The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-06-04
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NUMBER
KEY!
The Postmaster General Ad-
dresses Words of Wisdom
To the south.
He Calls on His People 90 Repudiate
the Potter Conspiracy.

WAsmSGToN, May 2s-In lieu OF a
/ personal answer 10 many letters receiv-
ed from friends in the South disclaim-
I ing sympathy with any effort 10 unseat
President Hayes, Postmaster General
! hey has written tho following open
letter 10 the people OF the South:
WAsHISGToN, May 20, 1873.
The circumstances attending the pas
sage Of the Potter resolution 10 inyes-
/ tigate the alleged frauds in the Presi-
I Dental election Of 1876 in the States
/ OF Louisiana and Florida, together
/ with the subsequent declarations OF
many influential Democratic politicians
/ and journalists, evidence that il both
Houses Of the Forty-sixth Congress
arc Democratic, the majority intend
10 oust President Hayes, and inaugur-
ate NJ. TIden. The title OF President
| Hayes was settled irreyocably by the
Forty-fourth Congress in the act
creating the Electoral Commission, un-
der which he was legally inauguratsd.
| The Forty-fifth Congress has no more
right to dispute this question than the
/ President has 10 question the title OF
any victorious contestant TO his seat in
that body. The Forty-sixth Congress
will have no more right TO ignore him
aud to recognize his defeated contest
ant, Mr.. Tilden, than Mr.. Hayes would
have 10 send Gle OF a soldiers TO the
House Of Representatives TO unseat Q
| Democrat whom he might consider to
have been wrongfully seated or fraudu-
/ lently elected.
The leaders in this desperate attempt
| To Mexicanize our institutions rely con-
| Il 10 30 fr~
nish the bulk of the Democratic major
| ity IN the next House OF Representa-
tives, the Senate being already secur-
ed. Remembering the encouragement
which the Northern Democrats in 1860
and 1861 extended TO the Southern
States TO secede, and the manner in
which their promises of aid and COM
fort were fulflled, can the Southern
| people afford TO join the revolutionary
movement, with the certainty that,
when the inevitable hour of peril comes,
they will again be left, unassisted and
alone, 10 meet the storm from the
North, once more united by this at
tempt 10 revive an issue whose settle
ment was forced by public opinion up
on an unwilling Congress? In the dark
days Of February, 1877, when the civil
war was over, disputed election was
imminent, and patriots trembled for
the safety of republican institutions,
Southern members of Congress averted
the danger by compelling the compile
tion Of the electoral count under law
which both parties in Congress had en-
acted. But now the Representatives
from the Southern States, with very
few exceptions, have joined in a move
ment 10 subvert their former patriotic
action and TO remand the country TO
that anarchy from which, less than two
years ago, il was saved by their efforts.
Grant that, in permitting the auton-
omy OF all the States, and in appoint
ing citizens 10 Office IN the South. in
stead of Strangers, President Hayes
has but discharged his constitutional
duty, does that excuse the Southern
Representatives, for attempting TO in
validate his title, which they estab-
lished, or will 1t justify them in bring
ing the country again in danger of civil
war in the effort 10 unseat him aud in
augurate Mr. Tildan2 The South must
history i-S' since 1867 10 endorse the th re- re-
cent conduct OF their representatives is
to admit the truth Of the charge that
the people of the South care nothing
for the welfare Of the Union, desire the
desire the downfall of the republic, and
would rejoice 10 see il again involved
In civil war. III their representatives
have not reflected their sentiments, as
believe 10 be the case, then the peo-
pie of the Southern States sould take
care that in the Forty-sixth Congress
they are represented by men who will
defeat the disturbers OF public peace
aud prevent the Mexicanizatiops Of our
institutions. To do this they may be
compelled TO act independent of the
Democratic party.
Recent events have demonstrated the
inability Of the Democratic members of
Congress 10 resist the mandates Of
caucus aud the terrors Of the party lash.
the one welded and the other inspired
by men who seem willing to endanger
the welfare Of the country and the STA
bility Of republican institutions Tor the
sake of re genge on political opponents,
aud in the hope OF dividing the spoils
OF victory. III the Democratic Repre-
sentatives of the South could not resist
the caucus command TO pass the Potter
resolution, unamended and without de-
| bate. how will they be able in the
Forty.sixth Congress, to resist a simi-
| lar command 20 ignore Mr.. Hayes as
President and to recognize Mr.. Tilden?
| IL is, therefore. the duty Of the South
ern people TO afford crowning evil
| dence Of their renewed devotion to the
/ every right of citizenship, and
not laid upon every citizen, by sending
1 d a. A. ..tl.
| Congress pledged 10 resist, at all haz-
ards, the revolutionary schemes OF the
! mischief makers, who seem to have
gained control of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the Forty-fifth Congress.
To this end the people in every dis
trict should meet publicly organize,
aud resolve to support no person for
Congress who has given aid To the
movement, and who will not pledge
himself 90 sustain the title of Presi-
dent Hayes during the term for which
no was elected against all attempts at
its overthrow. Only in this way can a
grave danger TO the Republic be avert
ed aud a convincing proof be given
that the confidence was not misplaced
which President Hayes manifested in
the South when he withdrew the troops
from the State houses Of South Caro-
lima and Louisiana.
have spoken plainly and earnestly.
for ! feel that / should be unworthy to
represent the South in the Admin
istration were I to remain silent now.
Invited TO the Cabinet as Southern
man, 10 see that justice was done in
the South. required neither TO apollo
gize for my record nor TO disown my
political principles, ii Is my duty now
to warn the people Of the South Of the
danger which threatens the country
No man need hope that the schemes of
men who have engineered the move
ment to unseat the President can be
carried out without a bloody civil war.
To avert this danger l confidently rely
, upon the patriotism and honor OF the
! people Of my native section.
ID. M. KEY.
How communistic ideas help labor