Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-30
A. H. S.
Il BRIEF NOTE FROM THE LIVELY
CORPSE OF GEORGIA.
Mr. stephens Rises to Personal Explana.
ton, and Tells an Anecdoto About a
Toad, a Woman and an Apple.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-Alexander 81. Steph-
ems has replied to the illusions to him con-
tanned in the letter of Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter,
in communication to the Washington Post,
which is given below:
| NATIONAL HOTEL, May 28.-I notice in the is
sue of your paper this morning letter from
Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, of the House. in re-
Spouse to inquiries of one of his correspondents
in relation to the passage sf his resolution in
| regard to the appointment of committee to
investigate the frauds in the late Presidential
election. ETC., which not only justifes but re-
quires some public notice by me- far the
letter relates to me and my acts in connection
| Herewith. This notice will be as brief as pos
sible, and with all due respects to Mr.. Potter,
| since for him, personally, l entertain senti-
ments of high esteem.
| That portion of hin letter to which wisl
chiefly to reply is contained in the following
! words expressed by him to his correspondence
''You ask me why Mr.. Stephens was howled
| down. The bowling was by the newspapers.
| To interrupt the pending order of business by
| a motion or statement requires unanimous con-
| sent. Every member has an absolute right to
| object to an interruption. This objection is
| expressed by the words, L object or demand
| for the regular order. Sometimes one person
will prevent an interruption. Sometimes the
desire to prevent it is general, and then the cry
of regular order will be from many persons
1t happened that there was avery general
| UNwnLINGNEss TO HEAR MR. STEPHENS.
| He had suggested we should receive and
adopt the Hale amendment. 1t was reported
he had given the Republicans a list of twenty
two names who would follow him in any mo-
ton of his to prevent an investigation. About
| this he was greatly mistaken. and had made
our side especially unwilling to hear him. But
you will observe that when I rose to make a
proposition to Mr.. Hale and the Republicans,
an outcry prevented my being heard. 1t was
announced by the press that Mr.. Potter's in
quiry was interrupted, while Mr.. Stephens was
headlined the 'venerablek statesman howled
down by the Potter mob
| MY comments on this extract from his letter
are as follows: First, If there was any gross
mistake in the matter, it was by Mr.. Potter,
| and not by me- So far as his statement is
calculated to convey the idea or impression
that / had given Republicans list of any
names who would follow me in any motion to
prevent investigation, it is
ENTIRELY WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
| as a matter Of truth it has no shade or the
shadow of fact to rest upon. had not con-
ferred directly or indirectly with MIR. Hale, Mr..
Garfield, OF any other Republican, upon the
subject. had not spoken directly or indirectly
with Mr.. Hale within the last two weeks before,
upon any subject, nor had l any words with Mr..
Garfield upon this matter, except what were
made some weeks before, when he objected to
the reception of the Maryland memorial, at
which time l urged him in the House to with
draw his objection and let the memorial of the
State 90 to the committee on judiciary and be
reported upon, with d view of quieting all ques-
tions attaching to the Presidential title. My
speech upon that occasion and my appeal to
him was duly reported in the Record. Nor had
I at any time any
CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT
as have seen alleged in some papers upon this
subject.
On the Monday that MIR. Potter's resolutions
| ,~ol %hn o1,,
with a view of getting suspension of the
rules for the purpose of having passed the bill
of the committee on coinage providing for the
retirement of the three and five cent silver
pieces. and having them recoined in other de-
nominations also for making the debased
or subsidiary coins u legal tender when they
are presented in amounts of 500 and upwards,
and have them redeemed when presented III
the treasury in like amounts. This bill soon
being read, was almost unanimously passed.
then got leave of absence for one week, on
account of my health, and was paired with Mr..
Harris, of Massachusetts.
was told that had hardly gone out of the
capitol when
THIS CYCLONE BURST
!, upon the House. had no intimation of it be
fore. On reaching my room was confined to
. my bed, and it was not until the next day that
knew of what occurred in the House after
left. Mr.. Potter himself was the first will
whom conferred on the subject. Wednesday
the 18th, after the House had come to a dead
lock, from q sick room / addressed to Mr.. Pot
ter the following note, of which Gen. Knot
furnished copy to-day. 1t is In these words
National Hotel. Washington,D c. May IS, '7s
v Clarkson N. Potter House of Representatives
}. DEAR SIR: am still confined TO my room
:; in this city. greatly regret that cannot g
Il and see you in person. Let me then say t
f you in this way that think it will be grea
l. mistake if our friends in the House shall pas
l. your resolution under the previous question
r thus cutting off Mr.. Hale's, or other amenc
ments looking to an enlarged investigation
re Do not insist on the previous question.
YOU SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR 1T.
Were l present and not paired, as
am now, I could not vote for th
Z resolution under the previous que
~ ton, without allowing amendments. 1t wou]
he only divide the Democrats and unite the h
- publicans. My opinion is that mischief il
Nc stead of good will come from the investigate
&c by the passage of your resolution as it is, und
- the previous question. Please excuse til
~ ~ note. l feel it my duty, feeble az l am,
~ y. send it to you. Very respectfully and tru
;s- yours, ETC., ALEX. H. STEPHENs."
ey After that note had been dispatched to hi
sr. sent the following note to MIR. Gambler 4
as colleague in the House:
al WAsH1saToN, D. c., May Is, 1S7s.-Ho
lis Milton A. Gambler, House of Represe
re tatives My dear sir: l am sorry
es- cannot be in the House to-day. Am still &C
Ia. fined to my room; think it is important tt
DTS our friends shall not vote on the previous gu
nut ton on MIR. Potters resolution. Amendmel
ter such as Nr. Hale proposes to offer ought to
Id allowed. We ought not to have one-sided
ng vestigation. The country will nottb satisf
M with that sort of inquiry. The peol
want fair play, right and justice, and v
Re satisfied with nothing short of this.
Mr.. Potter's resolution is passed without alle
ing an amendment looking to Investigate
of other alleged frauds, mischief, and no &
will come of it. 1t will divide our side g
Id unite the other. l should, if there, and
paired as I am, vote against the previous gu
ia ton, and then against the resolution if ame
ments were denied. Yours truly,
NJ. [signed] ALEX. II. STEVENS
ira After this 1 sent similar note to my
league, Mr.. Harris, and requested him to
unit nounce my pair if a vote was taken.
} of From these notes it will clearly appear v
der whom conferred and the opinion entertai
of the effect of the proceedings then going
unit in the House, upon the Democratic party
ION well as on the country. looked upon then
unwise and untimely. and fraught with I
ton chief. 1t clearly appears from these notes
OF l was not in favor of motion to defeat in
tigation of fraud of any kind. I was
against one-sided investigation. I also
been since the Presidential election
stitutionally decided against any investigat
@ with view to impeach or assai the it'll
the present incumbent Of the executive ch
: The Democracy of the school in which I
ON reared was planted upon the principle of
. n and order, upon abiding by the law as coz
tutionally expounded.
This was the state Of things when made
con- appearance in the House, Tuesday, the
nee inst. had not heard from Mr.. Pot
dls- had not consulted directly or indil
II with any Republican in the n,
been or out of the House. made
ourt appeal TO Mr.. Potter to withdraw his call