New-York tribune., 1876-06-17

years OF age he was admitted to the University Of vcr
mont. He remained there two years, and then con-
euded to leave college and upon the study OF law
When he had completed his he was admitted TO
practice and at opened Office His first plead
ngs very successful, and he became very popular
with his clients and neghbOs that after few years
he was nominated by the Democrats to bc Distrlct"
Attorney of Franklin County-a prson which he con-
tinued to fill during several years.
His first election occurred Immediately after the adop
ton Of the Constitution being the nrst That was
held under its provisions. He became candidate tor
the Assembly at the close of his last DistrctAt-
torney aud was elected the Whig Ticket the county
having a tie ut the last election between the
Locofoco and whiR candidates Mr.. Wheeler was again
chosen TO represent his county in tho legislature ana at
Of his several years to his profession
and became cashier OF the local bank position when
he held for II years. He became President OF the og
densDurg and Rouses Railroad and continued 10
be the active and supervisory officer for III years "heh
the Republican party formed from the wing oreah-
zatOn he followed its fortunes and in ls5s was eieced
State Senator He was chosen President pro teIn Tor
two telms the Senate 1853 being the first in this
State i'll which the Republican party had control
In the Fan OF $50 lie WAS candidate from the XVlth
Congressional District composed Of the Counties OF
Clinton, Essex and Franklin. This was the AAAFiith
Congress- for its responsibilities at the
crisis. The three counties all slightly iepnp
lican and gave Mr. Wheeler majority OF about looo'
Wheeler acted with his party in the AntiSiayery meas
urcs and in the prosecution of the war.
Mr.. Wheeler retired to private fe where he renamed
for four years In 1867 he elected member OF the
State Constitutional Convention, which assembled III
june 1868. In the Republican caucus, preliminary
to the election OF the officers of the Conventl0n MI
wbeeers name was mentioned for presiding officer with
those Thomas G. Alvord of Syracuse and Chailes I
foger OF Geneva of the Judges OF the court vi
Appeals Mr.. Wheeler elected His position as the
the presid ng officer removed him from participation I'D
the debates which gave opportunities for display OF
legal abilities His opening speech on taking the char
was about the only effort calculated to atra't public
attention. 1t had Important bearing
upon the subject OF negro suffrage, ana
the Committee before whom this question came
reported article embodying the proposed change IN
the Constitution. In the Autumn following the adjourn
ment Of the Convention Mr.. Wheeler again candl-
date for Congress in the XvIth District composed OF
the counties OF Franklin and st. Lawrence, end was
elected. This the XLIst Congress, OF which Mr'
Blaine was chosen Speaker for the first tiIhe. MI
Wheeler appointed by him Chairman Of the Commit
tee on the Pacific Railroad, and upon his rejection In
November, 1870, with very Little opposition
was appointed TO the same position. To the
XLnId Congress he elected by very
large majority. and was 'irnod IN the
succeeding contest. lie at that time appointed
member of the Committee on Appropriations nut inc
most important achievement Of his Congressional service
was the "Wheeer Compromise" Previous 10 TINS
subcommittee Of the Select Committee on Louisiana
Affairs consisting OF Charles Foster William Wai'er
Phelps and CarksOn y. Potter had visited LOUISIANA
and presented a unanimous report TO the eiec;
that the government of which William Pitt kel-
logg was the head was largely respoi'ible
for the misfoItunes OF the people ia tbat
state This report accepted by al but 'he b2dost
OF partisans North truthful presentation OF
the situation other members OF the Select Com
mtce took the extraordinary step OF going TO Lonsiana
and repeating the work already done The result was
that one OF the other members OF the Committee samuel
G. MARSHAL agreed with Messrs Foster, Phelps, and rot
ter that the Kellogg Government was usnrpa
ton, aud shoa,d not be recognized ara mat
the action of the Returning Board was Illegal
but stated that compromise was desirable
TLs was the majority report Mcssrs Hoar' Whe'ief'
aud Frye n minority, also presented report which
contained little that new recitng the events IN
Louisiana before 1874, and concluding that main
source OF trouble lay in sufficient education not being
provided negro ont of these reports grew the
Wheeler Compromise, from which the complexion oi inc
Lou siana LEGISLATURE became Republican III the Senate
and Democratic In tie House, while Sir Kellogg retained
the Office of Governor.