The daily gazette., 1876-11-29
GRANTISM.
HON. GIDEON WELLS VIEW OF THE Po-
LITICAL sITUATION-PROLOSG ALTON
OF THE PRESIDENCY.

HON. GIDEON WELLS VIEW OF THE Po-
LITIcAL sITUATIoN-PRoI.OSGA GATIoN
OF THE PRESIDENCY.
HARTFORD, Conn, November 21.-
The Hon. Gideon Welles, whose. political
experience entities his opinion to weight,
told your correspondent to-day that he
could not conceive of such complication
as rendered a settlement inadmissible or
unattainable, The old ex Secretary of
the Navy (under the Lincoln and John
son administrator cannot reconcile such
condition Of affairs compatible with the
spirit Of our institutions as would Justify
the Inauguration of either candidate
through the agency of a fraudulent mis-
count or nullity Of votes. Mr.. Welles
claims that proper Interpretation Of the
constitution leaves no question of the
right of the House of Representatives to
adjust the matter. In no event could
General Grant hold over, although in the
interim of non-selection or settlement
the president ofthe Senate might, e1 oflcio
take the reins of government temporarily.
Mr.. Welles has great faith in the prophe-
cy Of Frank Blair, uttered some eight
years or more ago, to the effect that Grant
would never leave the White House as
long as he could possibly avoid it. He
would not be surprised if Grant were es-
saying coup by which, against all con-
stitutional restraints and inhibit ions, he
would prolong his presidency. A man of
he is quite capable of any act of pers onal
aggrandizement. 1t is not so much am
bition in him as love ofauthority.
The ex-secretary dwelt with much
fervor and emphasis on General Grants
fai hlessl es al, revested, in substant a ion
of his argument, to the occasion when
Grant broke faith with President johnson
in the matter Of the removal of Mr.. STAN
ton, the then Secretary of War. Mr..
Wells insists that no action of determi-
nate or final character can be taken on the
count save by the concurrent jurisdiction
of 9th houses of Congress; that any
member can object to the vote of state
or rather its acceptance, and ON the basis
of the objection q dissolution of both
houses in committee of the whole would
result, and point discusse d by each rep
resentative body in their respective cham.
bers. No solution Of the difficulty being
attained, and no compromise ultimating,a
Gordian knot would be presented in the
absence of ady precedent or rule of settle.
ment. To serve this tie would require an
undiscovered or newly-wrought Aleland
rim sword. But he is unwilling to con-
Icede such an inbroglia. There must have
been result as the inevitable sequence
of an election, and if there is no issue, it
asserts the existence of fraud. Nor can
this fraud be eptitiously yconsummated
Against whosever it operates must neces-
sarily lose that much of the electoral vot
He does not think there is daring enougl
: in either party to foist President int
, place by illegitimatemeans.
The whole country would revolt at an
, attempt at Mechanism, not by possibly
physical rebellion, but by unbearabl
, pressure of public sentiment and opinion
, The long unending train of disasters,sucl
as stagnation in business bank ruptcy ,anC
that want of confidence in our republican
. government which is synonymous witt
utter ruin repugnant to our natures, tn
, traditions of the pass and the teachings O
, the present, would constitute the element
iOfa revolution, more destructive thar
war, more direful than the sword, an
crying aloud for ehabilitation;reconstru
ton and relief, in such thunder tones a
to move the people to vindicate their free
dom and their rights.