Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-24
How the President Views the situation.
From the New Yo-k Times's Washington Despatch
NAV


Prom the New Yo-k Timess Washington Despatch,
May Isl
gentleman in the confidence OF the Prcsi-
dent. and having perfect knowledge Of Mr.
Hayes's views respecting the recent revou-
tionnry proceedings Of the Democratic major
ity Of the House, said this evening that the
President. while maintaining his natural
tluanimity of temper, was not inclined TO
look lightly at the situation. He did not
think it WAS matter to treat with indiffer-
euce. Great events in history had sprung
from smaller beginnings. The present move
ment originated Mt Annapolis only a few
weeks ago. and when the resolutions Of the
Maryland Legislature were published TO the
country they were received with dtrison and
their author characterized a mailman. At
that time great difficulty was found in per
suauIng any Senator to present them to the
Senate, and when finally Senator Dennis sub
mtted them he did so in a speech disclaiming
any sympathy with their contents Tracing
the movement from its birth, the President
has been struck with its rapid growth He
points 10 the significant circumstance that
such Independent and influential men as Alex
audcr II. Stephens are already powerless to
stay the caucus mandate Whatever the re-
suit of the investigation might be, whatever
disclosures might result thercfrom, the Presi-
dent entertained no fear that anything could
be brought home to him. If any person
made any promises in his behalf, or entered
into any bargains. they did so without his
knowledge, and he hoped their acts would be
exposed.
The President regards the action Of the
Southern Democrats in supporting the inves-
tgating scheme as ungrateful in the highest
degree, irrespective Of other considerations.
When he assumed the executive Office he
found the South, or at least large portion Of
it, distracted and torn assunder 10y political
strife almost bordering on revolution. He
gave the South peace. South Carolina. and
especially Louisiana, We're restored to the
rule Of the native population, and the carpet
Dagger ceased to be an element in Southern
politics. The President, Of course acted
from a strict sense of public duty, and claims
no reward at the hands of the South for do
ing what he was bound i'll conscience to do
but he cannot avoid being witness to the in
gratitude evinced by the representatives Of
the South TO the man who, above all others,
has had their welfare and happiness in COM
mon with the rest of the Union, sincerely at
heart.
With reference to his title. the President
conceded that it could be contested Int there
was only one way TO test the question, and
that was by writ of quo ,rdrrdjlt0. which
was the only remedy provided by law when
Electoral Commission specially declared that
nothing therein was to be construed as i'm
pairing or affecting any right, then existing
under the Constitution and laws. to question
by proceeding in the judicial courts of the
United States the right or title Of himself and
Mr.. Wheeler, if any such right at that time
existed The President admitted that Mr..
Tilden's only remedy Mt present was by
writ of gun irdrrdHt0, and such a writ was n
prerogative writ. and not obtainable rs a mat
ter of right, but only in the discretion Of the
court, and he doubted whether any court
would grant il. The President also comedies
the power of Congress to pass retroactive
law, to provide other means Of testing the
title to the Presidency, as the Office can never
be said to be in the past but is always in the
present. As to his impeachment being or
dered by the House, the President has not
the romOtest idea that such an occurrence is
even among the possibilities. The President
is fully alive to the exigencies that may arise,
and will see to it that the public peace is
maintained and the laws enforced at whatever
cost He proposes to follow the policy al
ready marked out by his administration, and
will take no backward step.