Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-28


vestigation Will Have on the Country
Its Primary Object is to Ascertain if
Fraud Has Triumphed-He Believes that
the Electoral Commission Erred in Its
Judgnent-But He Scouts tho Idea of
War or Revolution Resulting from tho
MISUNDERSTANDING Session of the Com
mittee.
WASHINGTON May 27.-Clarkson N. Potter,
in long letter to a New York friend, explains
the effect of his resolution. He says among
things; ''You suggest that to raise question
about the last Presidential election will bring
on disturbance or revolution. Not at all.
About that possess yourself in peace There is
not the slightest chance of revolution or dis
turbance. When the whole country was at
fever heat on the subject of the
election, way was found to establish a
tribunal to pass upon the election,
and every one submitted to that determination.
The Presidents title rests upon that. IT, now,
it should appear that there was fraud which
probably affected the electoral vote, and which
the commission did not notice, and If legal
remedy exists for correcting the error, you can
not believe that such proceeding under law
could lead to disturbance. If there be no such
legal remedy existing, and Congress should
hereafter, by the approval of the President or
by two-thirds of both Houses without that ap-
prevail, provide one why should legal deter
animation thereafter have any more effect
to produce disturbance than the decision
of the electoral commission did? It is
exactly because this is not Mexico, and because
people prefer determining questions by legal
methods, and if legal methods have not been
provided to invent legal methods of determin-
ing them and to submit to the determination
thus arrived at that this country cannot be
Mexicanized. Having accepted the electoral
commission, of course we were bound to sub
nit to its results, but We ought,
at least, to be allowed to show, if such was
the fact, that the returns upon which the
commission passed were procured by fraud. l
admit that the presidency is not worth a civil
war, but ! have not believed there was any
danger Of such war. The generation who
charged up the heights Of fredericksburg and
defended the works at Petersburg will not
go lightly into another civil struggle; we
must get years further on before that will
happen. l admit the success OF
the Republican leaders. Having lain
down when the law was on our side
and when we ought to have stood up it is not
for us now to stand up as long as the law re-
mains against us.
But YOU will ask whether, if there be no dan
ger to public order from legal proceedings
there may not be from action by Congress-
No; no more than from the action of the courts
Congress represents the people OF the country,
but does not march before them. 1t expresses
but does not anticipate their will. Should
fraud connected with the electoral count
appear SO gross and palpable that you and all
honorable men would unite in denouncng it,
Congress might then take action, but If So
what Congress might do being the result OF the
action OF men Of all parties-of the great body
of the people, not Of party-would be effect
ed quietly, certainly, and without violence or
disturbance. In saying this do not mean that
/ expect the investigation to be followed by
either legal or Congressional action. What, IT
anything should be done because OF the en-
uuiry must depend upon the results Of the
enquiry But l do mean that whatever action,
if any, should follow investigation, such action
can neither disturb the order nor prosperity OF
the country. This cry of wolf when there is no
wolf. this effort to make it appear that there Is
ton, is a Republican pretense like the
bloody shirt justification OF carpet
bag government; like the public danger excuse
advanced for the enforcement Of Durrells in
famous order, and the protection OF the re-
turning board by bayonets; like the cry sent up
after the election to prevent any agitation and
to secure submission. What, then, you ask, Is
the purpose OF the investigation? answer:
TO ascertain the facts, so that if frauds be es-
tablished a repetition of such frauds may be
prevented and if not, to clear up the general
belief throughout the country that there
were such frauds The feeling amongst many
Republicans alter election was that while we
had been cheated in the returns, we had
bull-dozed negroes as badly, SO that accounts
of wrong were about equal This belief In
the bull-dozing of the negro was based main
" upon the fact that in certain districts in
ha Republican
najorities, there not returned that year
a single Republican. Now the people OF the
North have never understood that this condl-
ton of things was fraudulently prepared by
aud beyond that, they ought to understand
that there never was anything SO dangerous to
free government as returning board. 10
throw out the votes of one side and keep IN
the votes of the other without cause, to
invent pretext for such wrongs
and manufactured objections as color
for their action to permit figures to be altered
returns to be forged frauds to be perfected,
and generally everywhere means by whlch tne
will of the people may be frustrated ana the
popular voice stihed, it then becomes possible
absolutely destructive of free government. We
believe that it was by such proceedings we were
cheated out Of the election. Unless the pro-
ceedings be exposed, the outrage will be repeat,
ed. Whatever may result from the proposed
investigation, you may be sure that nothing
can result that will disturb either your focks
or your balances. The trouble to capital prop
erty and freedom will come, not, perhaps: II
your time or mine, but come at last, from re
fus1ng to inquire into frauds. To confront
the evil, if you may not right it, is to proven
it's repetition. To shut your eyes to it suplnely
is to ieopardize, and not to preserve the future
peace, safety and prosperity OF the country.
The Potter Committee.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-At the meeting OF tn
Potter Investigation committee to-day NJ
formal proposition was submitted from elthe
side in regard to the scope that should be glve1
to the committees enquiries. Republican
members claimed, however, that they ought t
be informed by the majority at the outset wha
are to be the limits of the investigation, IL
order that they make preparations accordingly
Several members of the majority expressed
themselves in favor of combining the investiga
lions to Louisiana and Florida, but there wa
no general expressions Of view on that point
and with view to considering the question
among themselves, the majority suggested al
adjournment until Wednesday next, which wa
agreed to, and an answer to the minority viii
nTobably be given at that time.