Arizona republican., 1899-01-24

large number have been found which
 will justify unseating the three mem
 bers In fact, the democrats and re-
 publicans will join in unanimous re- | port in favor of decIaring the seats va
 cant General Wheeler has not at-
 tempted to exercise any of the pr1Vl- | legeS of member, Jdt yesterday ne
 asked one of the Alabama representa-
 tives to introduce a batch of bills for
 him which were marked By request Of l Wheeler" The little general is spend l ing most of his time in the library in
 looking up precedents to support his
 side of the case. His party friends are
 not we'll pleased with General Vince
 ler's conduct, and say he should absent
 himself from the house until after the
 matter has been decided.
 An interesting letter written by President Lincoln May 2, 1864, shows
 the posi- ion he took in regard to hold
 ing a seat in congress and a commits sion in the army at the same time. The
 case in question was that of General Frank P. Blair, and it will be used as precedent in the Campbell, Wheeler
 and Cotton cases now pending before | congress. The letter was addressed to Montgomery Blair, brother of the major general and is as follows:
 Some days ago, understand you to say, your brother, General Frank Blair, desired to be guided by my wishes as to whether he will occupy his seat in congress or remain in the field. My wish, then, is compounded of what I believe to be the best for the coun- try and best for him; and it is that he will come here, put his commission in my hands, take his seat, go into caucus with our friends, abide the nomina- tions, help elect the nominees, and thus aid to organize a house of representa- tives which will really support the gov ernment in the war. If the result shall be the election of himself as speaker, let him serve in that position, if not, let him re-take his commission and re- turn to the army. For the country this will heal dangerous schism; for him it will relieve from danger our posi- tion. By a misunderstanding, as I think, he is in danger of being perma- nently separated from those with whom only he can ever have a real sympathy-.he sincere opponents of slavery. It will be a mistake if he shall allow the proVocations offered him by insincere time-servers to drive him from the house of his own build ing. He is young yet; he has abun- dant talents-qUite enough to occupy all his time, without devoting any to temper. He is rising in military skill and usefulness. His recent appoint ment to the command of a corps by one so competent to judge as General Sher- man proves this. In that line he can serve both the country and himself more Drcfitably than he could a sa member Of congress upon the floor The i foregoing is what I would say if Frank Blair were my brother instead of yours
 Acting upon the recommendation of President Lincoln, Blair promptly re- signed his commission in the army
 Major General Robert c. ISchenck resigned his commission in the army to take his seat in congress, I because he believed it was violation of the constitution 10 draw two salaries | at one time. In his letter to President | Lincoln he wrote:
 N1 shall leave the military service with much reluctance and sacrifice Of personal feelings and desires; and only consent to do so in the hope that. l in another capacity, I may be able to do some effective service in the cause of my country and government in this time of peculiar trial l''-Washington Post