Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-03-14
Mr.. HEWITT'S RESIGNATION.
AN EXPLANATION OF HIS MOTIVES IN
SUPPORTING THE TRIBuNAL-TIL-
DLN'S ELECTION

2, The following IS the full text OF Mr.
J. Abram S. Hewitl's letter of resigna-
IS ton Of the Craftsmanship of the Ma
II tlonal Democratic Committee -
d WASHINGTON, d. c., MARCH 8.
e GENrLEMEN-The last act OF the
e Executive Committee was the an
S nouncemeut to the people Of the Unit
t ed States that Samuel J. Tilden was
a elected President and Thomas "A.
= Hendricks Vice President.
: This announcement was followed by
a scurrilous pronunciamento from the
t National Republican Committee claim
. ing the election of Hayes and Wheel
er, The power to determine the re-
suit resided in Congress but grave
differences Of opinion, threatening the
peace OF the country, existed as to the
lawful methods of procedure, and the
constitutional rights and the duties of
the two houses in the premises. Com
mittees were therefore raised in both
houses to consider the question and to
confer with each other as to legislation
proper to be adopted in order to Sc
cure declaration of the result with
out confusion and public disorder.
The Senate Committee had practically
perfected u bill for this purpose before
the House Committee met with them
in conference. This bill had received
the assent and approval OF the three
Democratic Senators serving on the
Committee.
To have rejected this settlement
would, necessarily, have produced d.
vision in the Democratic party, and
have 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 Ct 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 Committees, and
was duly reported and became a law
by the vote Of a large majority of the
Democratic members OF both houses,
and was approved by the general judy |
meut of the country.
The result has disappointed the
hopes OF every lover Of his country.
BY decisions abhorrent to the natural
senses of justice, all proof of fraud
was ruled out, and the States Of Lou
isiana and Florida have been counted |
for Hayes, although all fair minded
men concede that they voted for IL
den. This grevons wrong and its
authors ! have denounced OF the floor
Of The House, and | have no hesitancy
in declaring that, for the first zine in
our history, the Presidency has been
awarded to a candidate who has no
just title 60 its honols.
But he comes into Office as the re-
suit Of the operation Of Il law which
received the support Of the Democrat
ic party, and any attempt to resist its
operation would, it seems to me, only
deprive us of the support and sympa-
thy of all conservative and tair minded
citizens.
Inasmuch as differences of opinions
exist in regard to the policy which has
been pursued by the Democratic party
since the election, and prior to the
meeting Of Congress, / have only to
say that so far as my action is concern
ed, whatever has been done has re-
ceiyed the approval of the Executive
Committee, and Of the only persons
outside of their number who had any
right to be consulted.
An absurd statement has been wide
ly circulated that | had declared that
81 preferred the Inauguration Of Hayes
to the shedding of a single drop of
blood" A leading Democratic journ-
alist, who could at any time from his
position as a 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
to him that l had contradicted it in q
card, widely copied, Immediately after
its publication. The only remark
which l ever made on this subject was
in a private conversation, not intend.
ed to be repeated, and was to the eff.
feet that 81 would prefer four years Of
Hayess administration to four years
Of civil war;" and upon this declara.
ton I am willing to stand, because