South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-16
Mr.. Hewitt's Resignation.

An Explorations Of has Notices in Supporting
The Tribunal Tideas Election.
The following is the full text Of Mr..
Abram S. Hewitts letter OF resignation
Of the Craftsmanship Of the National Dc.
mocratic Committee:
WAsnINGToN, ID. c., March 3.
GENTLEMEN: The las, act Of the Ex.
ccutive Committee was the announce.
ment to the people of tho United States
that Samuel J. Tilden was elected Presi.
dent, and Thomas A. Hendricks Vice.
President.
This announcement was followed by a
scurrilous pronunciamcnto from the Ma.
tional Republican Committee, claiming
the election Of Hayes and Wheeler. The
power to determine the result resided in
Congress but grave differences Of opin-
ion. threate ning the peace OF the coun
try, existed as to the lawful methods of
procedure. and the constitutional rights,
and the duties Of the two Houses in the
premises. Committees 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 secure q declaration Of the re.
suit without confusion and public dsor.
der. The Senate Committee hail prac.
tically perfected bill for this purpose
before the House Committee net with
them in conference. This bill had re.
ceiyed the assent and approval Of the
three Democratic Senators serving on
the Committee.
To have rejected this settlement would,
necessarily, have produced division i'm
the Democratic party, and been fatal TO
its immediate and future success. On
the other hand, the bill itself seemed 10
be so wisely framed in its main features,
that the judgment Of the Democratic
members of the House Committee gra.
dually confirmed the action of the Senate
Committee, and, with some changes
which were deemed favorable TO the De.
mocratic position, the Electoral bill was
approved by all the Democratic members
OF both committees. and was duly repor.
ted and became q law by the vote Of a
large majority OF the Democratic mem.
bers of both Houses, and was approved
by the general judgment of the country.
The result has disappointed the hopes
of every lover of his country. BY de
| cisions abhorrent to the natural senses
of justice, all proof of fraud was ruled
out, and the States of Louisiana and
Florida have been counted for Hayes
although AL fair minded men concede
that they voted for riideu. This griev.
GUS wrong and its authors | have de.
nounced on the floor OF the House, and
| have no hesitancy in declaring that,
for the fist time in our history, the Pre-
sidency has been awarded to a candidate
who has no just title to its honors.
But he comes into office as the result
OF the operation OF law which received
the support of the Democratic party.
and any attempt 20 resist its operation
would, it seems to me, only deprive us
Of the support and sympathy Of all con
sentative and fair-mindcd citizens.
Inasmuch as differences Of opinion
exist in regard to the policy which has
been pursued by the Democratic party
since the election, and prior to the meet
ing OF Congress, haye only TO say that
so far as my action is concerned. what
ever has been done has received tho ap.
prevail Of the Executive Committee and
of the only persons outside OF their mum.
Der who had any right 10 be consulted.
An absurd statement has been widely
circulated that ! had declared that II
preferred the Inauguration Of Hayes "a
the shedding OF a single drop Of blood
A leading Democratic journalist, who
could at any time from his position "a a
member of the House of Representatives
have asccrtained the truth. has circulated
this false statement in a letter over his
own initials, although il ought to have
been known 10 him that I had contradic
ted it in card, widely copied. immedi.
ately after its publication. The only
remark which l ever made on this sub.
Jeot was in private conversation, not
intended to be repeated. and was TO the
effect that II would prefer four years OF
Hayes administration TO four years Of
civil war = and upon this declaration I
am willing to stand. because four years
Of civil war would, in my opinion. ut.
terly destroy constitutional government
for this generation at least
II has also been insinuated that my
course has been affected by the owner.
ship OF large amount OF United States
bonds. 1t is enough for me TO express
the regret that EN- not so fortunate "a
TO own any Of these desirable securities.
aud to state that all my means are. as
they always have been, used in giving
employment 70 the workingmen OF this
land. suffering so severely from the NAL
administration of its public affairs.
have also been censured for assent.
ing TO the completion Of the count, I'm
accordance with the provisions Of the
law which helped to frame. and which
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