The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-06-04

Of the proceeding then going on in the
House, upon the Democratic party as
we'll as on the country. looked upon
them as unwise and untimely. and
fraught with mischief. IL clearly APP
peared from these notes that | was not
IN favor OF the motion 10 defeat the in
yestigation Of fraud OF any kind. was
only against one-sided investigation.
l also, as / have been since the Prosi-
dental contest constitutiOnally decided
against any investigation. with a view
10 impeach or assail the title of the
present incumbent OF the Executive
chair. The Democracy of the school IN
which i was reared, was planted upon
the principle Of law and order, upon
the law as constitutionally expounded.
This was the state of things when
made my appearance IN the House,
Thursday, the 10th inst. / had not
heard from Mr. Potter. | had not
consulted directly or indirectly with
any Republican in the House or out OF
the House. | made an appeal to Mr..
Potter 10 withdraw his call for the pre-
yiOus question, 30 allow me three min
utes ouly. NV object was 20 get him
TO withdraw the call for the previous
question. or, il he would not, to APP
peal 20 the House, 10 patriots on both
sides, 10 vote down the previous ques-
tion and TO allow Mr.. Hale or any Re-
publican 10 offer Just such an amend
ment for the enlargement Of investiga-
tion as they may see ft It was then
that Mr.. Potter declined 10 withdraw
the call or allow me three minutes. He
said IL was from no disrespect TO me,
but that he could not do il, as he was
acting under instructions. Whether
Mr.. Potter had communicated 10 others
the purport of nv note. and because he
was determined that I should not he
hard upon the subject, do not know;
but certainly had not suggested, in
that vote, that the Democrats should
do anything else than receive all the
amendments or additional propositions
for investigation that might be offered
from any quarter
Second-Mr. Potter seems 20 con
found his dates. He speaks of what
occurred when he arose 20 make prop
osition TO Mr.. Hale, "a il done upon
which asked 90 address the House.
In this he is mistaken. His PROPOSE
tions to Mr.. Hale were on the next day,
Friday, and had no connection what
-eyer with the proceedings in which /
was denied the hearing.
Third Mr.. Potter's reasons for re-
fdsing Mr.. Hale's amendment appear
10 me to be singular and most contemp-
tible. He says il was because it was
not german. Why it was not german
/ cannot sec All frauds il would seem
TO me, are Of kindred character.
They are all the same class OF crimes,
belong TO the same family, and differ
only in character and degree. III the
fraudulent electoral count in Florida
was gormain 10 n like fraudulent count
in Louisiana, why not like the fraudu-
lent count in Oregon, or any other
State, equally germane 10 the PROPOSE
tion 90 investigate frauds?
FOurth-Mr. Potter justifies his
course in refusing an investigation into
frauds alleged in Mr. Hale's amend
ment, because, he said, "we under
stood it contained recitals 10 which We
cannot assent, and which would have
forced US 20 vote against our own reso-
luton. This seems 20 me. again, TO
be an untenable reason. In the first
place, allowing Mr. Hale 30 offer an
amendment, whatever recitals it might
have had, by no means committed the
House 20 the truth or the allegations;
il would only have allowed him TO
make them good IL he could.
Fifth-Mr. Potter insists that his OBJ
ject was not and is not 90 attack the
title Of Mr. Hayes. II so, then why
did he not, or the managers whose in
structions he was carrying out. allow
Mr.. Casey Young's amendment 20 so
~, Wnu uHtts.-si 49,, ---:sl. aL~ t.s.s
pose OF quieting the country, that the
object was not 20 disturb the title Of
the President executive, which had
been so constitutinnally settled 10y the
last Congress, but ! have no time to
say more at present. except TO add that
/ look upon the whole OF this proceed
ing, concocted as it was, conducted as
il has been, as most unwisa, most mn
fortunate and most mischievous. Its
effect will be 10 disturb the peace, har-
mony and quiet Of the country. Meth
er Mr. Potter nor anybody else eau pre-
vent Il, aud / say 10 him most respect
fully that nothing short OF the imme-
diate, and general and firm concert Of
action Of the law and order abiding
people OF all parties, Republicans aud
Democrats, throughout the Union, in
reprobation Of this investigation pro-
ceedipg any further with a view TO dis
turb the Presidential title, such as is
announced by the Pennsylvania Dem
ocracy in their convention a few days
ago can arrest fearful consequences.
Those who have, though innocently,
sowed the wind, will reap the whirl-
wind. NV own opinion Il, as / have
repeatedly said, this affair will prove IN
the end either a contemplate farce or
a horrible tragedy. Whether II will
lead 10 the Mexicanization OF our Fed
eral Republic, this result must show;
but say, as / said on another recent
occasion, that ell soft words, institut-
irg in the mind Of the people Of this
country the idea that Mr.. Hayes can
be peaceably unseated by Congress,
are as delusive aud as guileful as the
whispering Of the great archfend IL
I the shape Of toad ia the ear Of Eve
from which spring all our woes.
Very respectfully,
ALEX. III. STEPHENS