Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-17

ing Boards and expose the frauds on
the ballot-box committed in the South
ern States by intimidation and violence
and the Tilden conspiracy to purchase
the electoral vote of Oregon. If the
Democrats refuse to extend the investi-
cation so as to embrace all these States,
then their purpose of smirching the
Republicans and invalidating Mr..
Hayes title will miscarry, for they can
not command the respect of the coun-
try. If they consent to go fully into
the merits of the case. then they will
enter upon an investigation likely to
consume several months or years, sure
to entail an enormous expense, and
more apt TO result in disgrace 90 the
Democrats than in detriment to the Re-
publicans.
There seems to be a general misap-
prehension as to what may be accom-
plished by such an investigation as it is
proposed to hold. 1t there shall be
simply an investigation, then the only
result will be to spread upon the records
the reports of a majority and a minor
ity of the committee, which will be de-
bated in Congress, and leave the pub
lie to Judge of the relative merits of the
two opposite conclusions, with a special
reference to the next Presidential cleo
ton. The Democrats, and particlarly
the Tilden faction, undoubtedly look to
demonstration of Republican frauds
in the last election to assist them in
electing their President in $780, indeed,
they are SO intent upon the effort to
secure this demonstration as to indi-
cate that they are doubtful of success
without it. Mr. Tildon's friends be-
lieve that, if the American people can
be convinced he was swindled out of
the election in 1876, it will be an easy
matter to secure second nomination
for him, and that they can elect him
because he had previously been de-
frauded of his rights. But such a
demonstration, will be beset with more
difficulties than they suppose. No en-
pdrte investigation can ever attain it,
and full investigation may have very
different result from what they expect.
Florida rascality, ifthere has been any,
would be offset by the attempted theft
of the Oregon vote under the direction
of Tilden agents. The action of the
Louisiana Returning Board would be
fully justified not merely by the law
under which they acted, but by the
events of the campaign, which would
reveal full warrant for their decision.
This would leave the Democratic frauds
of Mississippi and Alabama, and prob
ably of South Carolina and North
Carolina, standing against the Demo-
Gratis, and counting against them in the
next Presidential struggle.
If it is the purpose of the Democrats
to carry the matter beyond Congress
sional investigation with the purpose of
breaking down the present Administra-
ton, it is an egregious error to assume
that Mr.. Hayes can be removed or Mr..
Tilden installed in office by Congress
sional resolution. The general term OF
election includes the counting or the
votes and declaration of the result.
Mr.. Hayes occupies the Presidential
chair by reason and in pursuance OF
these circumstances. The votes were
counted as directed by Congress and in
conformity with the constitutional pro,
visions. Mr.. Hayes was declared Presi-
dent and Mr.. Wheeler Vice-President
for the constitutional term of foul
years. This part of the election cannot
now be undone; the Congress cannot
now declare that Messrs. Hayes and
Wheeler were not elected, nor can any
other power of the nation. In order tC
reach the Presidential office before the
expiration of the present term, the
Democrats must achieve the removal OF
both Hayes and Wheeler, and this can
| only be done by Impeachment and trial
1.-The President, President, anC
all civil officers of the United States
shall be removed from office on i'm.
peachment for, and conviction of
treason, bribery, and other high crimes
and misdemeanors, is the language ol
the Constitution. The United States
Senate has the sole power of trial,
land no person shall be convicted
without the concurrence of two-thirds
of the members present" In order tt
get rid of both Mr.. Hayes and Mr.
Wheeler, it will be necessary for thC
House of Representative to impeacl
both, and to convince two-thirds of thu
Senate that both conspired to Obtain
their respective offices by fraud. |
will not be enough at this late day Il
show that there was fraud, but also tina
these gentlemen were parties to it, or a
least had guilty cognizance of it.
But suppose the Democrats can sue
ceed in doing all this (Which everybody
will admit to be exceedingly doubtfuD
Mr.. Tilden will then be as far from tn,
Presidential chair as he is now. Bott
offices of President and Vice -Presiden
being vacant, the law requires that The
President of the Senate shall act a.
President for the time being, or, if n,
presiding officer has been elected b,
the Senate, then this duty devolve
upon the Speaker of the House. 1t be
comes the duty of the Secretary of Stat,
to notify the Governors of all the States
that the two offices are vacant, and tina
the States must appoint electors within
the thirty-four days preceding the frs
| Wednesday in december next succeed
ing, unless there shall be an interim o
less than two months between the mott
tication and the first Wednesday in De
cember. In every case, however, there
must be a general Presidential election
except when the vacancy has less thar
one year to run. This will be the nee
essary result of any removal of botf
President and President. 1t is
folly to talk of the House electing the
President, as if there had been no elec-
ton; there was an election, the votes
were counted, and Hayes was declared
elected by Congress. There is no au.
thority or lawful process for now de.
claring, in the face of that fact. that
there was no election; the House, there,
fore, would have no more authority fol-
electing President to succeed Hayes
than any other body of men would have
who might voluntarily band together for
that unlawful purpose. Those people
who presume that Hayes can be re,
moved or Tilden installed by mere
Congressional investigation do not
know what they are talking about; and,
if the Democrats of the country proper.
ly understood how large a contract the
Democratic Congressional majority will
take on its hands if it shall endeavor to
substitute Tilden for Hayes now, the
nrOOOSad Investigation would ha tba