The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-24
Rssult q ths Potter Inrsstigation.

the Maryland Legislature to ask re-
opening of the presidential contest, he was
met with great opposition from Democrats
as well as Republicans. Republican jour
mails made light Of his efforts and many
Democratic papers at home and abroad
discountenanced the movement Not dis
eouraged, however, by potent argument
and untiring zeal he succeeded in inducing
the Legislature to adopt resolutions direct
ing the Attorney General Of the State to
make out case and take it TO the Supreme
Court Of the United States. These reso-
lutions, by direction Of the Legislature,
were laid before both houses of Congress.
Mr.. Dennis, in presenting them to the
Senate, apolOgised for the action of his
State, while Mr.. Whyte felt 'humiliated"
at its course. In the House Mr.. Swami
simply introduced them. Nothing result
ed from the resolutions, but later, Mr..
Blair being so warmly seconded in his eff
forts 10 expose the presidential conspiracy,
by able jurists and leading men throughout
the country, Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter, Of
New York, introduced resolutions in the
House of Representatives, asking for the
appointment of committee Of eleven to
investigate the frauds in Florida and Lou
isiana and the means by which Mr. Hayes
was indicted into the presidential chair.
After some four days filibustering by the
Republicans and some opposition from a
few Democrats, the resolutions were passed
by vote of 146 to 2, lab, mostly Repub-
licans, not voting. The wisdom of Mr..
Blair's move is now apparent. A COM
mittee of investigation was appointed, with
Clarkson n. Potter as chairman. That
committee has taken testimony proving
beyond doubt that gross frauds were COM
mitted in Louisiana, and that there was
bargain and sale effected between Hayes
and his immediate friends and certain
Southern Democrats. By that bargain
Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana
we're to be counted for Hayes, and Hayes
in return was to recognize the Democratic
State governments of those commonwealth
and withdraw the Federal troops, whilst
the perjured scoundrels who altered and
swore to the election returns were to be
rewarded by Hayes and his administration
by public Office.
This bargain has been fully carried out
Hampton reigns in South Carolina, and
Chamberlain is fugitive. Nichols gov
erns Louisiana, aud Packard is heaping
curses loud and deep upon Hayes for not
sustaining him, claiming that, as he re-
ceived more votes in Louisiana than the
Hayes electors, if Hayes title is good,
his is better. G. w. Drew occupies the
gubernatOrial chair of Florida, yet Stearns,
the Republican candidate for governor, re-
ceived nearly two thousand more votes
than Hayes. Hayes knew that Hampton,
Nichols and Drew were elected, and in
sustaining them but did his duty; and he
also knew that the electoral votes of South
Carolina, Florida and Louisiana were car
ried for Tilden. He was informed of the
fact in regard to Louisiana by Col. Ro-
berts, who testified before the Potter Com
mittee that he told Hayes that the Demo
Gratis had carried the State bya13 900 ma
jority, yet having determined to save the
State government to the Democrats, they
cared little who ruled the country beyond
its borders. Notwithstanding this infer
nation, Hayes gave COL Roberts to I'M
derstand, so he (Roberts) testified, that he
would sustain the Democrats, and accepted
the office of President when he knew he
was not entitled to il, and had he 1.-THE
of the honor, patriotism and love of re-
publican institutions accorded to him by
his admirers, he would never have per-
mitted himself to have been counted in.
The results reached by the Potter COM
mittee, however, do not attach the whole
blame to Mr.. Hayes. 1t has brought to
light the fact that the Democrats of sew
eral of the Southern States were particeps
crimiRis. But for their connivance at the
frauds committed by the returning boards,
Hayes could never have succeeded to the
presidency. They are as guilty as the
vilest manipulators of election returns, and
other perjured scoundrels engaged in the
frauds. They cared not for the other
thirty-fve States. so they were allowed to
govern themselves. We appreciate their
anxiety to throw of carpet-bag and negro
rule, which was destroying every interest
of their communities, yet we cannot con-
ceiye of state of affairs which would
justify the wrecking of thirty-fve States to
save three; the abandonment of honesty
and the upholding of fraud; the shaking OF
the foundation of the whole structure to
save a small part; the almost Inauguration
of civil war in thirty-fve States to gain
peace in three 40, the action of the
Southern Democrats who we're either ac-
lively or passively engaged in the bargain,
and those who had eOgnizance of it, are
equally guilty with Hayes, Sherman, STAN
ley Matthews 4 Co. They should be held
to strict accountability for it, by being
hurled from power, and by such punish
ment as the laws Of the land permit and
demand. In fact they are more guilty
than Hayes and his co-conspirators, for
they, as the testimony of Col. Roberts
shows, opened the way by proposing the
bargain to Hayes, Halsted and others, and
without their permission and assistance
the theft of the presidency could not have
taken place. Thus the investigation is
neither fruitless nor revolutionary, as the
Republicans claimed. True, Hayes can
not be impeached for his part in the con-
spiracy, vet the investigation proves TO all