New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-07


Mr.. Leonard-It is not the first time, Mr.
Tucker, in this convention, that l have
been called to order. have appealed sew
eral times to the chair, and the chair has
sustained me.
A voice-Drop that speech.
Mr.. Leonardo don't think that fact will
be disputed. 1 want it distinctly under
etood that am not opposed to this memo
rial. l am confident it will be sustained.
Mr.. Gauthreaux, Of Orleans-I would
like to ask the chair if the report has been
adopted.
The Chair-Yes, sir, it has.
Mr. Wicklitfe, of West Feliciana-Mr.
Chairman, desire at this time to make a
few remarks in reply to some that have
heard. do not undertake, MIR. President,
to question the patriotism of those members
of the Legislature who voted for the adop-
ton of the Wheeler compromises; and say
to you, gentlemen of the convention, that
do not believe it is the intention of any one
of them to do SO. have never heard one
single reflection made by any member OF
this convention against those who were in
favor of the adoption of the compromise.
would like the gentleman who has preceded
me to point out one single clause in that re-
port that casts the slightest reflection upon
him or any other man that advocated that
compromise. !, as one of the members OF
that committee, can not see it, and take 1t
upon myself to say. that there is not a mem
Der of that committee but what will, If the
question il put to him. express the same
opinion. Cheers, and THAT'S SOL
Mr.. Chairman, l can conceive OF no filter
| time than the present in which to present
our memorial to Congress. We. sir, are
upon the eve of an important election, and
should that petition be presented to Con-
gress, l aIn confident that, as far as that
house is concerned, prompt action will be
taken IN the matter. (Cheers.] What, then?
Why, sir, the question would then be
brought up in the Senate, and, sir, they
could not afford to delay action upon the
| matter; because, cir, l believe that the
coming contest will be q close one,
aud that the Republican party would be
seriously injured should the Senate of the
United States continue to be silent upon the
questions of the Louisiana case. A voice:
That's SOL They would have to decide one
way or the other. Why, sir, men have
voted for that compromise, to refer again
to the subject, who are as patriotic, as hOr-
est and as sincere in their convictions as
you or or any other man upon this floor.
[Great Checring] l tell the gentleman he
Is mistaken when he asserts that any in
situation or reflection has been cast upon
him by that report.
Mr.. Young, of Claiborne-Mr. President
and gentlemen of the convention, l have
listened with great deal of attention and
good deal OF interest to the resolutions
and memorial which have been presented
| for your consideration. As far as any re.
Election was intended by the members COM
posing that committee upon those who
supported the Wheeler compromise,
assert, sir, that such was not the case.
have heard nothing ir the memorial that
| casts the slightest imputatiOn upon any
gentleman who advocated the compromise
! [Cbeers.1 Nowhere, SO far as my under
standing enables me to judge, have l seen
| the slightest reference to any in
snuation made in that report. l firmly
! believe, sir, that every man who
| advocated that compromise did 90
| upon the honest conviction that it was the
| best thing that could be done; and, sir,
| firmly believe that SO far the recognition OF
| the legality of the Kellogg government il
! concerned, it was never intended by that
| compromise to settle it; and sir. recollect
| distinctly gentleman of Rapides and my
! self calling upon Mr.. Wheeler before the
| compromise was effected and stating to Mr.
| Wheeler that if by this compromise the
| legality of the Kellogg government was te
| the people of Louisiana. Captain JeHrles
! took up the word and said to Mr.. Wheeler
| '.should this compromise be accepted
| wd%ald the question OF the legality of tht
| Kellogg government be eettled!" Said
| Mr.. Wheeler, $50 far as the recognition o1
| the Kellogg government is concerned this
question of the compromise has nothing te
do with it." Mr.. Wheeler said: "Gentle
men, if you ask me if it is the intention o.
! the administration by this compromise te
| settle the question as to the legality
of Mr.. Kellogg's government, l tel
you, No, for we don't believe that
the people of Louisiana, at least dc
not, if such was our int ntiOn, would accept
the compromise. The compromise is intend
ed simply to settle the status of your
House of Representatives as regards certain
members, and nothing more, assure you.
That. sirs, is what he told US; and so far
as attempting to place any restriction upon
the people of the State OF Louisiana in
reference to the bringing up of the question
of the legality of the governorship of the
State, it was not intended. 1t was not in.
tended to be understood at all as settling
the question of the election of 1872, simply
because the gentlemen advocating that com.
promise had not the right to do SO.
Now. sir, what is the object Of this me-
mortal! Wsy, it is simply to show to Con-
gress and the world at large that the people
Of Louisiana are still firm, and determined
that this question shall be settled. It will
also show to Congress and the American
people that the people of the great State OF
Louisiana are still firm in their belief that
William Pitt Kellogg is not the Governor OF
Louisiana. [Cheers.1
wish now to give the gentleman to un.
derstand that it was not the intention OF
the committee in drawing up their report,
as have said before, to cast the slightest
reflection, or to question IN any way the
motives of any nan who advocated the
Wheeler compromise. Sir, we are on the
eve Of great election. The election OF
1876 will be one OF the greatest Importance.
not only to Louisiana, but to the United
States. And, sir, if the Republican party
SEQ that the people OF Louisiana quietly
submit to the injuries and Outrages that
have been imposed upon them, they would
not hesitate to put in operation the same
practice in other States OF this Union. No,
sir, it behooves every man in the coming
election to stand up to his duty, and then
there can be Io doubt but that the Repub-
lican party will receive such blow as will
teach them that such iniquitOus frauds as
have been practiced upon the people of
Louisiana can not be practiced upon the
American people with impunity. [Cheers.
Mr.. Kidd, of jackson, made a few re-
m arks of the same tenor.
Mr.. Meredith, of Cald well-Mr. President
and gentlemen of the convention, it has
been known, perhaps, to a few members,
and to the chairman az least, that me-
moral would be presented to Congress be.
fore this convention adjourned; that q me-
mortal would be presented to Congress ask
ing the recognition of the McEnery gov.
eminent. And, sir, can conceive of inO
better time in which to present the me-
mortal than the present; and. sir, it was
understood when this convention was called
that that was one of the objects it had in
view. And. Mr.. President, l feel called
upon to reply to some remarks made by
MIR. Leonard in reference to reflections
being cast upon the gentlemen who
advocated that compromise by the