The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-21
Gov. Hendricks ON the Political
.a SituAtlOn.

ISpIANAPoLIs, December 20.-The
Journal Of tomorrow will contain an in
teryiew with Gov. Hendricks, the leading
points Of which are as follows: The
Governor said that the men who voted for
Tilden believe he ia elected and they are
greatly excited at the possibility that he
is to be deprived Of the office and another
to be inaugurated who was not elected,
by means Of party machinery, anti.R
publican in its character, and even BY
disregard Of the local law In its
organization and by the iraudu-
lent exercise Of its powers. They do
not believe under republican in
stitntions It is possible that no in.
quiry can be made into the conduct Of
the four men who undertook TO control
the PfesIdcntial election by fraudulent
means. They believe that Il is the duty
OF the House OF Representatives TO see
that the PROPOSED wrong Ia defeated.
The opinion prevails generally believe
uniyersally-among them that the House
ia clothed with equal power with the
Senate In the decision Of all questions
which arise during the progress Of the
count Of the electoral vote, and that II
would be an usurpation in Gagrant vic.
lation Of the rights Of the people
should the vote be- counted and
the questions decided by the presiding
officer Of the Senate in defiance Of the
House.
Rep.-What public significance should
be attached TO the action OF the Demo-
Gratis in calling a public meeting in the
Northwest, and especially In Indiana,
and as your supposed connection with i
has given rise to much comment, will
you state whether in your opinion either
party would under any circumstances be
justified in resorting to force to secure
the Presidency ~,
Gov. Hendricks-The fact that this
power above alluded to 10 claimed for the
President OF the Senate and Its exercise
by him Is threatened, has greatly contri-
buted to excite popular feeling. In this
condition Of the public mind the Demo.
cratic committee Of the State issued the
call for the Convention Of the Sth Of Jan
uary; not for the purpose, as suppose,
OF making any threats or Of organizing
any resistance to authority, but for the
purpose Of making n public expression
against this threatened invasion OF pop
ular rights and of giving the House OF
Representatives an assurance OF support
in the exercise Of It's constitutional rights
and prerogatives. There is no purpose,
so far as ! am informed, OF going fnrther.
In further answer 10 your inquiry, l
do not regard force as a means to be con.
templated to secure the Presidency. SO
far as the Sth Of January Convention is
concerned, I am very sure that It's reli-
ance-its only reliance-to secure the
results Of the Presidential election will
be on the force and power Of public opin-
ion in support OF the right and against
the wrong, and in support Of the House
Of Representatives. in the assertion and
exercise OF its constitutional powers,
as those powers have been declared in
in uniform practice, and in the adop.
ton of the 22d joint rule and passage by
the Senate OF Governor Morton'a bill at
last session. tits perhaps proper TO add
that should the House positively assert
lB right 70 phrtlClpate III tne COuut ann
should that right be denied and refused
by the Senate, and supported by the ex.
ecutive power, we would stand in the
presence Of serious dangers, not because
OF any party movements but because Of 4
conflict in the machinery Of the Govern
ment without any tribunal for its adjust.
ment. l observe in some papers the
statement that secret political society is
being organized in this State for purposes
which are dangerous TO the peace OF
society. ! think am in u position TO
know il there we're any such movement
In thia State or any part Of II, and l feel
confident in saying that the report ia
without foundation, in truth it is wholly
false as l believe, and ! think it has It's
origin with bad men and for partisan and
bad purposes. The contest this last
summer and fall was, on the part OF the
Democracy and Conservatives, eminently
fair and open. There is no motive and
lam sure there is no purpose to depart
from that policy,