New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-12

| sSAs~A ONS~esS~s>S
ored citizen. Can there be doubt in the
mind Of any Southern patriot what should
be the proper policy of the South to pur-
sue in regard to the colored citizen?
THB ADJUSTMENT.
The BuNetin asks us to point out in
what manner the Wheeler adjustment
settles the questions arising out of the
election of 1922 The adjustment did not
disturb the election of Governor Kellogg,
and by not disturbing, did not settle the
questions Of that election. 1t did not
settle the questions growing out Of
the election of Governor Warmoth or
President Grant. So far as the law
abiding citizens of Louisiana are con-
cerned, the election of Governor Kel-
was settled by a handsome majority of the
votes cast for Governor, and the questions
of that election were further settled by
the sworn statements of the Returning
Board. In returning Democratic officials,
as elected, the Returning Board met with
no Democratic opposition. Democratic
Senators and Representatives receive GER
tifcates of election from the Returning
Board. We do not blame them for
that. They thus acknowledge the suprem-
acy of the Law, and individually show
themselves fit to become lawmakers. The
Legislature of 1873, went on without
Wheeler adjustment; Governor Kellogg
was the Governor. AS regarded all Office
holders the ''ins" were satisfied, the
"outs" were not. The campaign of 1874
was bitterly planned by the Democrats, it
was so prosecuted and in its interests
toward melting reign Of terror occurred
the riot Of September IA. That rebellion
was not permanent Democratic success.
and the war was carried to the Legisla-
ture. Citizens who were armed in the
streets on the fourteenth of September,
1874, were at the State House on the
fourth of January, 1875, and the attempt
was made to get control of the Legislature
BY coup detat. We have seen the result.
It became evident that if We were to
ever have peace concessions must be made.
There were signs Of lawlessness here
that INDUCED would have soon made New
Orleans hell and uninhabitable. Louis
lana barely escaped being subjected to
martial law, q condition Of affairs that
would have left no chance for politicians
to quarrel about civil Offices.
Here the Wheeler compromise and ad-
iustment came in, like oil on troubled
waters. 1t received the support Of both
Democrats and Republicans who had q
right to speak for or against it. That adj
justment was the beginning of better
era. The foundation Of government is
found in its laws. Respect for the law
came out of the Wheeler adjustment. The
machinery Of a government finds power in
its executive officers. The first act of the
peoples representatives after the Wheeler
adjustment was to agree mot to disturb
the present State government, claiming to
have been elected in 1872, known as the
Kellogg government there was to be no
impeachment for past acts, and there was
further pledge to hencetorth accord the
Governor all necessary and legitimate
support in maintaining the laws and in
advancing the peace and prosperity of the
people of the State. Such is the SUBJ
stance Of the language Of the joint resolu-
ton passed by the General Assembly after
the status of both houses had been deter
mined according to agreement under the
Wheeler compromise.
We have never claimed that the adjust
ment settled the number Of votes cast for
any particular candidate at the election OF
1872. Such q settlement was not neces-
sary. The executive in Office had been
Governor for two years, in every sense Of
the word, and the Wheeler protocol did not
assume to pass upon that settled question.
The adjustment, however, did settle
the rioters, and it forever, in honor, set
tied the claims of the pretenders to Office.
It also settled the status Of the Legisla-
ture meeting in 1875, by declaring that
the House of Representatives, as to its
members as constituted under the award
'.shall remain without change, except by
RESIGNATION or death of members, until a
new general election" The membership
of the Senate was recognized in the same
manner.
These are some of the things settled by
the Wheeler adjustment. It is easy to say
we are not bound by its peace-securing
and wise provisions. 1t is true we are not
literally handcufeed; but we are morally
bound to abide by what our representa-
tives accepted. 1t does not profit man
to deny what his acts confirm. Mr.. Ellis
can take his seat in Congress by virtue of
certificate of election from Governor
Kellogg; he can go into a Democratic con-
vention and say that Mr.. Kellogg is a
usurper and no Governor; but in 80 doing
he is neither wise nor consistent. In the
same way members Of the Legislature take
their seats by authority Of the Returning
Board while denying its authority. There
are men who will oppose everything
which is not according to their notions.