Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-11
Wednesday, July III, IS77.
The Louisiana Returning Board PrOsecu-
tiOn-RumOrs About The President,

w AoElNGION, July - uc htoie GOV
among all classes here in regard to
the initiatory proceedings against the
Louisiana returning board at New Or
leans is on the increase, as it is admit
ted on all sides that the most nom enta
Gus consequences may be the result
As is always the case in periods of
public excitement sensational rumors
are hourly circulated, and find ready
believers. Last night and to-day it
has been gravely stated on the streets
and in public places that the Press
dent is in such tremor of alarm over
the matter that he is scarcely able to
attend to public business. Again, it
is widely circulated that be has made
frantic appeals by telegraph to Senator
Gordon and Lamar to use their lu~
fuence to stop the prosecutions, and
also that be has announced here to
members of the late Louisiana commits
sion that they may formally announce
their understanding that nothing wa
to be done with Wells and Anderson.
Then it has been alleged that the
prosecutions have been instigated by
the Tilden interest iu New York, and
that Stanley Mathews and John sher~
man were to be indicted as accesso
res before the fact with the returning
board.
1t can be stated that for some Of
these rumors there is no foundation,
while the facts on which others are
based are grossly exaggerated. At
the same time there is an undoubted
Consciousness pervading administration
circles that the situation is exceeding.
ly grave, and, as will be shown below,
it is within the range Of probability
that the outcome may be the voluntary
or the involuntary retirement Of Press
ident Hayes from the White House.
The President, whatever may be his
inward convictions as to the personal
bearings on himself Of the proceedings
at New Orleans, has made no allusion
to that branch Of the subject. He
continues freely to comment upon the
prosecution as violation Of what had
been understood ali around. But he
certainly has given no one the right
to say that he personally made any
bargain for the safety Of Wells and
Anderson, no matter what may have
ben done by lis friends.
The Present realizes very well that
should he put himself in such posi-
ton as this it would be a concession
that he knew he was not elected
knows it now, aud therefore fears to
see Wells and Anderson brought to
trial. Therefore it is manifestly lm-
possible that be should appeal to
Senator Gordon or Lamar, or ask the
the members of his late commission
to formally announce that there was
any agreement on this subject. In
fact there vas no such agreement as
is alleged, unless it is included i'll the
memoranda Of Major Burke. and, as
already shown, if so, such agreement
was known only to the half-dozen
who made it, and who of course had
no authority to bind any one but
themselves, 1t may be settled That
the prosecutions are to go on to the
eni, aud it may be safely assumed
that the secret history Of the manipu-
lation of the electoral vote of Loulsi-
ana will be brought to light. Although
the two colored members of the board
have been included in the suit it is
well understood that there is no
desire to punish them for the wrongs
in which they were no more than
passive accomplices, and it is thought
the opportunity may be offered them
to turn States evidence. When the
evidence that the electoral commission
would not receive is given to the
world it will inevitably produce a
sensation.
1t is very true that. as has been
stated, the proof that Tilden carried
Louisiana will not invalidate the title
Of President Hayes. This is the legal
aspect of the case, but it is the moral
features that cause apprehension Just
now to the close friends of the Presi
dent. They say that with his strong
religious convictions and the con-
victions of his family his head will
not rest easy in the White House one
night after he believes that he did not
receive majority of the electoral
votes, and they express the opinion
that in this event he will undoubtedly
abdicate his pretensions. Friends Of
Mr.. Wheeler, to whom this supposi.
ton has been communicated, ave,
that he is made of sterner stuff, and
that if Hayes drops the sceptre he viii
Immediately take it up without
waiting to see what Tilden will do
In regard to the allegations about Mr..
Tilden prompting the prosecutions, ii
can be stated on the authority of in.
formation received direct from New
Orleans to-day that neither Mr.
Tilden nor any one else outside tht