The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-28
LETTER OF CLARKsON n. POrTEI
He Explains the Effect of His ResO.
luton.


WAsHINGToE, May 27.-Clarkson n
Potter, in long letter to New Yorl
friend, explains the effect OF his resolu
tioD. He says: Among other things
you suggest that "to raise question
about the last presidential election will
bring on disturbance or revolution.
Not at all. About that possess yourself
in peace. There is not the slightest
chance of revolution or disturb
bance. When the whole coun.
try was at fever heat on the subject o.
election way was found to establish 6
tribunal to pass upon the election, and
every one submitted to that determine
tion. The Presidents title rests upon
that. l. now it should appear that there
was fraud which probably al
fected the electoral vote, and which the
commission did not notice, and if legs
remedy exists for correcting the error
you cannot believe that such q proceed,
ing, under law, could lead tC
disturbance. If there be no such
legsl remedy existing, and Con-
greSs should hereafter, by the sp.
proval of the President, or by twO-thirds
of both Houses without that approval,
provide one, why should a legal de-
termination thereafter had any more
produce disturbance than the decision
of the Electoral Commission did? 1t is
exactly because this is not Mexico and
the people prefer determining questions
by legal methods, and if legal methods
have not been provided TO invent legal
methods of determining them and to sub
nit TO the determination thus arrived at
that this country cannot be Mexican
izet. Having accepted tho Electoral
Commission, Of course we were bound TO
submit to It's results, but we ought at least
to be allowed to show if such was the
fact that the returns upon which the
Commission passed were procured by
fraud | admit that She Presidency is not
worth "a civil war, but l have not be-
lieved there was any danger OF such a
war. Tne generation which charged up
the heights Of Frederick and defended
the works at Petersburg will not 60
lightly into another struggle. We must
get years further on before that
will happen. l admit the success Cf
IL, u 49,, IlI,ap 1aoIars Havinn Lon n Jpup
when the law WAS on our side, and when
we ought to have stood up, it's not for US
now to stand up as long as the law re-
mains against US But you may ask
whether if there be no danger to public
order IRON the legal proceedings, there
may not be from the action by Congress
no more than from the action OF the courts.
Congress represents the people OF the
country, but does not march before them.
It expresses but does not anticipate their
will. Should the fraud connected with
the electoral count appear so gross and
palpable that you and all honorable men
should unite in denOunclng 1t, Congress
might take action; but il so, what Con-
gress might do being the result of the &C
ton of men of all parties OF the great body
of people not OF u party would be effect.
ed quietly, certainly and without violence
or disturbance. In saying this, l do not
mean that | expect the investigation to
be followed either by legal or Congress
ional action What, if anything, should
be done because of the inquiry, must de-
pend upon the results of the inquiry.
But | do not mean that whatever action,
if sny. follow the investigation, such
action can neither disturb the order
nor prosperity Of the country. This cry
of "wolf," when there is no wolt-thls
ef1rt TO make it appear that there is
dar ger to peace or order from this in
vestIgation, Is a Republican pretense like
the "blOOdy shirt" justification OF carpet
BAG government; like the public dan
ger" excuse advanced for the enforce.
ment of Durell's infamous order and the
protection of the Returning Board by
bayonets; like the cry set up after the
election to prevent any agitation and to
secure submission. What then, you ask,
Is the purpose OF the investigatIon2 l
answer. to ascertain the facts, so that if
frauds be established REPETITION OF such
frauds msy be prevented, and II not, &c
clear up the general belief throughout
the country that there was such frauds.
The feeling amongst many RepubIl-
cans after the election wss that while
we had been cheated in the returns we
had bulldozed the negroes so badly that
the accounts of wrong were about equal.
This belief IN the bulicozIng OF the ne
groes was BASED mainly upon the fact
that in certain districts in the South
which usually gave Republican majori.
ties there was not single Republican
vote. The people OF the North have
never understood tha thi. condition Of
things was prepared by the Republicans.
They ought to understand that, sad be-
vond that they ought to understand that
there never was anything so dangerous
To the free Government as Returning
Board TO throw out the votes OF one side
and keep the votes Of the other without
cause to invent pretext for such wron ;
10 accept after the contrlved protests and
objections IS color for
their 4. tiou to permit the figures to be
altered; returns TO be forged, frauds
to he perfected and generally
every means by which the will Of the
people may be frustrated and the popular
voices stided, it then become possible
and there msy be thus 8 condition OF
things absolutely destructive OF free gov
ernment. We belIeyelt was by such
proceedings We were cheated out OF the
election. Unless the proceedT Z; be eX-
posed the outrage will be repeat
ed. Whatever may result
from the proposed investigation you
nav be sure lha. nothing can result ths.
will disturb either your 1ocks or your
balances. The trouble u capital, pro
perty and freedom Will come not, per-
haps. IN your time or mine, but will
come At last from refusing TO Inquire
into the frauds. To confront the evil, If
YOU may not right it, is to prevent its
repi,i,ion. To shut your eyes to It Is TO
ieopsrdize and not preserve the future
peace, safety and prosperity OF the
Jumped the Track.
BALTIMORE, May Yesterday s.
ternoon car loaded with kerosene, in