Year: 1876

william A. Wheeler and Louisiana.


In his dispatches to General Sherman
President Grant plainly indicated the State
of Louisiana as the final battle ground for
the Presidency. 1t is particularly unfortu-
nate for the republican party that its sue
cess depends on such a State. 1t is espe-
cially noteworthy that its vote will be abb
solutely necessary to elect William A.
Wheeler, of New York. Vice President, who
gave his name to the celebrated compromise
by which the UNANIMOUSLY corrupt action
of the Louisiana Returning Board In the
elections of 1874 was reversed with the .ap-
proval of republican Congress. Mr.
Wheelers record in this matter makes 1t
difficult to believe that he would accept q
victory at the hands Of this Board if there
was any fair doubt upon the integrity Of its
work. Says President Grant, mo man
worthy of the Office of President should be
willing to hold it if counted in or placed
there by fraud" This appeals with equal
force to the candidate who ut the death or
disability of the President must take his
place. Mr.. Wheeler, therefore, is particu-
larly interested in the result He has placed
his knowledge and his condemnation Of the
Turbulence and corruption of the Louisiana
Returning Board SO markedly on record that
he is bound now to second the desire of
President Grant and of all good citizens to
have the operations of this Board so scru-
tinized that the result shall be above sus-
picion.


When the select House committee on
Louisiana affairs, Of which Mr.. Wheeler is
q member, returned to Washington the
chairman presented the following preamble
and resolution to the House, which adopted
them


whereas both branches of the Legislature OF Louis
lana have requested the select committee Of the House
to investigate the circumstances attending the election
and returns thereof that for the year 1874;
aud whereas said COMMITTEES has unanimously re-
ported that the Returning Board OF that State in can
vassing and compiling said returns and prom1lgatng
the results, wrongiully applied an erroneous rule OF
law, by whereof persons werc awarded seats In
the House, of Representatives TO which they were
entitled. and persons entitled TO seats wcrc de-
privcd OF them,


Resolved, That it is recommended to the House Of
Representatives in Louisiana TO take immediate steps
remedy sad injustice and to place the persons right
fully entitled in their seats.


With this resolution were presented ma
jority and minority reports. Mr.. Wheeler
signed the latter, which offered the previous
excesses of the white democrats as palliating,
in measure, the republican frauds But this
minority report contained the following
pregnant passage, which shows that the
present emergency was foreseen. 1t now
sounds prophetic:-


But the evil goes much further Upon she elections
In louisiana in other States, depends the right TO
their of Senators and Representatives who to
aid in making laws for the whole country, and the
choice OF Presidential electors upon whose vote may
depend tho title of tho Office Of the President OF the
United States himself No party in the United States
,ciH like TO submit to result decided by the rotes Of
electors chosen by such meant Each party will DO
likely to credit charges of fraud and violence madc
against its side. There is, In our judgment the
greatest danger that these elements may entcr into
the national election to extent that It
in doubt.


Here the danger of the present situation
is boldly sketched out. President Grants
words appeal to the candidates the words
we have quoted appreciate the danger to the
national peace. This is crisis in which
every honest man of influence before the
country should exert it to the utmost in the
interest of fair play. We call upon William
A. Wheeler, on his record, to come to the
front and do his share of the work of finding
an issue to the crisis at once honorable and
peaceful.