The Portland daily press., 1877-01-05
[From a New York Herald Interview, Jan. 2.1
VIM. A. Wheeler.
A Talk with the Republican Candidate
for the Vice. -Presidency-His Opinions of
the Political Situation.

for the Vice e-Presidency--Tis Opinions OF
the Political Situation.
Chow does the present situation strike you,
MI: Wheeler?'' the writer asked.
Il have not been to Washington this season
and really can therefore tell you very little of
interest While the present contest is being
waged it would not be becoming in me, being
personally interested IN the result, to take part
in it. believe in the present situation the
most decorous position which a candidate can
take is that OF reserve the less he says the
better"
s'You have probably read the statements that
you are hostile to a compromise with Gov.
Tilden by which he is to be elected President
by the House and you Vice-President by the
Senate
"Such statements are necessarily absurd %
he replied, in his quick, sharp, rugged way
show can there be any COMPROMISED L do
not believe that the suffrages of the American
people can be made the subject of dicker or
the constitutional settlement of the question by
bargain, arrangement or compromIse-call it
what you will? As to my submitting to serve
under Gov. Tilden's Presidency, if he is law
fully elected, what can do but submit cheer
fully and respectfully? may have nv ind;vid-
ual preferences, but if Gov. Tilden is lawfully
summoned by the House to the Presidency by
a failure of the count, and if the Senate elects
me Vice-Presdent, l would of course yield to
him that ready and hearty allegiance with
which every American citizen should submit
to the lawfully chosen President, be he who he
may"
Let me ask you whether you believe that
you are already elected by the people?'
There was pause, Mr.. Wheeler then
slowly and solemnly said: 81 do not conceal
my conviction that am elected
"And can this election, as you regard it as
such, be reversed by the action of the House in
throwing the Louisiana or Florida votes?''
1t Is my firm conviction that Congress can
never be constituted national canvassing or
Returning Board. The Congress cannot go be-
hind the returns beyond the mere question of
the regularity of the certificates. Understand
me clearly, for it is point on which L would
not like to be misunderstood. The Congress
cannot investigate whether Louisiana has gone
for Tilden or Hayes; the returning board on
this point has been final and conclusive
"And who decides as to the regularity of the
returns-CoDgress or the Vice-Pre. ident?'
This is question on which do not want to
express myself too freely. L will not assume
to say whose function this is. The act of 1892
and the subsequent acts on the subject leave
the duty of electing the President entirely to
the States. The whole theory of the Cousttu-
tion is that the people of the several States, and
not Congressional Board of National Can-
vsssers, elect the President Now mind YOU.
have never seen the certificates-and for all
TO be rejected-but if can trust the newspaper
reports that these certificates are regular, then
l can freely say that believe Gov Hayes 20
have been legally, honestly and fairly elected
by majority of the Electoral College"
And how is Congress to arrive at this result
in the count when the Governor of Oregon has
certified Democratic elector, and the House
will probably try to throw out the votes of
Louisiana and Florida? Is this loss to be offset
by throwing out Tilden's votes from Alabama
md MyocI dtvNrlr 30 I,
quarters?''
Mr.. Wheeler's face assumed an expression of
contempt, which was trustworthy guide to
his views.
"As have already told you do not admit
the right of either or both branches of Congress
to canvass the votes. The action of the State
Returning or Canvassing Boards being final and
conclusive, and a majority of the electors leg
ally chosen having voted for Gov. Hayes, the
only question before Congress is is that fact
legally certlfed? If it is. the question is set
tled.''
"And the Oregon dificulty-how is that to
be met?''
sit is not worthy of serious consideration.
The face of Cronin's certificate shows that the
three Republican electors were chosen by the
prople, and two being majority, they could
legally I'll the vacancy by the appointment of
another
"And Florida and Louisisna?'
II understand that Florida has been conceded
to the Democrats, so far as the Gubernatorial
vote is concerned. However, the main fight
honest belief that if there had been a free and
fair vote, unobstructed by intimidation or
fraud, the Republicans would have carried the
State oy at least $4,000. In the five 'bull-dozed'
parishes the very registration shows that these
parishes belong to the Republicans"
Glow do you arrive at that fact, Mr., Wheel
ers?'' y --O'
"Why, everybody knows that in the South,
and more particularly IN Louisiana, the blacks
are Republ cans. Now, in these parishes tht
registration shows that the blacks are in a grea
numerical majority, and yet the Democrats
claim to have carried them.''
The Democrats claim that you yourself as
member of the last Investigating Committee,
have stigmatized the Louisiana Returning
| Board as great rascals?'
Mr.. Wheeler became thoroughly aroused at
| this, and replied with much earnestness: g
| know that they have piled this charge as a
| great handle of attack. But it is utterly un
| true. never charged and never said in my
| report that either Gov. Wells or Anderson was
dishonest or acted from bad motives. L def.
| any man to find line in my report in which
| impugn their motives. All [ did say and
meant to say was that they had misappled the
law; that is oil. The law required them il
case of intimidation, to take the affidavits il
the parishes, at the several polls, and then ant
there to attach them to the returns, while they
tailed to take such atidavits and subsequently,
threw out votes on charges of intimidation
without having complied with the letter OF th
law. have the highest opinion of the person
al Integrity of Wells and Anderson. Both are
native Lou;sianans Wells was faithful Unio
man, who was hunted with dogs by the rebel
while Anderson fought bravely on tie Confed
ate side.''
"How about the negroes in the Returning
Beard?"
II do not know much about them.''
DO you anticipate any violence or trouble
in case the Vice President announce Hayes al
elected and the House elects TIlden?'
mo, my friend; have too much confidonc'
insthe judgment and the good sense of the Amel
lean people. What good would resistance do
What can Mr.. Tilden do without Senate
He cannot even have Cabinet without il
The House cannot, in my opinion, create tb
coutin sency which would enable it to elect tn
President? The House may do it lawfully, bu
if it does so after the constitutional authority
the Vice President has announced the legs
result, then it is revoluton-nothing more
less. AS to any uprising, armed violence
there won't be bit of it, The Democrats will
undoubtedly protest to the last, there will b
| much noise and clamOr, but nothing more.''
The Medico Legal Society of New York hi