The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-24
WILLIAM A. WHEELER.

YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE WITHOUT
REPRoACH-A MAN OF WHOM NEW YORK
is JUSTLY PRoUD-AUTHoR OF TIE CELE-
DRAFTED WHEELER COMPROMISE" IN
LOUISIANA.
Congressman William A. Wheeler, who
has been nominated for the office OF Vice
President, is the Representative in Con-
gress from the Nineteenth District of New
York State, and from his training and
experience in public life he is we'll fitted
for the office. He has been for over
quarter of century engaged in pursuits
which eminently qualify him for the high
office to which he has been nominated. He
has been, since the death of the Wing
Party, consistent Republican, and his
experience as State Legislator and as a
member of Congress for five terms is a
sufficient guarantee of his fitness for the
position. In New York State, and espe-
cialy in his own county of Franklin, his
character stands very high, and in his
capacity of Chairman Of the Congress
sional Committee which went to New
Orleans in the Winter of 1874 to settle the
Louisiana difficulties, he showed consider
able executive ability and sound sense,
which did much to bring about peaceable
settlement of the questions then at issue
between the opposing factions. Mr..
Wheeler was born in Malone, Franklin
county, in New York, June so, 1919, and
is consequently in his fifty seventh year.
He received common school and academic
education in his native town, and subse-
quently entered the University of Yer
mont, which he left in the year 1912
without graduating. He next studied law,
and having been called to the bar he COM
menced the practice of his profession in
his native county with considerable success.
He showed marked ability in his profess
sion, and in few years was offered the
nomination of District Attorney by the
Democrats of Franklin County. He
accepted the nomination and was elected.
He discharged the duties of his Office iu an
able and impartial manner, and at the
expiration of his term of office he was
requested to become candidate for the
Assembly in the Wing interest. Mr..
Wheeler threw himself into the contest
warmly, and was elected. He only served
one term, however, and at it's close gave
up for time public life to business pur.
suits. He became Cashier of the bank in
his native town, and for fourteen years
remained connected with it, displaying
iudicious judgment in all his transactions,
and winning the esteem and confidence of
all who had business relations with him.
He also became interested in Railroads,
and was elected President of the Northern
New York Railroad, which position he
held for eleven years. At the death of
the old Wing Party Mr.. Wheeler became
Republican, and in the year 1858 he was
elected to the State Senate, of which he
was made temporary President, dstin-
guished mark of the confidence in which
he was held by the Republican Party, who
then for the first time fully controlled the
Legislature. Mr.. Wheeler was an active
member of the Senate during his term of
office, and his ability and integrity were
so we'll recognized that his party removed
him to a higher sphere of political duty
by eec,ing him as their Representative to
the Thirty, seventh Congress, from the
then Sixteenth District, comprising the
counties of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin.
Mr.. Wheeler proved himself faithful
representative, consistently supporting the
Republican Party, and aiding in all meas
ures for the suppression of the rebellion.
After this term in Congress had expired,
Mr.. Wheeler retired into private life for
four or five years, but in the Spring of
1867 he was again called to take an active
part in politics. He was elected in April,
1867, member of the State Constitutional
Convention, and at its organization the fol-
lowing June he again received dstin-
guished mark of public favor by being
elected to the position of Chairman of
the Convention. In the Fall of 1867 Mr..
Wheeler was nominated and elected to the
Forty first Congress from the Seventeenth
District, comprising Franklin and st. Law
renee counties, and since that date he has
sat continuously in Congress up to the pres
ent time. In the Forty first Congress Mr..
Wheeler was Chairman of the Committee
ON the Pacific Railroad, which Office he
also held in the Forty second Congress,
and in tue last Congress he was Chairman
Of the Committee on Appropriations.
During the Forty-third Congress, in the
Winter of 1874, he was, as already stated,
appointed Chairman of the Congressional
| Committee which went to New Orleans to
settle the disturbing questions which then
prevailed in Louisiana, and it was mainly
owing to his exertions that a peaceable
settlement was obtained and that what is
known as the " Wheeler compromise" was
accepted by both parties in the Louisiana
Legislature. The compromise agreed upon
by the committee was adopted in good
faith by Republicans and Democrats,
! peace was restored and GOOD FEELING soon