The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-13
The One-sided Investigation.

Hon. Alexander Fl. Stevens. of Georgia
has written letter from Washington to thu
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle. in reply to tina
papers criticisms upon his course in con
nection with the Potter investigation. TIT
following is an extract from it:
81 counseled no concessions to the Re-
publicans in this matter which were no
due to the demands Of truth, right, and jus
tice. Even the devil should have his due, ha
been rule of my life. Was il an improper
concession to the Republic ans to allow them
to have an investigation in any frauds they
might allege against the Democrats? Or tc
proclaim to the world that the Democrats
did rot mean, in the proposed investigation
to impeach or assail the title of Hayes, or ia
unseat him during the four years Tor which
he was duly proclaimed President? The
Democratic side was proposing to have an
investigation Of alleged frauds in certain
States, and the opposite side asked nothing
but that the investigations should be ex-
tended to certain other States. There was
net the slightest disposition manifested or
the Republican side to defeat an investiga-
ton, if it should be full-covering the al
legged frauds in other States besides Florida
and Louisiana. 1t was when Mr.. Potter re-
fused this, and would not allow their prop
osition for an enlarged investigation, but
suppressed it by demanding the previous
question that they filibustered. They did
not, as understood then, and understand
now, attempt to prevent an Investigation
that every honest man should have been
anxious to have made, but they only OBJ
structed the adoption of a proposition for a
one sided Investigation. No honest man. it
seems to me, ought to have wanted that.
The first shrinking from any such investiga-
ton as that you speak of came from Mr..
Potter, or the managers whose madates he
obeyed. Mr.. Potter, in his
letter, to which 1 replied the other day,
says that his reason was, among other
things, that the proposition offered by the
Republicans contained matter that might
have defeated any report of the committee
which he proposed to raise. What isl clear
er inference from this than that Mr.. Potter
was afraid that disclosures would be made
in Oregon and elsewhere. which the Demo-
Gratis, for very shame's sake, could not have
put themselves OIL record as covering up!
If Mr.. Potter, or the caucus whose instru-
ment he was, had wanted fair play, or had
been inclined to grant fair play to the oppo-
site side, why did he not allow the amend
one. Allow me to say, Notwithstanding
your censure upon this, that l never gave
aid and comfort, on this occasion or on any
other in my life, to any party whose aims
blance, at least, of truth, right, and JUS
tice."
Mr.. Stephens aevotes the concluding por-
ton of his letter to the question Of maintain.
ing the Presidents title to his office. and to
the inconsistencies of the Democratic con-
spirators IN this respect. He quotes the
Chronicles assertion that nine-tenths of the
Southern people demand that no attempt
was settled by the last Congress, and he
continues:
ION this point. Il shall ask of you is to
adhere. Remember that the National Elk
ecutive Committee Of the Democratic Party
were in session in this city last week, when
this whole question was under discussion.
They passed resolution thoroughly endors-
ing the investigation, but positively refused
to assert your sentiments and mine, and
those of nine-tenths of the Democracy OF the
United States, in my opinio :, as to any pur-
pose of putting out Hayes and putting in
Tilden. Taking this in connection with the
avowed purpose of the projectors of this
whole movement, he must be q blind man
who does not see t hat it is the moving object
of those manufactured creeds and policies
for the Democratic party, to make this the
main issue in the ensuing elections. Hear
what the organ Of Gramercy Park, issued
er cathedra yesterday as manifesto to the
party TIE editorial is headed, ''As Bad
as the Worst In the article you and Land
all of our wayof thinking. are denounced
as bad as the conspirators who perpetrated
the Fraud So is announced the
issue upon which all patriotic Democrats are
to unite in future elections. 1t is upon the
direct issue Of putting out Hayes and put
ting in Tilden.' In this conflict, fierce and
furious as it may be, shall remain as | am.
| What others may do time mus. disclose.