The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-26
POLITICAL HISTORY.


Senator Hill, Of Georgia, in compliance
with the request of some of his friends,
who asked him to give TO the pubic his
views OF the wisdom and propriety of the
Investigation ordered by the House OF Rep
reseHraLIVeS, known a. the Potter InveStI-
CATION, 5 out in A letter to the Augusta
Chronicle and ConstitutiOnalist, in which
he says:
1 think a correct knowledge of the inner
! history OF the famous Presidential count
would add much to a erect understanding
of the wisdom and necessity of that iaveSti-
CATION. Ny own views were clearly indi-
c4fed in what | said i'm the first caucus held
by the Democratic members OF the House
Immediately after the first decision by the
Electoral Commission made on the Florida
case. The decision was made on the 9Th of
February, 1877 was published on Saturday,
the 10 h, and my recollection is, the caucus
was held Oh Monday night. the 18th. The
partisan purpose Of a IN siOritV OF the Com
mission was manifestly revealed by that de-
cisOn. The Indignation of the Democrats
intense. Before going into the caucus,
| Thoroughly conSidereH the situation and
fully made up my mind as to the policy we
should pursue. In the caucus four Demo-
Gratis, abe and excellent gentlemvn-three
from the West a4d one from the East
made very earnest speeches IN favor OF
using every means the rules would permit
to prefent the completion of the count by
the 4Jh of March. l made the first speech
ceived that | wrote out my remarks after
wards and preserved them. | think it is
not improper now To give them To the pub
lie, aud | enclose you copy Tor that pur-
pose. Several other spec hes were ma lie in
support of these views The result of the
debate was the passage of resolution, by
a large majority, pledging the Democrats
of the House to proceed with the count ac-
cOrding to the Constitution and the Electo-
raj bill. And this policy was faithfully
mn to- no anH In rho iinbF n fbpSn
facts the following propositions are made
exceedingly plain:
l. 1t is ridiculous to charge the Democrats
with a revolutionary purpose now to Gust
Mr.. Hayes, when they so emphatically re-
fused then to adopt even dilatory proceed
iugs, under the rules, to prevent his inau-
guration.
,. Those who refused to countenance any
irregular or doubtful measures then, in
order to preserve the peace OF the country,
stood pledged to ''bring TO light" the frauds
afterwards, to the end that the guilty might
be punished by exposure aud such danger
Gus wrongs be prevented in the future. The
democratic party would be false TO Itself
and unworthy of the confidence ofthe coun-
try if they did not faithfully redeem this
pledge.
g. In the light of this caucus action on
the 18th of February, how absurd becomes
the charge that this policy was adopted in
pursuance of a bargiu between southern
alleged bargain was made two weeks after
this caucus resolution was adopted. The
parties to this bargain were a few ndividu-
ais who represented cbody but themselves.
The bargain did not influence or control
single vote in reaching the final result. l
do not believe it had any motive but a little
personal nOtoriety-a distem per, by The way,
which troubles us at every tlrn-and 1t has
had no effect but to enable the Republicans
to smirch, in the public mind, the most pa
L.. v,.,tT ~ al
party. | never heard of the so-called
bargain until | saw a notice of it in
the papers after the adjournment of
Congress. / have always believed and
still believe that this action of this Dem
ocratic caucus saved our constitutional
system fro IN final subVersion by proven
ting a pretence for the renewal of the
cival war by Grant and his followers. But
our work will not be complete, and our du-
ty will not be done until we bring to the
gaze of a blushing world the basest frauds
ever perpetrated in history, and perpetrated
for no purpose but to enable the Repu Bill
can party to hold the offices of the Govern
ment against the will of the people. No
man acquainted with the scenes of the
Presidential count, and with the motives
of those who submitted to wrong rather
than hazard the public peace, Will ever
charge the Democratic party with revolu-
ton. The same men are mere now VINO
were here then, aud they do not intend and
will not permit anything irregular, illegal
or revolutionary. But they will never con-
done the frauds, nor give any quarter to
the men, high or low, who committed those
frauds. If the American people shall ever
again trust the party that so wickedly de-
frauded them, then the American people
are willing to defraud themselves, and are
ready to Surrender their liberties to rogues.
[ believe every prediction in the short
speech / send you will become history 1T
the Democrats do not get afraid to expose
frauds BENZ. II. HILL.