The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-20
What President Hayes Thinks OF
the Potter Movement.

NEW YoRK, May ia Washington
special TO the 1imSs says: A gentleman II
the confidence OF the President and hay.
Ing 3 perfect knowledge Of Mr.. Hayei
views respecting the recent proceedings o.
the Democratic majority Of the House
said this evening, that the Presi,
dnet, while maintaining his natural equR-
nimity Of temper, was not inclined L
look tightly on the situation. He did mol
think Il was 4 matter to treat with
indifference. Great events In history had
sprung from smaller beginnings. TracY
Ing the movement from its birth the
President has been struck with It's rapid
growth. BE points 10 the significant cir.
cumstance that such independent and in.
tluential men as Alex. II. Stephens are
already powerless to stay the caucus man.
date. Whatever the result Of the inyes.
tigation might be or whatever the disclos.
ures might result therefrom, the President
entertained no fears that anything could
be brought home 10 him. II any person
made any promises in his behalf or en-.
tered into any bargains they did 80 with.
out his knowledge, and he hoped their
acts would be exposed. The President
regards the action Of the Southern Dem.
ocrats In supporting the inyestiga-
ton scheme as ungrateful In the
highest degree irrespective Of all other
considerations. When he assumed
the Executive Office he found the South,
or atleast large portion oft, distracted
and torn asunder by political strife al.
most bordering on revolution. He gave
the South peace. South Carolina and
especially Louisiana, were restored to
the rule Of the native population,
and the carpet-bagger ceased 10 be an
element In Southern politics. The Pres.
ident, OF course, acted from 4 strict sense
Of public duty and claims no reward at the
hands Of the South. We were doing what
be was bound In conscience 10 do, but he
cannot avoid being 4 witness to the in
gratitude evinced BY the representatives
Of the South to 4 man who, above all
others, has had their welfare and
happiness in common with the rest
Of this vast Union sincerely at
heart. With reference TO his title
The President conceded that II could
be contested, but there was only one way
10 test the question, and that was by
writ Of quo warranto, which was the only
remedy provided by law. When he be.
,ame President the act creating the Elec-
.oral Commission specially declared that
nothing therein was 10 be construed as
or affecting any right then ex.
sting under the constitution and laws TO
question by proceeding In the judicial
;ourts Of the United States the right or
.itle Of himself and Mr.. Wheeler, II any |
Iuch right at that time existed.
The President admitted that Mr.. Til
lens remedy at present was by writ Of
luo warranto, and such q writ was q
'rerogatiye writ and not obtainable as
natter Of right, but only in the discre-
ion Of the court, and he doubted whether
my court would grant It.
The President also comedies the power
II Congress 10 pass a.retroactiye law TO
provide other means OF testing the title
II the Presidency, as the Office can never
% said to be in the past but always in the |
present. As 10 his impeachment being
ordered by the House, the President has |
1ot the remotest idea that such an occur. |
snce Is even among possibilities.
The President is fully alive to the ex.
gencies that may arise, and will see to II
hat the public peace Is maintained and
he laws enforced at whatever cost. BE
proposes to follow the policy already |
marked out by his Administration, and
will take no backward step.