The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-01-17
President Hayes Title.
NAV Ynrk HeraId.l


We do not think anybody should
be disquieted. by the rumors of an
intention to set on foot an investi-
CATION to test the title of Mr.. Hayes.
1t is a thing which no man of clear
political sagacity Will undertake, or
countenance, or have any compiled
ty with. Nothing could be more
wild and chimerical than such
project. Mr.. Hayes being in office
there is no way to depose him ex
cept by conviction on an impeach
ment, which would require two
third vote of the Senate. The talk
about an appeal to the courts is rub
bish. We know the composition OF
the Supreme Court, which is the ul-
innate tribunal and It is morally
certain that the Supreme Court will
not reverse the decision of the Elec-
toral Commission. The principle
of that decision was that Congress
has no constitutional authority to
90 behind the electoral colleges and
inquire into the validity of their
election. If this is the law no court
can reverse what was done last Feb
ruary. Even if Congress should
pass a law comforting jurisdiction
the Supreme Court would set aside
such an act for repugnance to the
constitution. Three of the five JUS
tees who were members of the
Electoral Commission voted with
the majority and are committed to
the principle of the decision. An
other, Justice Harlan, is an appoin-
tee of President Hayes, and it is
safe to conjecture how he would
vote. These make four of the nine,
ard only one more is needed to
make them a majority. Chief JUS
tice Waite, Justice Swayne and JUS
tice Hunt are republicans, and some
or all of them would take the same
view of the law which is held by
the four who are committed No
intelligent man can doubt that the
Supreme Court would sustain the
decision of the Electoral Commits
sion that there is no constitutional
power to go behind the action of the
electoral colleges. Nobody sees
this more clearly than Senator Conk
ling, and we wholly discredit the
rumor which connects his name with
this absurd project. The idea, that
the House of Representatives can Sc
lect a President to take the place
of Mr.. Hayes is even more utterly
preposterous than the notion that
the Supreme Court would decide.
against his title.
If there is any serious purpose to
agitate this subject it proceeds from
the republican enemies of the Presi-
dent with a view to bully him and
intimidate him into submission.
But no really shrewd politician
would attempt to frighten him with
such a scarecrow, or would wish to
give him the great advantage he
would derive from the assault Of
set of mad revolutionists. If the
attempt to depose him were serious
ly made with even a remote chance
of success all friends OF peace and
order would rally around him and
save the business of the country
from disturbance and ruin. His
friends and advisers must know that
this would be the consequence, and
some of them may wish for this
reason that the opposition to him
NAV assume some such form OF po-
litical lunacy. The cooler part of
his opponents will not permit the
preparation of so self -annihilating
a political blunder. If they cOunte-
nance an investigation of Mr.. Chan
dler's charges it will be for the mere
purpose of annoyance, and not with
any view to put the President out
of office.