Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-12-15
Well Stated.

The reform democracy, who claim
presidential electors in the states of Yer
mont and Oregon, where, at the late
election there was an unquestioned pop
ular majority of $4,000 for Hayes, have
recently held an " interview with
President Grant through A. S. Hewett,
their leader, who was received with so
much courtesy, that Immediately they
caused it to be announced that the presi.
dent was yielding to their view of the
various complications. Since that inter-
view the President has taken occasion to
inform the reformers in plain terms
Of the manner in which they had abused
his confidence, and followed it up with
statement which will not be likely to be
misunderstood, and very clearly does he
state the situation, and as it is given by
authority we give it herewith
He observed that political affairs were
very much embarrassed, TO say the least,
by the bad temper shown, especially on
the democratic side, and that whatever
he had done in this connection was with
realization and sense of his constitu-
tional obligations, and he felt assured
that he had done nothing outside of the
law, but that there were the clearest JUS
LITIGATION for the sending of troops into
the Southern states, and that if fair
investigation could be had Of the situa-
ton of affairs in the states where troops
had been sent to preserve the peace this
would be shown to the satisfaction of all
parties but, notwithstanding the cor
rectness Of his motives and the impera-
tive necessity of his action, he had been
widely misrepresented. He said that
Mr.. Hayes carried all but four of the
States that furnished men and means
to crush the rebellion, while Mr.. Tilden
carried all but three of the states which
participated in it. 1t was his opinion
that the democrats seemed to think it q
great outrage if the republicans even
claimed one of the southern states. In
New York the greatest democratic ma
jorities were in wards where crime pre-
dominated, and that the thirty. FIVE cleo.
toral votes of that state were secured for
Tilden mainly through the iustrumen-
tally of men who had no interest in The
state or government The electoral
votes of Connecticut aud New Jersey
were secured through the same class of
votes, SO that Governor Tilden had no
claim to the electoral vote of any state
in the north, through the instrumental.
ty Of its best citiznns save in the state Of
Indiana. The classes referred to above
he said, we're persons who had the right
to vote, and therefore no one claims that
Mr.. Tilden has not legally carried those
states. Now If the colored voters in the
south could cast their votes with the
some freedom, there never would have
been any contests over the states oI
Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina
and he had no doubt that Mississippi
Arkansas, Alabama and possibly North
Carolina, would have all given large re-
publican majorities in the late elections
But he also took another view of it
Suppose the colored people we're not al
lowed to vote, the representation from
the southern states would be largely re
duced. Mr.. Tilden would be short thir
ty-fve votes from that section which
would have made vast difference il
the result. and would have undoubtedl,
have elected Mr. Hayes.