The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-16
Continued Deadlock In the
Houss-The Republican Caucus.

hOuSe-Iho S~uC""s
After the failure of the democrats for the
third day to secure the presence OF a
quorum of democratic members to pass Mr..
Potter's resolution the House again adj
journed, and the business of legislation still
remains suspended. Immediately after the
adjournment the republican members held
caucus, in which they assumed that the
object of the proposed investigation is to
reopen the question Of the Presl-
dents title and depose Mr.. Hayes.
In spite of some faint disclaimers on
the part of q few democrats, including
Mr.. Potter himself, there is great deal in
the circumstances Of the movement to war
rant this Interpretation of its purpose. The
arguments adduced by the democrats to
prove that the resolution involves ques-
ton of high privilege are consistent with
this aim but not consistent with any other
The hinge of the democratic reasoning on
the question OF high privilege was the Mary
land memorial, the undisguised and de-
clared object of which is to controvert Mr..
Hayes title and bring it to judicial deter
mination by the Supreme Court. The con-
LESSONS of McLin, Dennis and others re-
specting the Florida frauds were so OBJ
viously insufficient for raising question OF
privilege that no democrat ventured to rest
it upon that ground. The one sole founda-
ton Of all the arguments for making the
investigation a question of high privilege
was the Mary land memorial and the claim
Of sovereign State to that extraordinary
degree Of Difference and attention. 1t is
only as a matter Of high privilege that Mr..
Potter's resolution acquired and holds the
status by which it eclipses and postpones
all other business, and the only argument
for giving it this status rests by the avowal
Of all its advocates on the memorial OF which
Montgomery Blair is the author.
Now, it SO happens that the purpose Of
the Blair memorial is not open to any sort
Of doubt. Mr.. Blair has never attempted
to put upon his project any mask, nor even
the thinnest veil Of political gauze. 1t has
been his open, proclaimed purpose from
the beginning to Gust Mr.. Hayes from the
Presidency and install Mr.. Tilden in his
place. The bill on this subject, framed by
Mr.. Blair's instigation, offered in the House
by Maryland member and referred to the
Committee on the judiciary, has for its
specific object the trial Of Mr.. Hayes title
by the highest judicial tribunal Of
the country. The Maryland memorial
having been made the turning point
of the arguments for giving the pending
resolution precedence Of all the other bust
ness OF the House, it is fair and legitimate
inference that the ultimate aim Of this
movement is to depose Mr.. Hayes from
Office. This is the only theory which can
impart anything like logical consistency to
the action of the democratic members.
Their partial disavowals are a piece of STRAIT
egg TO bring their hating supporters into
line and get the investigation started.
Whether they attempt to carry out their
ultimate purpose will depend on their sue
cess in this years elections. If they secure
majority Of the next House and majority
Of the Senate with the fraud question as the
dominant issue Of the campaign they will
think it a political necessity to proceed fur
ther, on the pretended ground that the
people require it of them. If the Forty
sixth Congress, with n democratic majority
in both houses, should refuse to recognize
Mr.. Hayes ms President, how can he any
longer exercise the office? He could not
make appointments If the Senate refused to
receive his nominations, and there is no
judicial process by which Congress could
be compelled to treat him rs President. nor
could the army be used to coerce that body.
But the effect would nevertheless be Mexi-
can anarchy and confusion worse con-
founded" The democrats in Congress are
setting out toward this revolutionary re-
suit. The republican caucus is quite right
in sounding an alarm on the subject.
The vosb urgh Case.
In yesterdays session of the Hudson