The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-01
Saturday. June ]. 1878.
Uncover the Electoral Frauds.

to be adduced in regard to frauds
1t was not appointed 10 try Hayes title to
the Presidency, nor institute proceedings
against his incumbency, but to satisfy the |
people whether or not the allegations of |
fraud so often and persistently made are
true, and if found true to report the facts
to Congress for its further action in the
premises. In regard to the objects, pow
ers, and ultimate ends of the Potter Com
mittee, the following communication from
the PEG of Judge Hoadley. in the columns
of the Cincinnati Commercial, is one Of
the ablest and best that has as yet ap.
peared Judge Hoadley is one among the
first jurists of the country, and treats
the subject with judicial fairness and the
breadth of a statesman. He commences
his remarks with the frank and manly
observation that he is heartily in favor
of the resolutions. His argument is as
follows:
IF it be seriously claimed that the vote
of any other state than that of Florida
and Louisiana was miscounted at the last
presidential canvass, l should be in favor
OF extending the proposed investigation to
such state IF there be any newly dis
covered frauds in regard to any state whose
vote was not miscounted. l think it would
be extremely wise to extend the investiga-
ton to such cases. 1t is, of course, not
north xuhila fn travail tho Nd
already familiar to the people, but know
of no more useful or beneficial work than
that of searching to the bottom of the
wrong which has resulted in the occupation
of the White House by the only man
Peter Cooper excepted-whom the people
distinctly repudiated for the Office of Pres
ident. IF the American system of repub-
llcan government, with a Presidential
election every four years, is to continue,
there must be confidence on the part of
the people that their votes in the ballot
box will have their proper effect in the
count. Ii it be once established as the
doctrine of our constitution that the theft
OF the Presidency can be punished only
after four years enjoyment of the spoils,
we may be sure the position will be stolen
quadrennially with perfect regularity,
The difference between free people and
an enslaved people lies in the fact that a
free man will submit to no wrong which
there is even a distant prospect of righting,
and will exhaust legal remedy before aban-
donlng the demand for justice,
The programme of the Hayes admins
tration seems TO have been to steal the
presidency, adopt the principles of the
democratic party so far as relates to the
south, and then rely for protection against
investigation into the fraudulent beget-
tings ct the administration upon the good
will thus I've created at the south, the
dislike TO Mr.. TIlden founded on his known
hostility to the Texas Pacific railroad,
and like of schemes of plumber, and above
all on what may be called the bOur9eOisie
feeling which controls so many minds,
namely, that anything should be submit
ted to for the sake of peace aud to make
money -the same feeling which in France
enabled Louis Napoleon to enjoy so long
triumph over the Republic, aud which in
this country has already secured u year,
and probably will result in three years
more OF usurpation-the growth of which
sentiment is 10 me the most alarming
feature OF the times. 1t Is to be remem-
bered that nobody proposes the disturb
ance Of the public peace. The question
before Congress and the country is, shall
we be permitted to know the length and
breadth of the wrong done in the last
presidential canvass, aud which the
Electoral Tribunal refused to investigate ?
Opposition 10 Mr.. Potter's resolution
means the sitting OF inquiry into ~
greatest abuse that has ever beer ~
tui in America, and the on success
substantially conf POSITION is itsel
those who ~ cssiou on the part q
Cn0rn'' ake it that the belief 10 tn
- of this wrong is justified by tn
lacts Had the electoral commission take
jurisdiction, listened to the testimony an
adjudgcd its value, it might, with som
pausibility, be claimed that Mr.. Have
title was decision after inquiry, but tt
electoral tribunal simply decided that the
would not investigate, and did not desil
to know. The law which created Il
electoral tribunal contains the followiI
section:
SgcTIoNG. That nothing in this act shall be he
tn implir or affect any right now existing uud
IN. constitution and laws to question, by prOcce
Jugs The judicial courts of the United States,
right or the title Of The person WHO shall be d
carea elected, or who shall claim TO be Preside
or Vice-Prcsiicnt oil the United States, If any su
right exists.
1t is, therefore. perfectly clear FROM ii
statute which created the tribunal, al
from the record of the decisions OF tn
tribunal itself, that whatever claim N
Hayes may have to the presidency was
no way strengthened or fortified by t
action OF the electoral commission, t
statute having reserved the right of t
people to judicial investigation by t
section have quoted and the commissl
having decided nothing except its own
competency TO go behind the face OF
returns. The result of all this in its app
cation to the present and future conditi
of things is obvious. Mr., Hayes is acti
as president because the electoral tribuI
held that it had no power to examine il
the facts of the election, dliunde the
turns of canvassing boards, even thou
these returns were the result Of frau
forgery, and violation of legal duty.
In the case of Florida, the State its
protested against the return of the majo
ity OF the Canvasslng Board aud I
votes east tor cast TOR Hayes a
Wheeler by the electors, whom this Ii
jority declared elected. The judicial |
partment decided, speaking through
Supreme Court in the case of the Gov
nor, that the Returning Board had
authority, such as that claimed and {
ercised in favor of'the Hayes electors,
throw out the votes Of counties and y
cncts so as to change the majority tr
the Democratic to the Republican 81
The Circuit Court in quo warran;o aga
the Hayes electors eusted them aud iud
ted the Tilden electors. The legisa