Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-19
LOWE VS.. WHEELER.
Great Indignation at the Action Of the
Election Committee In the Natter
The Object Of the
Republieans-POints of Interest in the
Case-RailrOad Land Grants
Raum Exonerated.

Wheeler (Alabama) case, and, probably, il
others, the feeling of indignation in some
quarters is still more strongly marked. This
feeling is caused not merely by the unse at
ing of one member and the seating of the
contestant, but by the suspicion that the e1
pected action is more the result of bargain
aud sale agreement with the nine InSepend-
ent.G .Greenbackers in the House than of cain
| and impartial reasoning on the abstract
merits of the case. There are several
reasons why the Lowe-Wheeler case should
excite particular interest at this time. Ii is
probably the next on the list that will be
brought directly TO the attention of the
| House. The parties to it are more widely
| known than the principals in the Mississippi
| case. The contestant, Colonel William NJ.
Lowe, brought himself prominently before
the public a few years ago by challenging
Senator Logan, of Illinois, TO fight duel.
The challenge was treated with silent con-
| tempt by the Western Stalwart. The papers
have aided to bring him into notice by pub
lishing series of charges against him, pre-
| ferred by Ex-Deputy United States Marshal
! Hewlett He has also been dubbed the
"Mahone of Alabama" and great things
were expected from him by administration
| circles. The Democratic contestee is the
celebrated Fighting Joe Wheeler" of the
army Of the late Confederacy, and is a repre-
sentative Southern gentleman. Both parties
have INDUCED in the most bitter personal
amin adversion upon each other, and have,
unfortunately, allowed their seedlings 10 be-
come public. They are both of the hot blood
of the Southern "chivalrie," and further
consequences are possible, but not probable.
The terms "iisr,n "perjurer," "forger," "falsi-
fer of records," and many others equally
redolent, have been hurled by each against
the other with the most charming energy.
All things have served to attract general at
tention to the case, which is, of course,
heightened by the expressed determination of
many Democrats in the House to make
stronger fight in this case than in the one re-
Gently decided. That the decision was vir-
tually made in the Lowe Wheeler case before
the latter had filed completed brief with
the subcommittee, has been openly asserted
by Republican politicians, and even by Col
onel Lowe himself. Your correspondent was
informed by the latter gentleman on Satur-
day, April 22d last, that
THE SUB COMMITTEE HAD DECIDED
ON a report in his favor ten days previous to
that date, and that Mr.. Hazetop, of Wiscon-
sin, the chairman, had been instructed to
draw it up. Mr.. Ranney. of the committee,
when interviewed on the subject, virtually
admitted that the report would be as above
indicated. Mr.. Hazieton was not seen for
some days afterward, and informed the
seeker of knowledge that he had the report
about completed, and that it would be i'm
mediately placed in the hands of the printer.
He also invited your correspondent TO call
the next day at his hotel, when he
promised to give him copy of the report
for publication. It was after this
conversation that General Wheeler filed his
completed brief. The correspondent called
for the report at the proper time, and was
informed that Mr.. Hszleton was in New
York. Upon his return he peremptorily
declined to give any information except that
he waa Oriufad COlOnol lowe
was with the promising Congressman the
evening of the first conversation, and proba-
bly, cautioned him not to be so liberal. Not
withdrawing Mr.. Hszleton's assertion, your
correspondent has learned from the best and
most positive sources OF information that the
printed report was at that very time in
the hands of the clerk of the Committee on
Elections
THE OBJECT OF THE REPUBLICANS,
as claimed by some of Colonel loves
friends, in being particularly anxious to seat
the contestant is in this ase twofold. In tire
first place they claim that it will have the ef-
feet of making the Stalwarts solid with the lit
tie band Of nine independents Greenbackers,
whose good will may be of the greatest i'm
portance hereafter. A high government Of
fetal also stated that through Lowe the Re
publicans hoped TO gain power in the South,
and especially in Alabama, that they do not
possess, and that the administration officers
wished to make his (Lowe's) path easy, pro-
vided he would work with the Republicans
This conversation took place in reference to
the Hewlett charges against Lowe.
CAN ANYTHING BE DONE,
through Colonel loves means, to effect this
second object? The only transferable vote
in the South is the Republican. In Colonel
loves district Che Eighth congressional
district of Alabama) the vote stands: Dsmo-
hon 4
10000, and Independent -Greenback, about
5000. Colonel Lowe ran as an Independent
Greenbacker, and received the support of
the Republicans. The latter vote is en-
tirely controlled by a few influential
white men. The blacks, constituting
the bulk of the vote, are so COM
pletely subject to the management of
these few leaders that they are frequently
assembled by the blast of horn, in order to
receive their instructions how to vote. They
are marched to the polls, holding their tick
cts in their extended hands, in order that the
bosses may see that they vote as per instruc-
tions Consequently the good will of these
few leaders is of the utmost Importance to
one occupying Colonel loves peculiar posi-
ton. And yet Colonel Lowe stated to your
correspondent, knowing that his remarks
would be published, ''that the Republican
party in Alabama was controlled by
A FEW GREEDY, IGNORANT POLITICIANS,
(meaning the very class of white men above)
"who did not desire that the party
should be increased by the incoming of
any intelligent Republican voters or work
ers," as it would cause distribution of Fed
eral patronage that would be too thin to suit
the present ofice-holders. These political
leaders in Alabama, in the Republican ranks,
also complain that Colonel Lowe has hitherto
used his influence to comfortably e x in good
Offices his GreenhaCk tn the dafri-
ment OF the hungry and expectant Republi-
cans who 30 materislly aided to elect him.
The charges preferred by 'Ex-Dsputy United
States Marshal Hewlett filled in the depart
ment Of justice, March 9th last, and as yet
unanswered by Colonel Lowe) will also prob
ably give trouble to the aspiring 'Mahone of
Alabama" These charges were fled against
United States Marshal Sloss, of that State,
and Colonel loves name is only incidental
ly brought in. Hewlett charges, under oath,
that the contestant for Wheeler's seat re-
ceived, while in the forty-sixth Congress,
bribes from two different men on the same
day, promising in return therefor to have
each of them appointed 10 the same Office. |
Further charges are made that he is
VOID OF POLITICAL HONOR,
and totally irresponsible for bis contracts
fnancislly. This last charge is, perhaps, not |
a new one against congressman. Your cor |
respondent has been informed by an attorney |
in the case, that Lowe endeavored to have |
these charges withdrawn. at least as far as
they implicated him, Offering Hewlett, in re-
turn, money consideration, the appoint
ment to be lucrative government position, |
and his (Lowe's) support to Hewletts can
didate for the marshalship of Northern Ala /
bama. This candidate is a man whom Colo
mel Lowe has hitherto opposed. These
charges, If true, and possibly If untrue, will
undoubtedly prove heavy weight for
Colonel Lowe to carry in his race for the po-
sition of the Malone of Alabama. Hewlett
still remains in Washington, with what he
claims as abundant proofs of his assertions.
There has even been some talk of a con-
gressional investigation into these charges,
which, if held, would make things addition
ally sensational. 1t is not likely, however,
that there will be an investigation by the
House, or by a committee appointed by it,
as Congress has its hands so full now that
the session will undoubtedly be a very late
one. This is another reason given by Wheel
er's friends-and he has some strong ones,
even on the Republican side-that time