New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-07
A MEDICATION.
e1YERNOR WELLS AND THE RETURNING
BOARD.
CONGRESSMAN FRYE'S REMARKS

CONGRESSMAN FRIE'S REMAhhS
In the House of Representatives on the
twenty-seventh of December, Congressman
Banning, of Ohio, made fierce and malig-
nant attack upon the character of Governor
Wells and his colleagues of the Returning
Board. Mr.. Frye, of Maine, replied as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Frye-The fact that great many
men in this country now are talking much
"a the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Banningl
talks about war, and yet that gold stands
to-day at l0Sk and 100, and not at i50-
Mr.. Willis-That is because Tilden is to
be inaugurated.
Mr. Ffye-ShOws clearly to my mind that
the people the gentleman is talking about
do not take any stock in this Democratic
cry of war. They do not believe there is to
be- any war. They are not easily frightened
by gentlemen like the gentleman from
Ohio, who talk about the people coming
here and stripping men from power; and
thew will not take much stock either in the
gentleman's new admiration for General
Sheridan. A short time ago General Sheri-
dan sent dispatch North from Louisiana,
where he had been himself examining for
some six months, indicating that in his
Indictment portion of the people of Louis
lana were banditti, and the gentleman from
Ohio and his friends went crazy over this
testimony of General Sheridan that these
Iouisiansns who were committing murder
and every other outrage were banditti. And
they held public meetings, presume, in
Cincinuati-they did in Boston, they did in
New YOrk-denouncing General Sheridan
because he bore such testimony against
murder and outrage in that State. And yet,
now, the gentleman saws the people Will
and ought to condemn Wells, because Cen
eral Sherida an in heat and excitement de-
elared that he (Wells) was q soOundrel.
And WHIT Because Wells was the Demo
cratic or Conservative Governor of the
State of Louisiana, and was administering
the functions of that office in behalf, to
certain extent, of those who had been in re-
belliOn against the United States govern
ment, and Sheridan could see no goOd in q
man who was granting favors, the favors of
peace, TO men who had only year or two
before been in SFms against the govern
ment. Bhe motives of Governor Wells may
have been the promotion of peace, the es-
tablishment Of harmony; but the memories
of war were too fresh for Union men Of the
North to Justify his conduct.
That time to-day has passed do not
stand here to say that / can see no good in
a people who clothe with power men who
were in arms against the country. l can
say for myself that would rather see mon
who were so in arms, who went through the
Derils of war tor that which they honestly
believed to be right would rather much
see them in power than the men who, up in
Ohio and up in the North, shouted enoOur-
agement to the South, then went back on
them, only daring to show q mAvkish
sympathy when they were routed and q
devilish joy when they were victorious. /
have very much the opinion in relation to
oopperheads that the President of the
United States expressed and of the purpose
they had in the war, and what they &C
complished in its Prolongstion; 90 no re-
mark of mine should be taken a. refteo-
ton on any gentlemen who hold positions
In the administration of State governments
now and who held positions in the South
ern army. Bat, sir, when General Sheridan
made his charges against Governor Wells
il was just after the heat of battle was over,
It was Just at the time johnson had become
President Of the United States, and there
did seem to be danger in the course which
Again, why does not the gentleman take
the testimony Of General Sheridan 10 rela-
ton to the State Of Louisiana, who himself
declared to me, personally, when l was
there on q committee, and showed me
papers substantiating his declaration, that
be had sent United States officers over that
State for the special purpose of finding out
how many political murders had been COM
united since the rebellion, and the oircum-
stances Of those political murdeEs--declared
u
that he found there had been nearly 5000
such murders In the nineteenth century,
in 4 State of the American Union. in time Of
peace, nearly 5000 c0l0red men had been
murdered because they were Republicans
Why does not the gentleman take that testi-
mOny as we'll IS this Of General Sheridan 10
relation TO Governor Wells, made In the
excitement aud heat Of those tines The
statement have quOted was made delib.
sratelv and after careful examination, With
eot heat, without excitement.
Now. aa TO Governor Wells. The first eco
Zion OF our COMMITTEES which went down to
Eeuiaia1a reported or said-I have forgot
ten uhioh--that Governor Wells was afraid
% appear before them and did not testify.
When our section o. the committee arrived
81 New Orleans and went TO the courthouse,
W. found Governor Wells th9re. he was
notafraid to appear before the committee
and he testified that he had no kno9ledge
Whnteycr that any oQnmltees hed pee1 10
44H orieAnls that when Il was there be was
1iok ID hiB bed; that when be heard tho
oommiifee wa coming be at onee, sick az he
was. left his house and went 10 Rev Or
ttaus. aud came 90 the courthouse 80 bear
t1afimong b1lora that committees which
Ea0naned q % ours.
LoH, lgefh1F Wells Nas an oiS Whig
a. Earslana and these old Whig8 thele do
uol teFs the Bqmocfsoy any better lnnn
are te6n hr1uNhI re 81 love q. They see
- 1aa n il, A. j a.Ftr have seen any IN
f have been 41tcI When they
1905 sac 4Iel4al 4iAud 1nd We
4,Ne1 fHem - shHF H1re Democrats theg
.cfa sratN ~ 70 fddll-q5~~ie't lusulio1, A8
rrR14 - eosl1gte 4hat neIer Vere they