The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-05
A Singular Complaint by the Acting
President.

We have n wcll-authcnticatcd account Of
! most extraordinary complaint preferred
yesterday by Mr. HAYES against the State
authorities in Louisiana. special de-
spatch from Washington TO our noighhor
the World-a journal in high favor at the
White House, and wcll-informed as to what
takes place Hereunder date OF Feb. 3, con-
lans the following statement:
The Pr,stt iatiaari 10 r,tsiar 0ias v,eriv nat he
dd no'ao.idr u, q,.e oc'ioq 10 tsi,ar oDryiag ia
god lfih he promises made tie tin, q, troops a.
a,arn.n
When we come to scrutin2e this state
ment and to analyzc il. we shall find that IL
means a good deal. What is "the present
action In Louisiana" herein referred to z
II Is the prosecution, by the regularly con-
stituted State authorities, Of man accused
Of the crime Of forgery. The mans name is
ANDERSON. The alleged forgery consisted
I'm the wilful and fclonious alteration of GER
tain election returns. Tho promises not
carried out in good faith, therefore, must
have included promise not to prosecute
this man ANDERSON. They were made, we
are told, "at the time the troops were
Withdrawn"
RUTHERFoRD b. HAYES occupies the Office
Of President of the United States, and cxer-
ciscs the functions of President. The Con-
stitution Of the United States makes the
President COmmandcr-in-Chefo of the army.
The troops referred to were part of the
army OF the United States. They were
withdrawn by command of Mr. HAYES, by
virtue of the constitutional authority re-
posed in the President. MI HAYES refers
a.. Ut hon.
were withdrawn" OF course. they were
made IN consideration Of the withdrawal Of
the troops-for otherwise there would be
no significance whatever in his reference to
the circumstance that the promises were
made at the same time the troops were
withdrawn There was then promise aud
IN acceptance; promise 10y the authori-
ties of Louisiana, and lie acceptance by Mr.
HAYES as President; q promise by them not
t. prosecute, and an official act in return by
him, TO wit, the withdrawal Of the troops
There were mutual promises: they prom
ised that they would not prosecute; he
promised To Withdraw the troops In other
words, there was n bargain. Mr. HAYES
fulfilled his part Of it, and he now complains
that the Louisiana authorities have not full
filed theirs.
Let us contemplate the nature of the .cr
, Ahno ia'd i.-r--.-
--.... ...... .,.uIc us. Mnao was II
1t was nothing less than conspiracy en-
tered into by one holding the Office Of Presi-
dent Of the United Statos-an overt act to-
ward the execution Of which has been per
formed by him-and certain other persons
10 obstruct the course 81 justice in one "
The States Of this Union.
This is a crime, not only morally, but
strictly and technically crime.
The crime. the prosecution for which lay
IN the regular course Of justice. was the
vulgar crime OF forgery, with nothing to
distinguish it from that crime rs it ordina-
rily occurs, save only that he TIE Of M.
HAYES 10 he office Of President d,pends upon
he rdltdiy of The papers charged 10 hare
bocn forged Hence the motive ior his en-
lerng into this conspiracy.
How much further would n patriotic
House Of Representatives have to look for
sufficient ground OH which TO base articles
OF Impeachment