The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15
: WASHINGTON.
The Sympathetic 0utcry Over An
derson's Conviction.
WHY THE DEMOCRATS LAUGH.
Republican Committee on the Returning
Board in 1875.
WHY THE DEMOCRATS LAUGH.
TARIFF AND REVENUE LEGISLATION,
Passage of the Military Academy Bill
by the House.
FROM OUR SPECIAL coRREspoN DENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPON DENT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1873
THE SYMPATHY FOB THE RETURNING BOARD
ANrEcEDENrs OF SOME OF THE MEMBERS
WHAT REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE SAID OF
WELLS AND ANDERSON IN 1875.
When the famous Wheeler compromise laid be-
Zero tho republicans In New Orleans In 1875 one Of
Them objected vehemently to 1t, not on the ground
that his party getting less than justice. because
acknowledged that that compromise inflicted In.
justice the democrats but on the ground that
settlement Of the kind had tendency 10 educational
iss the Louisiana question:" which appeared to him
depiorabe calamity.
The republicans here seem to be Of the same mind
They cherish hope that the Louisiana question may
more become snationalized" In their eager.
ness they are getting themselves into tho somewhat
fqdvocai position Of being the apoogists and defend
srs Of Wells and Anderson.
"Don't you think It Is pretty joke the party
Of great moral ideas UNANIMOUSLY defending the Louis
lana Returning Board In tho face OF the fact that
eral Of their own committees have denounced those
mon In the strongest spguagew said democrat to-
day.
Almost everything IL forgotten In This world and
oblivion especially overtakes Congressional reports
20 that probably lew republicans either House
George F. hoar (now Senator) Wheeler (now Vice
republicans aud two democrats investigated in 1875
the Same Wells ana Anderson, who attracting
attention, and who In part constituted the Returning
Board In 1872 In 1876 and reported Of their
IN these soorchng words, which. one would think,
would have been sufficient to keep them thereafter
forever out Of any respectable federal civil servce:
We constrained declare that the action Of the
Dat 4rar nm whnla nrfe ,vxtsx
and in oar opinion Illegal and that this arbitrary
Just and illegal action alone prevented the by
she Board OF majority OF conservative members of
the Lower House.
And the committee above named, all Of whom were
eminent lawyers. unanimously reported
That It is recommended 10 tho House OF Repre-.
sentatives of Louisiana TO take immediate steps to
rdmcdy said injustice. and TO place the persons right
fully entitled In thcr seats.
This formal and, Of character terrible verdict
Of fraud adopted by strongly republican House
in 1875 II was supposed At the time that it placed
Wells and his fellows beyond the reach OF decent
peoples respect confidence, and when Secretary
Sherman, In 1877, Ia tho Senate declared, ON his
honor, that be believed the Returning Board-nauely
Wells. Anderson and two ignorant and Insignificant
ooiored men, 70 be as honest and honor.
able gentlemen as himself this was regarded
only - the hassy utlsraneo OF an excited
partisan Nobody was foolish to imagine that
Mr. Sherman or any one else, unless It should be Mr.
Stoughton, would speak thus Of men OF whom
had been denounced IN 1867 by General Sheridan in
repeated reports not only corrupt and dishonesty
himself but as not having honest in tho State
rs his friend. and both Of whom convicted by q
republican committee OF fraud OF sarbitrary, illegal
and unjust conduct" while acting In high and SOL
cmn judicial capacity in 1872. But just now tho
most conspicuous leaders oithe republican party are
not ashamed to DO the defenders OF these same men,
II 10 not strange that the democrats enjoy the exhi-
bition and hope that tho President will make the
blunder oil joining Messrs. Sherman, Mat
thews, Hale. Garfield and others In thor
defence OF those mon. II he will take the trouble to
read the report OF tho committee he will find that DO.
sides the general fraud there denounced, Wells, as
President Of the Returning Board guilty OF pri-
fraud Of his in order to put in three republi-
can legislators from his own parish Of Rapides Tho
parish went democratic. There NO protest nor
charge Of trouble; but the Congressional committee
found among the papers affidavit Of Wells himself
which had never before been publicly known and
which charged intimidation At certain polls In his
parish, for which reason these polls thrown
by VOLS. On examination this affidavit found
to BIO without date II was discovered
that Wells, VINO had made and signed 1t
and had privately put in evidence
not in tho parish the day OF election when he
sworo that thore intimidation, and when the
mitteo summoned him 10 explain II no could he de-
cned to appear-that Is to say ne, the President OF
the Returning Board Of the highest judicial func
tiouaIes Of the State. virtually confessed to perjury
All these things forgotten here, but they
known 10 every schoolboy in Now Orleans, where
The crimes OF these were committed. 1t Is not
strange therefore, that when decent people OF that
city see the President honoring these men with two
OF the consp and important federal olces
In the State public opinion is outraged and sustains
their trial Tor at least Of their many offences.
That Is the truth OF tho situation
General Gibson to-day said In the House that Wells
ami Anderson treated according to the laws OF
Louisiana; that they have access TO oil the rene.
aos ny appeal higher courts and otherwise which
the laws OF tho State PROVIDE he added, with grim
irony that II the republican Representatives chose
to petition for their pardon no had no doubt Gov
ernor Nichols would take heed their request IL Is
well known that Mr. Gibson has been one the most
strongly opposed to these proceedings against tho
Returning Board but ne too, probably feels tho gross
public scandal OF seeing such men, often and SO
publicly discovered In crimes against justice, con-
tnuing to occupy honorable federal positions in the
face OF n community which remembers thor mis-.
deeda Nor Is 1t strange that Senator's seeing w ellis
and Anderson safely in tho New Orleans Custom
House, did not strongly sympathize with the Prcsi
dents wish TO eject Arthur and Cornell from Tho
New York Custom House