,xt Congress came in with its applications da
investigative 'cautery" to the various de-
rtments of his administration. \,
In conclusion, Mr.. Phelps told the st. Louis j.,
porter that he was on his way to New Or &
ms, and after completing his mission there, t;o
uld so to Mexico to look after some private ",
terests connected with the International =,
ilway, OF which he is one of the princi On -,
)moters