Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-26
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
WHEELER As REFORmER,

AhC OdAuAGdtC lOl hhC
Vice-Presidency is about as much of a
reformer as President Grant. His letter
OF acceptance is full of promises, but it
seems he is failure in his performances.
The Chicago Times notes the fact that
William A. Wheeler is a member Of the
present ongress-drawing five Thousand
dollars a year and mileage. He has
beenIn his place in, the house, in ali not
fifth OF the session. He was reelected in
1874, and told his constituents that con-
gress this session had no important
work to do; that all vital legislation
had been secured by the Republicans
during the past ten years--the only inn
portaut business before the forty-fourth,
the present congress, would be the re-
duction Of expenses. He was eurpr s.
ingly positive upon this matter. He be-
ieved that the expenses Of the govern
ment were enormously above any "a
tionsl requirement. He then pledged
himself to aid in economizing. Up
TO this time Mr.. Wheeler has never
aided by the lifting Of a hand or
a syllable Of encouragement in the
committees on the floor the work which
he held last year to be the only one OF
Importance before congress. II men,
her Of congress has obligations placed
upon him by accepting an election, and
those obligations imply his presence at
the seat OF government, Mr.. Wheeler has
ignored these bligations-meantime
drawing his pay as regularly as if he
were doing the work allotted to him.
Yet, this gentleman speaks with some
directness Of the "ncble mission" and
the like Of the Republican party! Does
this Sinking Of duty imply the average
recognition Of the duty to be expected
from the party? But let us look
farther back at his record: 1t is a
fact that about the year 1851 Mr..
Frederick Ames, of Essex county, New
York, employed Mr.. Wheeler, then a
member Of the legislature. to purchase
for Ames q piece of land belonging to |
the State, near the location of the State |
prison at Dannemora. Wheeler ex.
smined the property, and finding it a
good speculation, he, together with q
clerk in his law Office named Douglass,
bought in the property. Ames, having
discovered the trick played on him,
demanded an explanation from Wheel
er, who affected ignorance and
charged the fault to Douglass, whom he
described as half lawyer, half horse
jockey, and resident of Chateaugsy,
which last, IN those days, almost signi-
fed an outlaw. But this Jockey" after
ward brought suit against Wheeler for
his share Of the proceeds of the specula-
ton, and summoned Ames as a witness,
when Wheeler made haste to come
down and settle. When the second.
mortgage bondhoIders of the Northern
obtained legislation permitting
them to organize company and trans
fer their bonds into stock, subject to the
first-mortgsge bonds, w. A. Wheeler,
j. 8. Eldredge and w. c. Brown, who
were the trustees, and had possession
of the road, refused to give up their |
possession except on terms satisfactory |
10 themselves. Possession could ONLY
be obtained a. the end OF q tedious and
expensive lawsuit, and negotiations ,
were commenced with the trustees. 1t
Was found that the late w. G. Brown
was willing to step aside, but that
and Eldridge insisted upon a
toucelfT of two thousand dollars each,
with twenty thousand dollars 70 be spent
It stations for depot and workshops, be-
ore they would surrender possession.
These terms were finally agreed to, and :
is 1t was considered only fair to pay :
heir friends as much as they had to pay :
heir opponents, each of the trustees re-
'eived his twenty thousand dollars. Mr..
wss chairman Of the Northern !,
Pacific railroad st the time when its :
obs were put through congress. When 6
ne facts in regard to his share in the :
responsibility for those large frauds shall :
ave been made public, as they doubt
ess will be, We suRlI see whether MI.
will be as successful in exnla- :,
lation as were his illUstrious prede cess. '
rs, Schuyler Colfax and James q :
Elaine, whom the Republicans refused :
nominate for the Presidency to avoid :,
explanations, such as nv
be statements we have given deyoIve
pom Wheeler. q