The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-07

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WASHINGTON, May 2s.-In lieu of a personal
answer to many letters received from friends
IN the south disclaiming sympathy with any
effort to unseat President Hayes, Postmaster
| General Key has written the following open
/ letter to the people OF the South:
WASHINGTON, May 20, 1878.
The circumstances attending the passage OF
the Potter resolution to investigate the alleged
frauds In the Presidential election OF 1876 in
the States OF Louisiana and Florida, together
with the subsequent declarations Of many in
fuental Democratic politicians and journalists.
evidence that If both Houses OF the Forty
sixth Congress are Democratic, the majority
intend to Gust President Hayes, and inaugur-
ate Mr.. TIden. The title OF President Hayes
was settled irrevocably by the Forty fourth
Congress in the act creating the Electoral Com
mission. under which he was legally declared
elected and legally inaugurated. The Forty
fifth Congress has no more right to dispute
this question than the President has to ques-
ton the title OF any victorious contestant to
his seat n that body. The Forty sixth Con-
gress will have no more right to ignore him
and to recognize his defeated contestant. Mr..
Tilden, than Mr. Hayes would have to send a
file OF soldiers to the House OF Representatives
to unseat Democrat whom he might consider
to have been wrongfully seated or fraudulently
elected.
Tba laadara N thia baanarafa affamrt
Mexcanize our institutions rely confidently
upon the solid South to furnish the bulk OF
the Democratic majority in the next House OF
Representatives, the Senate being already Sc
cured. Remembering the encouragement which
the Northern Democrats in 1860 anc 1861 ex-
tended to the Southern States to secede. and
the manner in which their promises OF aid and
comfort were fulfilled, can the Southern peo
pic afford to join the revolutionary movement,
with the certainty that. when the inevitable
hour OF peril comes, they will again be left,
unassisted and alone, to meet the storm from
the North, once moro united by this attempt to
revive an issue whose settlement was forced by
public opinion upon an unwilling Congress
In the dark days Of February. 1877, when the
civil war was over. disputed election was
imminent, and patriots trembled for the safety
Of republican institutions Southern members
Of Congress averted the danger by compelling
the completion OF the electoral count under
law which both parties In Congress had enacted.
But now the Representatives from the South
ern States. with very few exceptions, have
joined in a movement to subvert their former
patriotic action and to remand the country to
that anarchy from which, less than two years
ago. it WAS saved by their efforts.
Grant that, in permitting the autonomy OF all
the states, and IN appointing citizens to Office
in the South. instead of strangers, President
Hayes has but discharged his constitutional
duty, does that excuse the Southern Represen-
tatIves FOR attempting to invalidate his title.
which they established. or will it justify them
in bringing the country again in danger Of civil
war in the effort to unseat him and inaugurate
Mr.. Tilden The South must face the most
momentous crisis in its history since 1861. To
endorse the recent conduct Of their representa-
tives Is TO admit the truth OF the charge that
the people OF the South care nothing for the
welfare OF the Union. desire the downfall of
the republic, and would rejoice to see it again
involved in civil war. II their representatives
have not reflected their sentiments. as ! be-
lieve 10 be the case, then the people OF the
Southern States should take care that in the
Forty-sxth Congress they are represented by
men who will defeat the disturbers OF public
peace and prevent the Mexicanlzation OF our
institutions. To do this they may be COM
PEELED to act independent of the Democratic
party.
Recent events have demonstrated the inabili-
ty OF the Democratic members OF Congress TO
resist the mandates Of caucus and the terrors
OF the party lash, the one welded and the other
inspired by men who seem willing to endanger
the welfare OF the country, and the stability of
republican institutions for the sake of revenge
on political opponents, and In hope OF dividing
the spoiis OF victory. If the Democratic Rep
resentatlves OF the South could not resist the
caucus command to pass the Potter resolution,
lnamended and without debate, how will they
be able 10 the Forty sixth Congress, to resist
similar command to ignore Dir. Hayes az Presi-
dent and to recognize Mr.. Tilden? It is. there
fore. the duty Of the Southern people to afford
a GROWING evidence OF their renewed devotion
to the Union In which they now enjoy every
right OF citizenship, and are subjected to no
restrictions not laid upon every citizen, by
sending Representatives to the Forty sixth
Congress Ilsdged to resist, at all hazards, the
revolutionary schemes OF the mischief makers
who seem to have gained control of the House
Of Representatives OF the Forty fifth Congress
To this end the people in every district should
meet publicly, organize, and resolve to support
no person for Congress who has given aid to
the movement, and who will not pledge himself
to sustain the title OF President Hayes during
the term for which he was elected against all