Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-19
Interesting Inside History OF the Pot
ter Movement Toward Bringing About
a Satisfactory Investigation OF
the Presidential Election
Frauds, and what In
spired 1t.
Unexpected United Opposition TO the
Proceeding Developed on the Part
OF the Republican Members OF
the House, which AVails
the Party Nothing.
ton has Placed Weapons in the Hands
OF the Republicans with which TO
Assail the Democratic Party.
specIal Correspondence OF the Appeal.l

investigated. The big and little villains who
assisted In developing and accomplishing the
crime will be shown for all they are as GRIM
inals, and the world will know whether
Hayes was directly or indirectly party to it.
The first days wrangle over the Potter reso-
luton developed a strength of party fealty
on the part of the Republicans that must
have been as gratifying to Hayes as it was
unexpected by the Democrats. So much had
been said about Hayes's Republican enemies
being as eager for investigation as the Demo
Gratis, that the decided party vote on the mo-
ton to lay the appeal from the speakers
ruling on the table opened many eyes hlther-
to blind to the fact that the party of fraud,
TO be consistent with its record as such, must
stand in the imminent and deadly breach be-
tween the de fdctO President and the impa-
tent friends of the de jHre President. But
Ter and Fort were the only instances of defec-
ton ON the Republican side, but they were
fully compensated for by the loss Of Mills, of
Texas, and Buckner, of Missouri, who voted
with the perpetrators of all the frauds the
country has groaned under since the day
when the Democrats laid down the scepter of
power in 1860. The Republicans also had a
crumb of comfort in the speech of Mr.. Rea-
gan, of Texas, delivered after the vote was
taken, and the northern Democrats who
have been so sorely perplexed at
the singularly un-Democratic con-
duct of few southern Democratic leaders
found in it, as in the votes of Buckner and
Mills, fresh proofs for their representations
that if the work of proving the theft of the
Presidency by connlvance and consent OF Re
publican officials was prevented, 1t would be
by the votes of southern Democrats eager to
hide the misdoings, in that connection, of
prominent ones among their number. l
make no doubt that Mills and Buckner voted
as their consciences dictated. and that the ex-
postmaster-geDeral of the Confederacy spoke
as he felt was right and just in great emer-
gency, but it is very hard for plain people
who have hitherto admired the Democracy
of these gentlemen, and looked to them as
guides, to reconcile'their votes and speeches
with the plain dictates of common-sense in
connection with a matter of such deep con-
Germ to the party and such serious import to
all classes of the people. Rumor has it that
at the caucus yesterday, after four hours of
debate conducted with view 10 the infor-
nation of all the members, the recusants
were brought into line, but doubt it. Mills
was as decided as when, during the electoral
commission excitement, he was rampagiously
extreme, and Buckner was positive, Reagan
alone, of the three, giving a reason
for what he did that in any sense
harmonized with the views of the major
ity. For the attitude assumed by these gen.
tlemen there can be no excuse offered.
No question ever brought to the attention of
the people has been SO thoroughly argued,
pro and con, and none has had SO much light
thrown upon it. Every phase of it has been
discussed by the press, and the modes and
methods of investigation, and the way to it,
have been blazed by indefatigable toilers.
As the new and stronger evidence of fraud
in Florida and louisiana was brought to light,
fresh interest was excited on the part of
Democrats covered with the rust of inditfer
ence to the crime, by newspapers that,
goaded by the more enterprising, took up the
cry of fraud, and demanded, In the name of
an outraged people, that the facts should be
put in evidence and a congressional commit
tee should declare officially what nine tenths
of the people have already believed. In con-
gress there was no general inclination to in
Vestigttion manifested. Even after the M Lin
and Dennis confessions came to light, and
the first flush of excitement consequent there
upon had passed away, there was but little
disposition to press the issue. Those who, on
question of different character, equally
momentous, would have taken the lead ana
insisted upon prompt work, were In public
silent as the grave, but in private were busy
as beavers trying TO prevent what the people,
educated by a few leading journals, were
pressing. Others were openly opposed to any
form of inquiry, even the mildest. SsHe
we're Indifferent, and only few manifested
anything like the zeal the gravity of the case
and occasion called for. Senators and repre-
sentatives we're all at sea. There was no
concert of acton, nothing like common ac-
cord. Even so late as Saturday, after the
congressional executive committee had de-
clared for investigation, there was nothing in
the form of agreement as to the course to be
pursued. There was some consultation and
much in the way of suggestion among a small
knot of Democrats, most of them having no
relationship to the government, but no con-
clusion was reached until Pelton, represent
ing Tilden, held secret, know nothing,
dark lantern sort of conclave at Baltimore,
where amid the all old-time mystery and hug
ger-mugger, a plan of action was adopted,
which, after being reviewed at another secret
meeting, was rendered. and finally decided
upon. Whether Pelton has realized that
with Democratic congressman there Is moth
ing deader than the Tilden influence, and so
was afraid to trust himself to the right policy
and an open, manly appeal to the party rep
resentatives on behalf of his uncle, or that he
is a natural born conspirator, who can do
nothing, even what Is right, and Just, and
fair, without the surroundings and accesso-
res of mystery, it is hard to tell. Perhaps
he was affected vanously. The investigation
over, it is to be hoped he will not again APP
pear upon the Democratic stage. The part
he has played since the days of the electoral
commission has been to the last degree dam
aging to the party, whose interests he
was charged with by the accident of birth.
He knows how not to do it, and is perfect as
a mismanager. At the secret conclave of
Sunday the Potter resolutions were decided
upon. The speaker was notified, and he
looked up The authorities and fortified him
self against the points of order that it was
suggested might be taken by the RepubG-
cans. The rest you know. The history of
parties cannot show anything more bunging-
| " mlsmanaged than this, more slowly ap-
| preached or more eagerly and suddenly con-
cluded upon. With plenty of time for thought
and consultation, and abundance of caution
and seeming of great deliberation, the par
| ty was, after being forced to the step by the
press, rushed precipltately upon action when
it was known to every man in congress that
there was not enough votes in the house at
that time to sustain the affirmative of the
proposition for investigation. Somebody
Numbered" Reluctance and disafection,
doubt and uncertainty were only converted
in the face of the emergency sprung by Pot
ter's action. The spirlt of the old party then
asserted itself over all individual whims, ca
prices and opinions, and save Mills and Buck
ner all stood shoulder to shoulder. The want
of a leader was never more sorely felt, the
loss of individual prestige never so grlevously
| acknowledged. The chaos and confusion
that has prevailed in the party was never
more apparent, and the utter want of ability
to cope with great problem with the candor
that eaptiYates aud the manliness that is con-
| tagio1s, vas never made so plain
as by the unfortunate young man
whom Mr.. Tilden has with a
determination fatal to his interests put for
ward as his mouth-piece and agent. There
was work to be donei in secret that was we'll
done. With it, and the public avowal Of the
result, in the confessions of M Lin and Den
mia, all aecresy should have been removed.
There should haze been no more executive
sessions. Taking any part in pushing the
investigation. Mr.. Tilden's young man. Pei
ton. should have taken that part openly and
aboye board. There was nothing to be
ashamed of in an Ryowal by him Of interest
Ia his uncle's cause. There was also nothing
to be afraid of. 1t was eminently right and
proper that he should act as Mr.. Tilden' s
representative, but lie should have acted in
keeping with the dignity Of the situation,
the gravity of the occasion and purpose in
view, and the spirit Of the party whose
Gauss L for the time icing that of his uncle.
a. l.. -.