The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-30
General Keys Letter
AN APPEAL TO THE SOUTH.

General Keys Letter
AN APPEAL TO THE SOUTH.
WASHINGTON. May 2S.--In lieu of a per-
sonal answer to many letters received from
friends in the South disclaiming sympathy
in any efforts to unseat President Hayes.
Postmaster General Key has written the
following open letter to the people of the
South:
WASHINGTON, May %.
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 influential Democratic politi clans and
journalists, evidence that ii both Houses Of
the Forty sixth Congress are Democratic,
the majority intend to GUST President Hayes
and inaugurate Mr.. Tilden. The title Of
President Hayes was settled irrevocably by
the Forty fourth Congress in the act crea-
ting the Electoral Commission, under
which he was legally declared elected, and
legally inaugurated. The Forty-fifth Con.
gress has no more right to dispute his elec-
ton than he has to question the title of any
victorious contestant to his seat in that
body. The Forty-sixth Congress will have
no more RICH. to ignore him and to recog-
nize his defeated contestant, Mr.. Tilden,
than Mr.. Hayes would have to send file
of soldiers to the House of Representatives
to unseat Democrat whom he might cor
slider TO have been wrongfully seated or
fraudulently elected. The leaders in this
desperate attempt to Mexicanize our insti-
tutions rely confidently upon the ''Solid
SOUTH to furnish the bulk of the Democrat
ic majority in the next House of Represen-
tatives, the Senate being already secured.
Remembering the encouragement which
the Northern Democrats in 1860 and 1861
extended to the Southern States to secede
and the manner in which their promise OF
aid and comfort were fulfilled, can the
Southern people afford to join this revolu-
tionary 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
more united by this attempt to revive an
issue whose settlement was forced by pub
lie opinion upon an unwilling Congress?
In the dark days of February, 1877, when
civil war over the disputed election was i'm
minent, and patriots trembled for the safe
ty of republican institutions, the Southern
members of Congress averted the danger by
compelling the completion of the electoral
count under the law which both parties in
Congress had entirely enacted.
But now the representatives from the
Southern States, with a very few excep-
lions, have joined movement to subvert
the results of 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 it permitting the autonomy of
all States and in appointing citizens to Of
fee in the South, instead OF strangers, Pres
ident Hayes has but discharged his consti-
tutional duty, does that excuse the South
ern Representatives for attempting to inval-
idate his title, which they established? or
will it justify them in bringing 1.-THE country
again in danger of civil war in the effort to
unseat him and inaugurate Mr.. Tilden?
The South must now face the most momen-
tous crisis in its history since 1861. To EN-
dorse the recent conduct of their Represen-
tatives is to admit the truth of The charge
that the people of the South care nothing for
the welfare of the Union, desire the down.
fall of the Republic and would rejoice to see
it again involved in civil war.
If their representatives have not reflected
their sentiments, as 1 believe to 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 dlsturbers OF the public peace
and prevent the Discrimination of our in
situations.
70 do this they may be compelled to act
independent Of the Democratic party. Re-
cent events have demonstrated the inability
of the Democratic members of Congress to
resist the mandates of the 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 coun-
try and the stability Of republican institu.
buttons for the sake of revenge on political
opponents and in the hope OF dividing the
spoils of victory.
If the Democratic Representatives of the
South could not resist the caucus command
to pass the Potter reso luton, unamended
and without debate. how will they be able
in the Forty sixth Congress to resist SIM
liar command to ignore Mr.. Hayes as Presi-
dent and to recognize Mr.. Tilden? 1t is,
therefore, the duty OF the Southern people to |
afford a browning evidence Of their renewed |
devotion to the Union, in which they now
enjoy every right Of citizenship, and are SUBJ
jected to no restrictions not laid upon every |
citizen, by sending Representatives to the |
Forty-sixth Congress pledged 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. 10 this end the
people in every district should meet public
ly, organize, and resolve to support no per-
son for Congress who has given aid to this
movement, and who will not pledge himself
to sustain the title of President Hayes dur
ing the term for which he was elected
against all attempts at Its overthrow
Only in this way can grave danger to
the public be averted and convincing proof
be given that the confidence was not mis-
placed which President Hayes manifested in
the South when he withdrew the troops from
the State Houses Of South Carolina and Lou
isiana. | have spoken plainly and earnestly,
for feel that l should be unworthy to rep
resent the South in the Administration were
l to remain silent now. Invited to the Cab
iEet as a Southern man, to see that justice
was done to the South required neither to
apologize for my record nor to disown my
political principles (; it is my duty now to
warn the people OF the South of the danger
which threatens the country. No man need
to hope that the schemes of the men who
have engineered the movement to unseat
President Hayes can be carried out
without bloody civil war. 10 avert
this danger I confidently rely upon the pat
riotsm and honor of the people of my native
section fSigned) D. M. KEY.