South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-16

Sco suos nuy OSucr course was open TO
me. but IL honor had permitted other
wise, my judgmen. - that Il was the
wiscst course for the. country. rs we'll
as for the Democratic party, 10 proceed
in accordance with the law to the or
DERBY completion OF the count, although
We knew that 1t would result in the in
stallation OF Hayes into an Office to which
he had no honest right, except such as
might be derived from the unjust de.
/ cisions Of tribunal which wa had helm
ed to create. My reasons for this con
clusion are rs follows: If the count had
been defeated. and the bill to provide for
a vacancy in the Office OF President had
become law, new election would have
taken place in November next; mean.
while the Office or President would have
been filled by Republican chosen by
tho Senate. The whole power OF the
Administration would therefore be un-
der the control OF the Republican mana
gers. In order to succeed they must
hold on to South Carolina and Louisiana.
which would necessarily involve sus-
tanning by force the usurping Govern
mcnts OF Chamberlain and Packard, will.
all their unlawful cxcresences in the way
OF unscrupulous returning boards. The
patience OF the people Of these two un-
happy States is utterly exhausted. They
would break out in open rebellion n
gainst Government thus forced on
them. and continued in power by the
armed forces Of the United States. CT
vii war would result. Tile Federal Go
vcrnmens would re-enfore itself with all
The troops at its command; the other
Southern States wonld naturally rush to
the all OF their suffering sister States
tho safety OF the coloret; as well rs the
white population would be endangered
and call would be made for volunteers
and militia from the Northern States TO
suppress the rebellion, and thus the
flames OF civil war would be lighted all
over the Union. in the midst OF which n
free election would be impossible, and g
military despotism take the place Of eli.
VII government. This generation would
pass away before the country would re
cover from the disastrous consequences
OF such fratricidal strife.
In comparison with the evils OF anar-
| chy. or OF government Of force, which
alone could prevent anarchy. four years
OF usurpation-but usurpation i'm accord.
ance with the forms Of law-seemed to
me by far the lesser evil. Besides, we
have not yet tested the judgment OF the
people as to the great outrage upon all
justice and right which has been perpe.
| trated. There is no reason TO suppose
! that it will be sanctioned by the popular
voice, but-ifit should be we could not
hope to save them from usurpation and
despotism by force used against the
judgment of q majority Of the people.
TO me, therefore. on the one side was
anarchy and civil war, inevitable and
disastrous Of all the hopes of free gov.
eminent; on the other side was peace
| and order, with free speech, free press.
and the ballot box rtill preserved to us.
Under the circumstances. could not
hesitate as to my course. felt that, rs
| a patriot and n trusted servant OF the
Democracy, no other course was left
open TO me, and feel sure that its wis
dom will be indicated by the early ard
triumphant success OF tile Democratic
party, standing, rs it does. upon the rock
OF justice and patriotism, from which no
amount Of passion or provocation has
been able to move it,.
For myself, 1 feel that have now
completed the duty which was assigned
to me at st. Louis. The result OF the
campaign was the unquestionabIe cleo
ton or our candidates. That they and
the people have been defrauded or their
| rights is true. but for this result I do
not hold myself any more responsible
than any other member Of Congress up.
on whom rested the duty OF counting and
declaring the votes.
In the course Of my very brief public
experience have already found that my
usefulness rs Representative in Cen.
gress has been seriously impaired by my
/ position as Chairman Of this committee.
and had long since determined TO ask
/ TO be permitted to retire from IL as soon
rs the result of the election was definite.
| ly ascertsined. The unforeseen com
I plications which arose have necessarily
compelled me TO postpone the execution
/ OF his intention until the present time.
Now, however, that all impediments 20
my retirement are removed, beg to be
released from further service as your
I Chairman, and. thanking You for the
honor you nave conferred and for the
/ confidence which you have uniformly
manifested in my efforts TO promote the
success or DEMO- ratio principles, have
the honor TO be. very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
Apau < IrvtVtrr