Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-28
An Important Interview With Governor Hen.
. -&&'A 80 fricke


fishes an interview with Gov. Hen.
dricks, which, in view of the Presiden.
tial situation, and Gov. Hendricks re-
cent conference with Gov. Tilden, is
Of considerable Importance. The Gov
ern0r said the men who voted for Gov.
Tilden Believed him to be elected, and
they are greatly excited at the posi-.
bility that he is to be deprived Of the
office and another inaugurated who
was not elected, by means of party ma
chinery;s anti.republican in character
and even by disregard of the local law
in it's organization and by the fradu-
lent exercise of its powers. They do
hf1otabelieve that under Republican in
stitutions It is possible that no enquiry
can be mace. into the conduct Of four
linen whol undertook to control the
Presidential election by fraudulent
means. tvhey believe that it is the
duty of the House of Representatives.
to see that the proposed wrong be de-
feated, even should the Senate attempt
to MAINTAIN it. The opinion prevails
generally, believe universally, among
them, that the House of Representa-.
tives is clothed with equal power with
the Senate in the decision of all ques-
tions which arise during the progress
of the count of the electoral vote, and
that it would be an usurpation, III fla
grant violation Of the rights OF tho
people, should the vote be counted
and the questions decided by the pre-.
siding officer of the Senate, in defiance
of the rights of the House. - ~
Do,ortor What c,;rr; l;on& ;n,,
should lie attached to the action of the
Democrats in calling public meetings
in the Northwest, and especially in
this State-and as your supposed con-
nection with it has given rise to much
comment will you state whether, in
your opinion, either party would under
amy circumstances, he justified in re.
sorting to force to secure the Presi-
dency.
Governor Hendricks-Thc fact that
this power, above alluded to, is claim
ed for the President of the Senate, and
it's exercise by him threatened, has
greatly contributed to excite popular
feeling. In this condition Of the pub
lie mind, the Democratic Committee
of the State issued the call for the con-
vention OF the Sth of Jan.lary-not for
the purpose, as | suppose of making
any threats or of organizing any re-
sistance to authority, but for the pur'
pose of making public expression
against the threatened measures of pop
ular rights, and Of giving the House of
Representatives. an assurance OF sup.
port in the exercise of it's constitutional
| right and prerogatives. There is
no purpose, so far us I am informed, of
going further. In further answer to
your inquiry, don't regard force rs a
means to be contemplated to secure
the Presidency. So far as the Sth OF
january convention is concerned, l am
very sure that its reliance-its only
reliancc-to secure the results of the
Presidential election, will be upon the
force and power of public opinion fol
the support of the right and against
the wrong. and in support OF The House
of Representatives in the assertion and
exercise of it's constitutional powers
as these powers have been declared il
uniform practice and in the adoption
of the 22d joint rule and the passage
by the Senate of Governor Norton:
bill at the last session. 1t is perhap:
proper to add that should the House
positively assert its right to partici
! pate in the count, and should thai
right be denied and refused by thu
Senate supported by the executive
power, we would stand in the presence
of serious dangers, not because OF any
party movements, but because OF
conflict in the machinery of the gov
eminent without any tribunal for it
adjustment. observe in some news
papers the statement that secret po
itical society is being organized il
this State, the purposes of which ar,
dangerous to the peace of society. .
think am in 4 position to know i
there were any such movement III thl
State or any part of it, and l feel con
6dent in saying that therefore it i
without foundation in truth. 1t i
certainly false. as I believe. and as
think and know, and has its origi1
with bad men, for partisan and ba'
purposes. The contest i'll this Stat
last summer and fall, on the par
of the Democracy and Conservatives
was eminently fair and open. Their
is no motive, us I am sure there is II
purpose, to depart from that policy.
The Presidential Controversy.
The contest relative to the Prcsidel
tial election is raging with unabate