St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-24
An Appeal to the People.
ADDRESS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COM
MITTEE TO THE COUNTRY.

MITTEE TO THE COUNTRY.
To the Voters of the United States:
The Democratic House of Representa-
tives has to-day by party vote adopt
ed resolution which, under the pre-
tense of an investigation, is to lay the
foundation for revolutionary expulsion
of the president from his Office. This is
the elimination of plot which has
been on foot from the day that Hayes
and Wheeler were cOnstitutiOnally de-
clared elected. 1t made its first public
appearance in the resolution of the last
democratic House, adopted at the close
of the session, declaring that Tilden and
Hendricks were elected. Tilden and
Hendricks subsequently made similar
public declarations themselves. A few
tInlid members have long held back,
and some of them, after being coerced
to the final vote, still pretend that they
will halt us soon as their partial and
One-sided investigation shall be ended.
In othcr words, they intend, after hear
ing subOrned evidence, to bring in a
verdict that Hayes is usuIper and that
he shall not remain in office. These
men have no control in the democratic
party. They dared not even follow
Alexander ii. Stephens, unit against
caucus dictatiOn, to the extent of show
ing some semblance of fair play. They
will be impOtent in the future, as they
have been in the past. Moreover, it is
difficult to believe in their sincerity, in
view of the public avowal of their party
that its purpose is, if possible, to dis
place the president. 1t is matter of
history that the resolution just adopted
was framed to express this object. The
Speaker of the House was consulted in
advance as to whether he would rule
that it was privileged question. The
party managers were anxious to con-
ceal their purposes, if possible. In this
they were defeated by the Speaker, who
would not rule 1t question of privilege
unless it clearly assailed the title of the
president. The resolution being offer
ed, he read carefully prepared Opin-
ion, deciding it to be question of the
highest privilege, because it involved
the question of the validity of Hayes's
title. Here are his very words:
A higher privilege than the one here
involved and broadly and directly pre-
sented as to the rightful occupancy of
the chief executive chair of the govern
ment. and the connection of high gov
ernment officials with the frauds alleged,
the Chair is unable to conceive. The
Chair finds enumerated among the ques-
tiOns of privilege set down in the man
ual the following: ELECTION of Presi-
dent" The Chair therefore rules that
the preamble and resolution embrace
questions of privilege of the highest
character, and recognizes the right of
the gentleman from New York to offer
the same.
Upon this the Republicans commenced
Il struggle against the revolutionary
scheme, which, after five days duration,
has terminated i'll the success of the con-
spirators. The Republicans offered to
favor the fullest Investigation into all
alleged frauds, by whichever party
charged to have been committed, but
the Democracy pursued its course
shamelessly and relentlessly, and stified
all inquiry into attempts at bribery in
Oregon, South Carolina, Louisiana, and
murder and violence in several states.
Neither amendment nor debate was al
lowed. The memorable previous ques-
ton was applied and enforced.
This scheme, if pursued, and it is now
fully inaugurated, can only have the
effect OF further paralyzing business of
all kinds, preventing the restoration of
confidence which seemed promising,
casting a gloom over every household
and bringing our nation into reprOach
before the civilized world. The peace
of the country is the first consideration
of patriots. This new effort of the
democracy to inaugurate anarchy and
Mexicanize the government, by throw
ing doubts upon the Legitimacy of the |
president, is in keeping with the record
of that party, one wing of which re-
belled against the government, while
the other wing gave them aid and COM
fort. We call, therefore, upon all who
the rebellion of 1861, without
distinction of party, to rally again to
the support of law, order and stable gov
eminent, and to Overwhelm with de-
feat the reckless agitators who, to gain
political power, would add to the pres
ent distress of the country by shaking
the foundations of the government they |
failed i'll a four years war to destroy.
BY unanimous order of the com.
EUGENE HALE, Chairman.
GEORGE G. GoRHAM, Secretary.