Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-14
CONGRESSMAN SPRINGER
Thinks Hayes Can ne Impeaehed sue
cessfulIy Party TO the Bar
gain by which the Presidency
was stolen from TiIden.

Washington correspondent of the New
York Times: Representative Springer, OF
Illinois, is not distinguished for profunditv
| as statesman or learning as a lawyer, but
| ne Is an active member of the Potter commit
| tee, and this accidental connection gives his
! opinion touching the proceedings of that
| body an Importance winch they would other
| WISE not receive from persons who know him.
| Mr.. Springer was 10 Washington few DAYS
| ago, and while here prepared the following
! statement OF his views In connection with the
| proceedings of the Potter committee, which
he had published in the Chicago Times, to
| which enterprising Journal Mr.. Springer Is
understood to be a frequent contributor
Said MIR. Springer: From the evidence now
IN and the papers mentioned by Colonel
Burke In his testimony, some of which are
yet to be put in evidence, it seems clearly es-
tablished that the Wormley conference actu-
ally took place, and that a compact or bar
gain or understanding of some kind was en-
tered into to this effect: That Nichols was
to be recognized by Hayes as the lawfully
elected governor of louisiana, and that Mich
oils would protect the Republicans of the
5 late, would enforce the laws, and not com
picata the situation by the election OF two
United States senators. Ii was also under
stood st the conference that It these aSsur-
ances could be given on either side the friends
of Nichols and Wade Hampton in the house
Of representatives would draw their support
from the hllt usterlng movement, and the
count would proceed to ITS final completion,
resulting in the declaration of the election OF
Hayes and Wheeler. From tins evidence it
also appears that on Sunday, March 4th, be-
fore Hayes was inaugurated publicly, he was
waited upon by Gibson and Colonel Burke
and he assured them there that his policy
would be concilatory, and he requested them
that opportunity be allowed him to remove
the difficulties and prepare the way for the
completion of the bargain made by his friends
This request, coming from the President, Is
the first intimatlon that a commission was to
be sent to New Orleans to accomplish the
overthrow of the Packard government These
gentlemen said In their dispatch to Governor
Nichols that Hayes seemed anxious and ear
nest IN the proper direction. Proper direc-
ton was well understood by Nichols, Glib
son, and Burke at that time. The MacVeagh-
Harlan commission thus becomes the final
chapter In the bargain by which Hayes, whose
title is no better than Packard's was, and
whose previous record was on the side of the
Packard and Louisiana carpetbaggerS, agreed
t. abandon the Packard government and the
Louisiana Republicans and recognize the
Nichols government upon the understand
ing that sufficient Democrats would Withdraw
from the hlibu>t ering movement and co-ope-
rate with the Republicans In the house in Sc
curing the completion of the count of the
elcCtOIdi NOL6S. IL Ibis Ue not Il corrupt par
gain and sale, 1t is difficult to understand
what would constitute such a thing 1t is
the opinion of the ablest lawyers with whom
have conversed that if proof of this bargain
is completed. the house Of representatives
will be forced by public sentiment to present
articles of impeachment against the Presi-
dent, and that the senate as now constituted
even, would almost unanimously find him
guilty and remove him from office. This, OF
course, would open the way for Mr.. Wheeler
to step into the Presidential char, but the
proof which would be sufficient to remove
Hayes on impeachment would show that Mr..
Wheeler, as well as Mr.. Hayes, was corrupt
~ bargained for and counted in, and that in
public sentiment at such time 1t is not be-
lieved Mr.. Wheeler would or could accept
the place. This would require the President
pro tenipOre to be inaugurated as President
ad interim until another election could take
place, which could not be under the constltu-
ton and laws prior to November, 1879, even
If conviction should be had at the next ses-
sion of congress, but the probabilities ere
that in case OF Impeachment, the trial will
take place after the fourth of March, when
the senate would be convened in extraordinary
session for that purpose. The senate would
then be Democratic, and the President, pro
tempOre, who would be inaugurated in case
of the conviction of Hayes, would be Dem
ocrat.