The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-05
Hanes'a Title.

The Hon. James H. Williams, demo-
cratic candidate for governor Of Maine,
has come out in a letter explaining and
interpreting the platform on which he is
nominated to suit himself, and also says
that Hayes's title TO the presidency is
good. The New York Sun thus goes for
Mr.. Williams:
This Maine democratic candidate thinks
Hayes title is good; but we will tell him,
aud tells his friends, why it is hopelessly
bad, now and forever, and cannot become
good or be made good.
First then, Mr.. Hayes was not elected;
and according to the constitution no man
can be president who is not elected.
According 20 the constitution, Hayes Is
not president. He only occupies the Office
through the federation Of the people. The
only rightful president is the man who was
elected.
The foundation on which Hayes's So
called title is based is the assertion that
the electors of Florida and Louisiana voted
for him. 10 order to make out this claim,
the returns from those States were altered
through fraud. The voters gave a major
ity for the Tlldeu electors, but the return
ing boards fraudulently changed it into a
majority for the Hayes electors, But for
these frauds. Hayes could not have even
the title that he now has This title, then,
is nothing but fraud; and until falsehood
and truth are synonymous, and fraud and
honesty become the same, Hayes's title to
his Office, though tolerated till it is judi
cially reversed, cannot be worthy OF the
least respect
Moreover, Mr.. Hayes was not only not
elected, but he was not declared elected by
Congress, as provided by the constitution.
The mandate of that instrument is thai
the electoral votes of the respective states
shall be counted in the presence of the
two houses OF congressional is to say, by
the two houses of congress. This was
not done in the case Of Hayes. The
counting of the votes was referred to al
unconstitutional tribunal, and it is to thi!
unconstitutional body that Hayes owes hi,
only title to the Office. This tribunal being
unconstitutional, its decision has no con
stitutional validity.
Now, Mr., Williams, of Maine, you sa!
Mr.. Hayes's title is good; but don't yoI
remember that the last house of repre-
sentatives,an authority far more competen
than you are, solemnly declared that it wal
bad? Besides, what will you say should
Wells, Anderson, Casenave, and Kenne
be convicted III New Orleans of forging
aud classifying the election returns in ordo
to make it appear that the Hayes elector
were chosen2 The truth is clear now t
every man who is willing to see; but sup
pose it should be made so clear by evidenc
produced in the trial of these men, or b
evidence produced otherwise, that the Til
den electors were chosen in Louisiana, tina
even the blind must see it. what will 20
say about it then? VIII you still main
tain that Hayes's title is good2 Or woul
Hayes himself think OF remaining i
Office after such evidence had been pro
duced in court and the facts proved 10
regular judicial trial
Or suppose that Judge Joseph p. Brad
ley Of the electoral tribunal-who first cor
cluded that Tilden was elected, and the
between night and morning changed his d.
cisiOn in favor of Hayes-should be in
peached and broken for 80 doing, no
would Hayes's title stand then2
The truth is plain. Hayes was nc
elected. He and his confsderates a
know that he was not elected. He is NJ
righttully president, and he trembles fl
the place which he occupies without a goc
title. Mr.. Evarts, Mr.Schurz, Mr.. Devon
oil the men of any astuteness who su
round the fraudulent president, are full 4
trepidation and anxiety They dread LEI
the revelations of one day or anoth,
should cover them with deeper disgras
and more complete desperation
making that judicially certain which no
everybody understands and believes.
Hayes's title good Why, it is a lie,
counterfeit, fraud, 1t Is like the title