The daily gazette., 1877-01-05
From the New York World.
WHEELER SPEAKETH.

each uay becoming more and more rest
less. Every twenty-four hours we have
reports of an interview with one or the
other. The latest is given in the Herald,
as a conversation with the Republican
candidate for the Office of Vice-President
and, it speaks the truth, Mr.. Wheeler
must have lost his head. The interview
opened thus: 'Let me ask you whether
you Relieve that you are already elected
by the people?" There was a pause. Mr..
Wheeler then slowly and solemnly said:
81 do not conceal my conviction that l
am elected" We are glad he spoke "slow
ly and solemnly," but we are sorry he
did not enumerate the votes which elect
him. Upon the face of the regular Ger
tificates he certainly has but 1874 votes,
counting South Carolina, Florida and
Louisiana for him, and Governor Hen
bricks has 1S5.
The reporter was rather pitiless in his
next question, and Mr.. Wheeler was rath-
er wild in his reply, although contempt
was in his face: "And how is Congress to
arrive at this result in the count when the
Governor of Oregon has certified Dem
ocratic elector? Is this loss to be Offset by
throwing out Tilden's votes from Ala
bama and Mississippi, rs is now limited in
some quarters?" Mr.. Wheeler's face as
sumed 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 act
ion of the State returning or canvassing
boards being final and conclusive, aud a
majority of the electors legally chosen
having voted for Governor Hayes, the
only question before Congress is, Is that
fact legally certified? lift Is, the question
is settled"
The reporter. with clear perception of
the fact that the regular certificates, and
the certificates legal in form, give Tilden
1S5 votes, pushed on in this wise; "And
the Oregon difficulty-how is that to be
metz" 1t is not worthy of serious consid-
Grafton. The face of Cronin's certificate
shows that the three Republican electors
were chosen by the people, and two be-
ing majority, they could legally fill the
vacancy by the appointment Of another" !"
That is an admirable reply. 1t quite
throws in the shade the sclerical error
defense by Mr.. Stoughton. The face of
Cronin's certificate, we need hardly say,
shows himself and two Republicans to
have been appointed ip Oregon, and does
not exhibit q yacancy.r,s y .og
The reporter, pressing most mercilessly
his advantage, continued till Mr.. Wheeler
became "aroused," as we are told; s'The
Democrats claim that you yourself, as a
member of the last investigation commit
tee, have stigmatized the Louisiana Re-
turning Board as great rascals" Mr..
| Wheeler became thoroughly aroused at
this, and replied with much earnestness:
Il know that they have piled this charge
as a great handle of attack. But il is ut
terly untrue. All l did say, and meant to
say, was that they had misapplied the law;
that is all. The law required them, in
cases of intimidation, to take the affi-
davits in the parishes, at the several polls,
and then and there to attach them to the
returns, while they failed to take such
affidavits, and subsequently threw out
votes on charges of intimidation, without
having complied with the letter of the
personal integrity of Wells and Anderson.
Both are native Louisianans. Wells was
a faithful Union man, who was hunted
with dogs through the swamps by the
| rGDelS, WnllC Allu6GoOll uldNCly Oll
the confederate side.'
Mr.. Wheeler must have been so much
"aroused" as to be lifted clean out of his
boots, or, in less picturesque phrase, to
| lose his reason, for he conceded in his
reply that to give the Returning Board
| jurisdiction to throw out votes, the pro-
| test and affidavits must be made at the
several polling-places or at the source of
| the supervisors return as Mr.. Trumbull
claims; and therefore the board has for a
second time misapplied the law" His
vindication of the swampangel, Wells, in
the entirely new character of faithful
man hunted with dogs" should be read
in contrast with Sheridan's opinion of the
same man, which we gave yesterday.
Finally the Republican asplrant for the
Vice-Presidency descends to Grant: do
you believe that President Grant means
to remainin power otter the 4th of March?'
No, sir; believe that no more pratriotic
man than Grant draws breath in this
country, and believe there is no posi-
bility under which he can remain in
power after the 4th of March next Tn
case new election were agreed upon,
would Senator Ferry then hold over" 4
don't know about that; but Grant would
certainly not.'" Herein he show cum
ming eye for future contingencies. Grant
has tender side for Conkling, but be-
tween Wheeler and Conkllng there is
that sort of peremptory mutual aversion
whcih exists between Conkling and Bris-
tow. Therefore, Wheeler warns off Grant.
He sees that there is no law directing
who shall be President on the 4th of
March, if none be declared elected in the
mean time, Everything will be in anar-
chy and chaos. Section 146 of the Stat
utes, which looks to the President of the
Senate, only applies to cacancy made
by the removal, death, or resignation or
inability of the President. The expira-
ton of Grants term Of office is clearly
neither of those He will not on next
March have been removed, or, we hope,
have become insane, or idiotic, or non
compos. His constitutional term will
have simply ended. Sections 147 tol151
of the Revised Statutes do declare how
and when an election shall be held if
there be vacancy in both offices, but not
who shall exercise executive power in
the meanwhile, An act of Congress can
no Doubt ,omodv tho dpfact and If tbara