Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-05-20
VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF PREsI
DENT HAYES, In REGARD TO
THE PROPOSED INvEsrI.
CATION.

New YORK, May Is. The Times Washington
special says that gentleman in the confidence o
the President and having perfect knowledge o
Mr.. Hayes views respecting the recent proceed
ing OF the democratic majority of the House, sale
this evening that the President, while main tain
ing natural equanimity of temper, was not in
cned TO look lightly on the situation.
LIE did not think It matter to treat with in
difference. Great events 10 history sprung from
smaller beginnings. The present movement orig
mated al Annapolis, only few weeks ago, and
when the resolutions of the Maryland leg islsturt
were published to the country they were read
with derislon and the author was characterized as
madman.
AT that time great difficulty was fonnd 10 per.
suadIDg any senator TO present them to the sen.
ate, aud when finally Senator Dennis submitted
them, he did so in . speech disclaiming any sym
patty with their contents. Tracing the move
ment from its birth, the President is struck with
its rapid growth. He points to the significant
crcu Instance that such independent and infuen.
tisl men as Alexander II. Stephens are slready
powerless to stay its mandate. Whatever the re
suit OF the investigation might be, whatever dis.
closures might result. the President entertained
no fear that anything could be brought home to
him.
If any person made any promise in his behalf
OF entered into any bargain, they did so without
his knowledge, and be hoped that their acts
would be exposed. The President regards the
action Of the southern democrats, in supporting
the investigation, ungiateful in the highest de-
gree, irrespective OF other consider atoms.
When he assumed the executive office, he found
the south or large portion Of it distracted and
torn asuDder BY political strife, almost bordering
ON revolution. lie gave the south pesce. South
Carollua, and especially Louisiana were restored
to the rule Of tue native population and carpet
baggng had ceased to be an element in southern
politics. The President Of course acted from
street sense OF public duty, and claims reward
at the hands oi the south for doing what he wa,
bound IN conscience to do, but he cannot avoid
being witness to the ingratiude evinCed by the
representatives OF the south to the man who above
all others hrs had their we fare and happiness in
common with the rest Of the union, sincerely ai
heart.
With reference to his title, the President con.
ceded that 1t could be contested, but there wa.
only one way TO test the question, and that wa.
by writ Of quo warranto, the only remedy pro
dided 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 rlght then existing
under the constitution and laws to question by
proceeding in Judicial courts Of the U. S. the
right and title of himself and Mr.. Wheeler, if any
SUCH right at that time existed. The President
admitted that Mr.. Tilden's- only remedy at this
time was by writ of quo wsrrsnto, ana such Il
writ was prerogative ~rn and not obtanabe as
matter of right, but only in the discretion of the
court, and he doubted whether any court would
grant 1t. The President also comedies the power
OF Congress to pass retractve law, to provide
other means OF testing the ute to the presidency Y,
as the office can never Be said'to be in the past,
but is always in the present.
As to his impeachment being ordered by the
House, the President has not the remotest idea
that such an occurrence is even among the posi-
blties. The President is fully alive to the exi
gencies that may arise, and will see to it that the
public peace is maintained, and the laws enforced
at whatever cost. He proposes to follow the pol
ICY already marked out by his administration, and
will take no backward step.