Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-06-05

ClarksoD N. Potter, in a long letter to
= New York friend, explains the effect
of his resolution. He says:
Among other thinys, you suggest that to raise
the question about the last presidcntial election
VIII bring ON disturbance or revolution. Not at
all. About that possess yourself In peace. There
Is rot the slightest chance Of revolution or disturb
snce. when tho whole untry was ut fever
heat on the eubject Of tho election, . way was
found to establish tribunal to pass upon the
election. and every one submitted to that deter
mtnstion. The presidents title rests upon that
IL now II should APPEAR that there was = fraud
which pa!pably affected the electoral vote, and
which the commission did not notice. and II a
legal remedy exists for correcting the error, YOU
csnno! believe that such . proceeding, under law.
legal remedy existing, and congress should here
sfter. by the approval Of the president, or BY
two-tnirds OF both houses without that approval,
provide one. why should The lckA! dsterm nation
he decision OF tho electoral commission!
II Is exactly because this is not Mexico, and be-
cause the people prefer determining by legal
methods and, II legal methods have not been
provided to invent regal methods Of determining
them, and to submit to tho determination thus
arrived At, that this country
CANNOT MT MEXIcANIzRp.
Having accepted the electoral commission, of
course we We're bound to submit to its results
but wo ought ~ least to DO allowed to show, II
such was the fact, that the returns upon which
me commission passed were procured by fraud
ADMIT that the presidency = not worth civil
ger Of such war. The generation who charged
up the Heights Of Frederick and defended The
works At Petersburg, will not 60 lightly Into an.
on before that will happen. admit the success
OF tho 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
~ long ~ tho law remains against us.
But you VIII ask whether II there he no danger
to public order from legal proceedings, there may
not be .ff,
rRoM ACTION " coNaHsss.
No. no more than from action OF the courts.
Congress represents the people OF the country,
but does not march before them. II expresses,
but doee not anticipate their will. ShoNId fraud
connected with the UlcctorAN count appear 40
gross and palpable that you and ell honorable
men should unite In dcnouncing It., congress
might then take action. hut,f 40, what congress-
al parties Of tbs great body Of people not as Of
party, would be ehectcd quietly, 6, rtainly, and
without violence or disturbance In saying this,
DO not mean that expect the investigation so
be followed by either legal or congressional Ac-
ton, What, II anything, should be done be.
cause OF tho inquiry. must depend on
.r M THE KEsULrs OF TIE INQUIRY.
But do mean that whatever action, II any,
should follow the investigation, such action csa
neither disturb tho order nor the prosperity OF
the country. This cry OF wolf VIII n there II no
wolf, this cnort to make II appear that there IL
danger to peace or order from this Investigation
Is arepublican prctcnsc like tho bloody .Rhirt u"
justification OF carpetbag government. like the
forccment of Durrel' Infamous order and pro.
lection OF the returning board by bayonets. like
the cry sct up after the elect ON 10 prevent any
arWlSs Sae ,s snd 70 secure saSmisson
CATION! ans~er. to ascertain the facts. 80 that,
u frauds BE- established, y repetition Of such
Ir.ud. may b. prsyentsd, and: not. - clear up
there were such Frauds. Tho feeling amongst
many republicans after the election WAS that,
whilo we had been cheated In the returns, we
had buildoxed the negroes ~ badly, NO that the
WEIR ABOUT RQuAL.
based mainly upon the fact that. In certain dis.
uicts in the south Which usually gave republican
msjoritics. there was not returned that year y
so SST aS p e ns
Of things was fraudulently prepared By the re-
publicans. They ought to understand that there
never WIS anything 70 dangerous TO fee govern
Of one aide and keep In those OF the other With.
cut cause to Invent pretcxt Tor such wrongs;
TO accept oNsn-contrived prutssts and Manuiac.
tured objections ~ color for their action; TO
permit hgnres to be altered returns 10 be forged.
iiauds to be perfected, and generally every means
bv which the will OF the people may be frustrat-
ed and
the POPULAR vOiCH srivL.D
1t then becomes possible, and there may be thuS
condition Of things absolutely destructive OF
free government We believo that 1t was BY
such proceedings we were cheated out Of the
election. Unless the proceedings bs exposed,
the Oatraee will he repeated. Whatever may re.
suit from the proposed iRves tiRati0n you may be
sure that nOthi, z can result that viii disturb
either our nocks or your balances. The trouble
10 capital. property, and freedom will come not,
perhaps Ia your tine or mine, but come ut last
from refusing TO inquire into frauds. TO confront
the evil, II you may not right 1t, II TO prevent ~
repetition. To shut your eyes 70 II supinely 10 to
copardixe, and not to preserve, the future peace,
safety, and prosperity Of the country.