The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-20
Last NIGHTS Dispatchas IS.
What the Fraud Thinks.

New YORK, My l9.-The Times
Washington special says a gentleman in
the confidence of the President and having
perfect knowledge OF Mr. Hayes views
respecting the recent proceedings of the
democratic majority of the house, said this
evening that the President while main
tanning his natural equanimity of temper
was not inclined to look lightly on the sit
uatiuu lie did not think it matter to
treat with Indifference. Great events in
history had sprung from smaller beginning.
Tracing the movement from its birth the
President has been struck with Its rapid
growth. He points to the significant cir
cumstance that snch independent and
influential men as Alexander Ii. Stephens
are already powerless to stay the caucus
mandate. Whatever the result OF the
investigation might be, whatever disclo-
sures might result therefrom. the President
entertained no fear that anything could be
brought home to him. If any person
made any promises in his behalf, or entered
into any bargains. they did so without his
knowledge, aud ne hoped their acts would
be exposed. The President regards the
action OF southern democrats in supporting
the investigation scheme as uDgrateful in
the highest degree. irrespective of other
considerations When be assumed the ex-
ecutive Cf1ce he found the south, or at
least d large portion of it, distracted and
torn asunder by political strife, almost
bordering on revolution, He gave the
South reace. South Carolina. and espe.
ciallly Louisiana were restored to the rule
of the native population, and the carpet
bagger ceased to be an element in southern
politics. The President, of course, acted
from strict sense Of public duty, and
claims no reward at the hands of the
south for doing what he was bound
in conscience to do, but he can't
avoid being witness to the ingratitude
eviuced by the representatives of the south
to a man, who above all others, has had
their welfare and happiness 10 common
with the rest of the union sincerely al
heart With reference to his title the
president considered that it could be con.
tested, but there was only way to test the
question. fhat was by writ of quo soo7
rGato, which was the only remedy provided
by the law. When he became presiden,
the act creating the electoral commission
specially declared that nothing therein wa,
to be construed as impairing or affectius
any right then existiDgnnder the constitu
ton and laws to question by proceedings il
the judicial courts of the United States th,
right or title of himself and Mr.. Wheeler i
any such right at that time existed. The
president admitted that Mr.. Tilden's oDl,
remedy at present was by writ of o,tt
acarTqntO and such writ was a preropa-
tive writ and not obtaluable as matter q
right, but only in the discretion of th,
courts. and he doubted whether any cour
would grant it. The president also con
Icedes the power of congress to pass q
retro active law to provide other means o
testing the title to the presidency, as th,
Office can never be said to be in the past
but is always in the present. As to hi
impeachment being ordered by the house
the president has not the remotest ide,
that such an occurrence is among thu