The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-19
9MdeEanslI alMteItigeneer..
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
Some Words OF Counsel and Warnins
2 Ggom Patriot and Statesman.
BOSTON. juno 3O. 1877.

Boston, June 80, 1877
In one oftlo rooms of the Adams
homestead at ClLiicy, Mass, hang p6r-
traits Of two, PT:-x;jents of the United
States. In thRt room Charles Francis
Adams received the New York Sun re-
porter, and talked for an hour about the
methods by which 2. B. Hayes attained
the seat once occupied by John Adams
and John Quincy Adams. Impressive as
were the surroundings, they were not 30
Impressive as the way in which Mr.. Ad-
ANS gave his views. The quiet dignity
with which he began became intense
earnestness rs he spoke of the fatal re-
suits which repetition Of the Electoral
Commission fraud would entail. Both
his manner and his words belied the
common impression that he is cold and
reserved. The scorn with which he re-
ferred to the course Of the three Repub-
lican Judges ON that commission was
withering. Equally noticeable vas his
anxiety that mea.ures be taken immedi-
ately to make the repetition of the crime
impossible.
II am now simply private citizen"
Mr. Adams began. "l have 10 wish to
go before tho rnblic. My duties Us
President of the Board Of Trustees of
Harvard College raluired that / should
be in Cambridge and appea, publicly
with Mr.. Hayes. But the suggestion
that because I did meet him in public,
and extended to hiEl civility which
think proper 20 bo extended TO any one
WHO holds tile Office which he does--be-
cause 1 did this that had changed my
views as expressed In the letter TO Mr.
Tilden, which was published, is wholly
false. | have not changed those views,
nor can l.. l did feel little peculiarly
when thought of meeting Dir. Hayes.
1t Is hard thing to say of any man that
he bcare the stamp of fraud upon his
brow, and, therefore, if Mr. Hayes SAW
the letter, he mus. have been touched by
it. did not write it for public ton,
but only to express to Mr.. Tildel some
seEse of my respect for the manner in
which he hnd acted, while the wrong was
being done him. But what | then wrote
] still adhere to. Still, Mr.. Hayes came
here. He is the acting president--not
ite rightful President, but still he holds
ti'o Office. A certain respect is due that
o!hce that is ell that my appearance
with MIR. Hayes means"
"Wero the civilities paid Mr.. Hayes
by the authorities extended In the same
spirit"
Massachusetts has always extended
civilities t. the President. In this case
the State extended such civi,;ties to the
acting President. She. did what was
riglft to do, and no more"
"Can Mr.. Hayes trip and the civility
shown him bc taken aa an endorsement
Of hiHl or his policy2"
'The trip can do him no harm. and no
good. One fact stands out prominent
nothing can overahndow It.; and that Is
the method by which he received his
office. No policy OF bis can atone for
that"
'sThen, in your opinion, the attempt at
civil service iaform tgili not offset the
.se=::=- by which no obtained the Plesi-
"Not at all. Civil service reformil
What is it--a nero matter of detail.
Insignificant beside this ono great matter.
Policies, reform and such things are nero
aide issues. Important enough in them
felves, to be sure. But this matter goes
ewey down to the question of our exis-
The reporter had no further opportu.
nifty, had ho wished to question Mr.. Ad-
ANS, for, as he spoke OF the great fraud
and its consequences, he seemed almost
unmindful Of time and fatigue.
That was great crisis through which
the country passed last winter. It Is
wonderful that the majority of the Amer
lean people, whose will was then over.
ridden, submitted to it so calmly. am
grateful that tIry dil. Il Is credit to
tho American people that there wcs no
violence. But, sir,"-and Mr.. Adams
spoke with impressive solemnity--"it
COLD never be so again. The next time
suS1 thing shall happen, there will be
violence, bioodshed, and ruin. I have
always been afraid of that weak clause
in the Constitution which made such q
crisis possible. 1 was very apprehensiye
early last winter when saw that those
who had been lawfully elected were to
meet with opposition. When l learned
that the matter had been left to the gem
tlemen who acted upon the Commission.
/ felt somewhat relieved, because
thought: Now the Judges, ct least, will
;vva QUESTION III a iaiT iiid iiai0ia:
light. They win try to get at the truth.
They will try to learn Whom the people
President.' Ahd it seemed go plain Who
were so elected that I felt almost assured
of what their decision would be. But
what was the respft?, Taking, advantage
Of techniealities: or legal dnibhles. OF
every point TINT would give them an OPP
portunity OF voting as they, wished to
vote the MINORITY declared sfia &c has.
Among other sad results of that decision
these IS this one: TGllas utterly destroyed
our faith In the Judiciary So far as po-
libcai questions which may como before
it are concerned. Taney, years ago,
Ehook our faith gpmewhat when he, RON
dered decisions on questions connected
with slaverys This latest action has en-
s;;sGiiy destroyed that faith. The judiciary
are no longer to be relied upon as q
source of ;s.ssticce in political nahftarr.
"Nog this has been done. Something
remains to be done, and chat is the most
important, the most imperative duty at
hand. II must not be allowed to be
sIighted, Immediate steps must be taken
to make the ition Of .his wrong i'm
possible. IE fla,,sE not be party matter.
4 hope the Fvopls OF az parties will join
In making this demand. Congress ought,
the very first thing, TO begin the consfde-
ration Of o constitutional method of. pre-.
venting the repetition Of such a crisis. /
IN every way. that is possible this de.
fnalId slioiild he made I am very clad
that Mr.. Dana realizes eli iirinortanc9 Of
tho situation, and TINT he IL doing what
he can to make the people realize &c.
Public sentiment should be so ssronRthnt
such measures cannot fail OF being teEen !
as viii prevent d repetition. What othes
issue can .be3Ro important /? ~ As said,
,ahonld such crisis occur again. it will |
not end peRcefnlIE. There viii be bIcad-