The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-02-02
Senator Eustls.
Senators Blackburn, Greene and Alex
ander Ask That He be
Seated.
PETITION TO UNITED STATES SENATE

day to Washington City, will explain
itself:
TO the Honorable the Senate of the United
States of America:
AS Republican State Senators of Lon
isiana we beg leave to present the fol-
lowing views Which have Influenced US
in participating in the election of the
Hon. James B. Eustis to fill a vacancy
which has seemed to he existing in
your honorable body, from our State
II seems to have been determined,
npen one pretext or another, that the
Hon. 2. 3. S. Pinclback was never
elected to the United States Senate by
any legal or constitutional Legislature
of Louisiana. Such, we take it, has
been the view of at least majority of
your honorable body, otherwise he
would doubtless long since have been
admitted. He was originally elected
in 1879, by a body claiming to be the
Legislature of the State, but he failed
to obtain recognition from the Senate,
and in 1874 he himself urged, if we
mistake not, that the cause of this
failure was the doubt in the minds of
United States Senators as to the le-
gal status of the Legislature electing
him; and he insisted upon his re-elec
ton to said position at that time,
which, however, he failed to obtain,
but which he did finally obtain from
the body known as the "Hahn Legis-
lature," in 1875, prior to tie adoption
of what is known in this State as the
"Wheeler adjustment"
This reelection, in the opinion of
some, was virtual concession on the
part of Mr.. Pinchback, and Of said last
named body, acting as the Legislature
of the State, that the Legislature OF
1873, by which he was first elected,
was without lawful status or competent
authority; because, if it had heen the
lawfully or legally constituted Legisla-
ture of the State, there could have
been no cause for said reelection in
1875. Such has been the argument,
and with some seeming force, as must
be confessed.
And again, it has been urged, with
equal grounds of reason and force, that
this reelection was no more valid than
the first election; because, as is held,
the adoption of the "NNheeler adjust
ment." and the final and satisfactory
reorganization of the House of Repre-
sentativcs nnder the ssid adjustment,
is proof that the "Hahn House of Rep
resentatives" was not II lawfully con-
stituted body, and for that reason not
competent to elect United States
Senator: and this said "Wheeler Adj
justment," under which our Legisla-
ture has been manipulated into it's
present organization, is now, in the in
terest of peace and harmony in the
State, virtually and practically accep.
ted as Il fnality by all PARTIES.
In view of these facts, taken in con-
nection with the continued non action
of your honorable body on a question
or Issue of 40 vital importance to US
us a State there has seemed to MS some
reasonable ground to doubt the just
basis for the valid claims of Mr.. Pinch
back to seat in the United States
Senate-an1, as a c0rrelative or kim
tlred conclusion, that therefore there
really existed, in law as well as in
fact, a vacancy in your honorable
body, in one of the seats belonging to
Louisiana, which a due respect for the
law of the land, and for the interests
of the State, required should be prop
erly filed; aud it was with this view,
which we have been led to believe,
has, to some degree at least, been
your own view, we were induced to
participate in the election of Mr.. Eus-
tbs, to fiji said vacancy, or presumed
vacancy, in your honorable body.
We feel that it were useless for us
to speak here of our devotion and f.
deity to the principles of the National
Republican party. We claim record
OH this score equal to any in the
Union. We simply challenge compar-
son and the closest criticism in this
respect. And in voting for Mr.. Eustis,
being unable at the time to elect a
gentleman strictly Of our own party
'aitll, we feel that We were but dis
duty to our State, and per-
'orming all act in the interest of peace
md prosperity, and healthy and last
ng good will among all here at home,
~ honoring a heightened and fair
minded gentleman, without blemish or
'ven suspicion upon his character, and
Who, at all times, has been conciliatory
md truly conservatives gentleman
Who contributed more, perhaps, than
my other one person to bring about an
mieable adjustment of our Legislative
nuddle and governmental difficulties,
Inder what is termed the "Wheeler
Adjustment"-from which adjustment
las resulted degree of peace ard har-
nony before unknown in our State for