Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-01
HAYES, DISUONOR.

The testimony of William E. Chandler
before the Potter con- mittee on Saturday,
admits further ray of light to the subject
under investigation. which will so far
towards fixing the responsibility of the lar
ceny of the vote of Louisiana where it be-
longs. 1t proves positively that MIR. Hayes,
a long time previous to his Inauguration,
had entered into bargain, that was corrupt
upon it's face, by which the electoral vote OF
Louisiana should be counted for him. and in
return he had agreed to GUST Packard from
the gubernatorial chair and recognize
Nichols as the de tfacto governor. The first
intimation Mr.. Chandler received of the
contamination of the bargain was from Mr..
Hayes most intimate friend, Stanley Mat
thews, who, between the 18th and 25th of
February, 1877, besought him to use his in
huence with Grant to prevent the
recognition of the Packard governme mt,
because if Grant should do so Hayes would
be bound by the decision of his predecessor
and would not be at liberty to change or dis
regard it. ''This remark" says Mr..
Chandler, "was the first tangible evidence
had had that the dishonor and dishonesty
which afterwards followed was completed"
He suggested to Matthews that he did not
sec how the President could help recogniz-
ing and sustaining the Packard government
when the Hayes electors had been chosen by
the same votes, and had the same title.
Matthews said he had been looking into
that, that there was no difficulty about it.,
whatever; that he had ascertained that while
the returning board canvassed the votes for
the Presidential electors the votes for Gov
ernor we're canvassed by the legislature, so
that the electors and governor derived their
title from different sources.
Matthews justification for the policy in
contemplation was simply the plea of pet
tifogger, and was fttingly characterized by
Mr.. Chandler as dishonor and dishonesty.
The returns upon which the returning board
gave the electoral vote to Hayes were the
same as those on which the legislature
counted the vote for Nichols. 1t was ap-
parent that the count of one or the other of
these bodies was dishonest one, and Hayes
knew the fact. BY recognizing the Nichols
| government, therefore, he confessed that the
| count of the returning board was fraudu-
lent one, and that he held the Office OF
President by virtue of their fraud, or else he
perpetrated dishonest act in ousting Pack.
| ard from an Office to which he was rightfully
elected. He pursued this policy after ma.
ture elaboration, with a full knowledge Of
the facts, and by the consent and encourage
ment of Matthews, Evarts, Garfield, Kasso1
and Mccormick. That the iniquity wat
consummated before his Inauguration, ant
before the vote of Louisiana had beer
counted for him, is proof positive that the
bargain was entered into as q means of hi.
attaining the Presidency. That it was /;
corrupt bargain is patent on its face. HI
either consented to accept the Presidency
knowing that he was not elected. or he con
sented to perpetrate deliberate fraud upo1
his own political friends in Louisiana for til,
sake of conciliating his enemies. This il
not forced inference. It is the only on,
that can be drawn from the facts stated
Those who have been 10th to believe tina
Hayes was guilty of any questionable con
duct in connection with the contest for tn,
votes of Louisiana and Florida will hav,
their faith in him badly shaken by the state
ments of Mr.. Chandler, for it is shown in
contestably that he was fully aware of al
the facts previous to his Inauguration, ant
whichever horn of the dilemma he may tax,
he must convict himself Of participation il
an infamous bargain, having for its obiec
his own personal aggrandizement That hi
rewarded each and every one of his associate.
IN the crime by the best Offices within hit
gift is confirmatory proof of his guilt.
The GLOBE would have been glad to have
been spared these comments on the condnc
of the chief executive of the nation. Tn.
honor of the President is a matter in which
every American is interested, be he Democra
or Republican. His lack of personal in
tegrity is not matter over which partisan
delight to gloat, for it is humiliation t,
every citizen of the Republic. Far rathe
would we have believed that Mr.. HAYES hat
no direct personal responsibility for tn
means employed to place him in the Presi
Dental chair, for even with the KNOWLEDGE