Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-30

indirectly, with any Republican in the
| house or out of the house. | made
| an appeal to Mr.. Potter to
withdraw his call for the previous question
| to allow me three minutes only My object
was to get him to withdraw the call for the
| previous question, and allow Mr.. Hale or any
| Republican to offer Just such amendments
| for the enlargement of the investigation as
| they might see Mt 1t was then that Mr. Pot
| ter declined to withdraw the call or allow me
the three minutes. He said that it was from
| no disrespect to me, but that he could not do
| So. as he was acting under instructions.
Whether Mr.. Potter lad communicated to
others the purport of my vote, and because
| he had determined that should not be heard
upon the subject, | do not know, but GER
| tainly had not suggested in that note that
the Democrats should do anything else than
receive all amendments or additional propo-
sitions for investigation that might be offered
from any quarter.
Second-Mr. Potter seems to confound his
| dates. He speaks of what occurred when he
rose to make the proposition to Mr.. Hale
as If done upon the second day upon
which | asked leave to address the house.
In this he is mistaken; his propositions to
Mr.. Hale was on the next day, Friday, and
had no connection whatever with the pro-
oeadings In which | was denied hearing.
Third-Mr. Potter's reasons for refusing
MIR. Hale's amendment appear to me to be
singular and most untenable. He says it was
becauseIt was not germane. Why it was not
germane | can't see. All frauds, it would
seem to me, are of kindred character. They
are al the same class of crimes, belong to the
same family, and differ only in character and
degree. If fraudulent electoral count in
Florida was germane to like fraudulent
count In Louisiana, why is not a like fraudu
lent count in Oregon, or any other State,
equally germane to the proposition to lnvesti-
gate the frauds?
Fourth-Mr Potter iusti6es his course in
refusing an investigation into the frauds al
legged in Mr.. Hales amendment because, he
said: 1--WE understood it contained rectals
to which we can't assent, and which would
have forced US to vote against our own reso-
luton" This seems to me, again, to be an
untenable reason. In the first place. in al
whatever recItals 1t might have had, by no
means committed the house to the truth of
the ALLEGATIONS. 1t would only have allowed
him to make them good if he could.
Fifth-Mr. Potter insists that mis- object
was not and is not to attack the title of Mr..
Hayes. If so, then why did he not, Or the
managers whose instructions he was carrying
out, allow MIR. Casey Young's amendment to
go IN. which distinctly stated, Sitn the pJr
pose Of quoting the country, that the object
was not to disturb the title of the present
Executive, which had been so constitutional
ly settled by the last congress?
But [ have no time to say more at
present. except to add that l look
upon the whole of this proceediug con-
cocted as it was, conducted as it has
been, Us most unwIse, most unfortunate and
most mischievous. Its effect viii be to dis
turb the peace, harmony and quiet OF the
country. Neither Mr.. Potter nor anybody
else can prevent 1t. And | say to him most
respectfully, that nothing Snort of imnleGi
ate, general and firm concert of action of
law and order by the abiding people Of ali
parties, Republicans and Democrats,
throughout the Union in reprobation OF this
investigation proceeding any further with
view to disturb the Presidential title,
such as announced by the Pennsyl
vania Democracy in their conven-
ton few days ago, can arrest
most fearful consequences. Those who have,
though innocently, sowed the wind, will reap
the whirlwind. My own opinion is, as | re-
peatedly have said, that this affair will prove
in the end either contemplate farce or
horrible tragedy. Whether it will lead to
the determination of our federal republic,
this the result must show, but say, as |
said on another recent occasion, that all soft
word, Installing in the minds OF the people
of this country the idea that Mr.. Hayes can
be peaceably unseated by congress, are as
delusive and as guiltful as the whispering of
the great arch-fend, in the shape of toad,
il the ear of Eve, from which spring all our
woes. Very respectfully,
lrIr