Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-07
Mr.. Potter's Defense,

Mr.. POTTER convicts himself and his
party by his defense. His long and
labored letter is a confession that Demo-
cratic leaders begin to feel the public
alarm and Indignation which their CON
duct has aroused. 1t is an attempt to
excuse the resolution of investigation
by the plea that it was not yet certain
that the title of the President is to be
disputed, and that, if it should be, moth
ing would be done except by some form
of Congressional enactment, which, he
pleads, would not be in the least revo-
lutionary. In effect, he sets up the
plea that no pretended law, however
unconstitutional and disturbing to the
public peace, can be called revolution
ary if it is designed to set aside or pun
ish what those who vote for it please to
consider fraud. Yet the bare state
ment of this plea shows that it is at
war with the Constitution, and with the
whole system of self-government by
which the powers of each branch are
limited, and the powers of the majority
regulated. 1t aims to set up precisely
the form of rule which cursed France
during the Reign of Terror, and made
the civilized world shudder at the
crimes committed in the name of lib
erty. An accidental majority in the
Representative body may do anything,
if in the name of liberty or justice; it
may determine for itself what liberty
or justice requires; may decide for it
self whether any person suspect is
guilty or was duly elected to office.
This was the crowning infamy of the
rauAl,,fiA,, -, L,,N
sists that the same despotic exercise of
unconstitutional power, by an acci-
dental majority in Congress, upon
emergencies or pretexts judged by itself
alone, would not be revolutionary or
dangerous to public peace in America
Are Americans, then, more fond than
Frenchmen of unrestrained despotism,
or less attached to liberty regulated by
law? Even in France, the beheading
of King was followed by the behead-
ing of his eXecutioners, and the massa-
ere of aristocrats by Partisan mob
ended in the massacre of the Partisan
mob by Napoleon's cannon. This coun-
try, Mr.. Potter may be sure, is not
ready to start on that bloody and terri
BILE road
If a man as able as Mr.. Potter, at
tempting an elaborate defense in which
of the ablest men of his party, can Of
fer no better excuses than these, the
case must be bad indeed. 1t may readily
be admitted, as Mr.. Potter asserts, that
it will not be finally determined whether
to assail the title of the President until
it appears what preteXt may be found
in the evidence gathered. If the charges
should break down completely, the
original intent would be abandoned. If, |
after an inquiry controlled by a packed |
partisan committee, there should still |
be not evidence enough to satisfy the |
eager minds of Democratic partisans,
of course it will be said that the only |
was to probe the matter to |
the bottom. But Mr.. Potter does not
expect, nor do those behind him expect,
that the committee will fail to get evil
lence enough to satisfy Democratic
partisans. With such evidence Mr..
Potter does not now pretend that there
viii be no dispute of the Presidents
title. On the contrary, he insists that
lew laws can then be passed under
which that partisan majority can re-
)pen and again decide the very queS-
ion which it submitted to the Electoral
Commission last year.
The country ought to realize that the
greed and passion of partisanship may
'ush the majority in the House very
much further than is now expected by
dr, Potter, or by that majority itself.
den did not know in 1860 how they
would act in 1861. Democrats now com
'osing the majority in the House did
lot know, one short month ago, how
hey would finally vote on such a reso-
ution AS that of Mr.. Potter's, Behind
of Congress are hundreds of
avenous ofllee-beggars in every dis
rict. These men, having worked hard
or party and gained local influence,
TO claim their reward last
ear, In many instances, they obtained !