The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-03-21
MR., HEWITT'S RESIGNATION,
SUPPORTING THE TRIBUNAL
TILDEN's ELECTION.
WASHINGTON, D. c., J
March 3. 1877. {

March 3. 1877. {
IN the National Democratic Committee:
GENrLEMEN-The last act of the Ex
ecutive Committee was The announce
ment to the people Of the United
States that Samuel j. Tilden was elec.
ted President, and Thomas A. Hen.
bricks Vice-President.
This announcement was followed by
scurrillons pronunciamento from the
National Republican Committee. claim.
ing the election OF Hayes and Wheeler
The power TO determine the result re.
sided in Congress; but grave differen.
ces of opinion, threatening the peace
Of the country, existed as to the Lawful
methods Of procedure, and the corsti
tutional rights, and the duties of the
two Houses in the premises. Commit
tees wero therefor raised in both Huu.
ses to consider the question, and to
confer with each other as to legislation
nrOper to he adopted in order to secure
declaration of the result without con
fusion aud public disorder. The SEN
ate Committee had practically perfect
ed bill for this purpose before the
House Committee met with them in
conference. This bill had received the
assent and approval of the three Dem
Ocratic Senators serving on the Com
mittee.
TO have rejected this settlement
would, necessarily, have produced d.
vision in the Democratic party, and
been fatal to its immediate and future
success. On the other hand, the bill
itself seemed to be so wisely framed in
its main features, that the Judgment of
the Democratic members of the House
Committee gradually confirmed the
action of the Senate Committee, and
with some changes which were deemed
favorable to the Democratic position,
the Electoral bill was approved by all
the Democratic members of both Com
mittees, and "as duly reported and be-
came law by the vote of a large ma
iorty of the Democratic members of
both Houses, and was approved by the
general Judgment of the country.
The result has disappointed the
hopes ofevely lover Of his country.
BY decisions abhorrent to the natural
senses Of justice, all proof of fraud was
ruled ont, and the States of Louisiana
and Florida have been counted for
Hayes, although all fair minded men
ennceae that they voted for Tilden.
This grievous wrong and its authors |
bsSe denounced on the floor Of the
House, and have no hesi,ancy in de-
elaIiHg that, for the first time in our
history, the Presidency has been awar-
dra to candidate who has no just til
tie TO its h"Uors.
Bat he comes into Office as the result
II the operation of Il law which re-
rrised the support of the Democratic
party, ans any attempt to resist its 0p-
elatr. would, it seems to me. onl,
deprive liz OF tn" support and sympa-
thy If aii conservative and fair minded
c;ilcus.
iuasmuei rs differences ofnpinion
'list in regard to the policy which has
bern pursued By the Democratic party !
since the e.eciion, and prior to thu.
meeting of Congress, have only to
Sag that sn far ~ my action is concern |
ed, Whatever hasbeen done has recciy
ed the approval of the Executive Com
nittce and of The only persons outside
Of their number who had any right to
be consulted.
An absurd statement has been wide
iy circulated that 1 had declared that
VI preferred the inauguration of Hayes
to the shedding of single drop of
blood" A leading Democratic jonr-
nalst. who could at any time from his
position as member of the House of
representatives, have ascertained the
truth, has circulated this false state
ment In letter over his own initials,
although it ought to have been known
10 MIN that had cOntradicted it in
card, widely copied. Immediately after
As publication. The only remark
which ever made on this subject was
IN private conversation, not intended
" DC repeated, and was to the effect
1Dat u would prefer four years of
hsyes administration to four years of
civil war;" and npou this declaration
aIu willing to stand, because four years
=" civil war would, in my opinion, ut
"s'y destroy constitutional govern
nehG Tor this generation at least. 1t
aas also been insinuated that nv
eOafse has been affected by the owner
a"'p OF a large amount of United States
U0aus' 1t is enough for me to express
'uo regret that am not so fortunate as
W own any of these desirable securi-
"'', ana to state that all my means are
~ 'aey always have been, used in Civ
s employment to the workingmen of
WIS land, Suffering so severely from Il
'as administration of it's public l