Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-21
HAYES.
About how the President Feels
About the Coming Investigation
He Charges the Southern
Democrats with In
gratitude.

NEW YORK, May 19.-The TTDres's Wash
ington special says: :" A gentleman in the
confidence of the President and having per-
feet knowledge of Mr.. Hayes's views respect
ing the recent proceedings of the Democratic
majority of the house. said this evening that
the President, while maintaining his natural
equanimity of temper, was NOT inclined to
look lightly on the situation; that he did not
think it was matter to treat with indiffer-
ence, as great events in history had sprung
from smaller beginnings. Tracing the
movement from its birth, the President has
been struck with its rapid growth, and he
points to the significant circumstance that
such independent and influential men as
Alexander II. Stephens are already powerleBs
to stay the caucus mandate. Whatever the
result of the investigation might be, what
ever disclosures might result therefrom, the
President entertained no fear that anything
could be brought home to him. If any
person made any promises In his behalf, or
entered into any bargains, they did SO with
out his knowledge, and he hoped their acts
would be exposed. The President regards
the action OF the southern Democrats in sup
porting the investigation scheme as migrate
tul IN the highest degree, irrespective OF other
considerations. When he assumed the exec
utive office he found the south, or at least
large portion of it, distracted and torn asun
der by political strife almost bordering on
revolution. He gave the south peace. South
Carolina, and especially Louisiana, were re-
stored to the rule of the native population,
the carpetbagger ceased to be an element in
southern politics. The President, of course,
acted strictly from a sense of public duty and
claims no reward at the hands of the south
for doing what he was bound in conscience
to do, but he cannot avoid being witness to
the lngratitude evinced by the representa-
hves of the south to a man, who, above all
others, has had their welfare and happiness, in
With fl,nr Of kbaT
at heart. With reference to his title, the
President conceded that it could be contest
ed, but that there was only one way to test
the question, and that was by writ of quo
icdrrdIItO which was the only remedy pro-
vided by law. When he became President,
the act creating the electoral commission
specially declared that nothing therein was
to be construed as impaIring or affecting any
right then existing under the constitution
and laws to question by proceeding In the
judicial courts of the United States the right
and title of himself and Mr.. Wheeler, If any
such right at that time existed. The Presi-
dent admitted that Mr.. Tilden's only remedy
at present was by writ of quo toGrranto, and
such writ was prerogatlve writ and not OBJ
tainable as matter of right, but only in the
discretion of the court, and he doubted
whether any court would grant it. The
President also comedies the power of con-
gress to pass retroactive law to
provide for otherwise testing the title
to the Presidency, as the Office
can never be said to be in the past,
but Is always IN the present. AS to his i'm
parchment being ordered by the house, the
President has not the remotest idea that such
an occurrence is even among the possibilities.
The President is fully alive to the exigencies
that may arise, and will see to it that the
public peace is maintained and the laws en-
forced at whatever cost. He proposed to fol-
Low the policy already marked out by his adj
nrinistration, and will take no backward
step"
The American social science association
met in Cincinnati yesterday, and will remain
In session all next week.