The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-06-05
WHAT WAS INTENDED BY TIE IN
VESTIGATION PROCEEDINGS.
Congf essman Potter's Explanation.

WAsHISGToN, May 27.-CIai K son y. Pot
IeF Ia II long letter 10 New York friend
explains the etfrct OF his resolution He
says, among other things - \ ou suggest thar
10 raise question bout the last Pre>iden-
tai election will bring on a disturbance or
revolution. Not at Ill. A bout that possess
yourself in peace. There is not the slightest
chance OF revoIuti, 0r disturbance. When
the whole country was at fever heat on the
SUBJECT OF the election way was found to
esI aoiIsh tribunal 20 pass upon the election
and every one submitted to that determine
ton. The Presidents title rests upon thar.
III now II should appear that there was fraud
winch paIpa bly, Effected the electoral vote
ana which the Commission did not notice
aud II "A legal remedy exists fOrcorrectintr : -
error, you cannot believe that such nru-
ceeding under the law could lead to dis
turbance, if there be no such legal remedy
existing, and Cor gress should hereafter bv
approval cf the President or bV tWo-thir,Is
OF both houses without that approval, pro-
vide one, why should legal determination
ther' after had any more produce distur-
bance than the decision OF the Electoral
Commission did !: 1t is exactly because tits
= not Mexico. and because the people prefer
determining questions bv legal methods. and
II legal methods have not been provided
10 haven't legal methods OF determining
IN IN and to submit the determ ination thus
arrived at-that this country cannot be- Mex
lcanlZeI. Having accepted the Electoral
Commission, of course we were bound to
submit to its result; but we ought at least
10 be allowed to show it SHch was a tact, that
the returns upon which the Commission
passed We're procured by fraud. admit that
the Presidency Is not worth IA civil war:
but l have not believed there was any dan
ger of such war. The generation who
arged up the nights OF Ftedericke burg and
defended the works at Petersburg will not 90
lightly into another civil struggle. We
must get years further on before that will
happen, | admit the success of the Repub-
lican leaders; having lain down when the
law was on our side, and when we ought to
have stood up. 1t Is not for us now to stand
up as long as the law remains against us:
but you will ask whe her, if there be no dan
ger to the public order from legal proceed
ingS, they may not be from action bv Con-
gress. No. No more than from the action
OF the courts. Congress represents the paO-
pie of the country. but does not march be-
fore them. 1t expresses. but does not antic-
ipate, their will. Should fraud connected
with electoral counts appear 20 gross and
pal pable that you and all hunorab bic men
should unite in denOuucing it. Congress
IN light then act; but, it 80, what Congress
might do-being the result of the action OF
men of all parties of the great body OF the
people, not OF a party-would be. in effect,
quietly, certainly and without violence or
disCut bance. Lin saying this do not mean
chat | expect the investigation to be follow
ed by either legal or Congressional action.
What if anything should be done because OF
inquiry, must depend upon the results of
the inquiry, but | do mean that whatever
action, if any, should follow the investiga-
ton, such action can neither disturb order
nor the prosperity of the country. This cry
OF wolf when there is no wolf; this effort TO
make it appear that there is danger to peace
or order from this investigation is a Repub-
lican pretence like the 'bloody shirt iusti-
fication of carpetbag Government; like the
public danger excuse so as to enforce Dur
ellis Infamous order, and the protection of
the Returning Board by bayOnets: like the
cry set up after the election to prevent any
agitation and TO secure submission. What,
then you ask, is the purpose of the investi-
cation? | answer, to ascertain facts 50 that
if frauds be established repetition of such
frauds may be prevented, and if not, To clear
up the general belief throughout the country
that there were such frauds.