Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-22
The Potter Resolution.

'h''oe vi lnat CITY mas passed vote cen
surfing Mr. Morse for his sensible conduct
Alexander II. Stephens would have voted
against the resolution had he been present /:
he tried to get permission to say few
words, but Potter refused him.
The speaker has appointed the commit
tee of eleven with Potter ut its head. Ii
consists Of seven democrats, three repub
licans and Benjamin +. Butler. The com.
mittee is "organized to convict" and il
would be Just as well for the republicans
to Keep away and let the democrats run
the thing TO suit themselves as to hay,
anything 10 do with it whatever.
While a full investigation would be all
right and proper to find out the exact
truth of the presidential election the pres
ent proceeding is mere partisan effort
and aimed not at the truth but ut such
things as democrats think will tend to
maze party capital Or Dust Mr.. Hayes. Mr.
IIlden has remedy in the courts of his
country. but it does not belong TO the
present Legislative branch, after its prede.
cessor has, rs was its duty, declared who
Is president, to take upon itself redeter-
mination of that question.
That course simply Mexicanizes our
politics. And that is the aim of the Potter
resolution. The resolution was declared
question of highest privilege by Speaker
Randall because twas one affecting the title
to the presidency. Mr. Potter gave rs
reason for refusing Hale's amendment that
the frauds Hale proposed to have investi-
gated "did not become operative The
democratic caucus tabled resolution that
was offered declaring that the aim of the
investigation was not TO disturb the prcsi
dental title.
To-day half of the democrats in con.
gress want Hayes turned out-that half
will bring the other half to their support,
rs the more radical of every party ut all
times control the more conservative. The
result will be the renewal of the presi-
DENTAL contest to the detriment of all the
business interests of the country The
case will be fought at the polls, and in
congress with all the heat excited parti-
sans can bring-in fact is taken back into
the very arena whence the establishment
OF the electoral commission took it there.
by saving the country from civil war. This
is an entertainment very different from Il
judicial investigation before the supreme
court, where the truth could be ascertain
ed and given force, without the raging of
party passion that we are now sure to
have. And for this entertainment which
the country is to have the democratic party
is responsible. 1t means TO get possession
of the government and will hesitate at no
means 10 that end as time will show.
Its first step is by the Potter movement
to obtain partisan report that republican
frauds became operative " in Florida and
Lousiana-hence Hayes wasn't elected.
Then if they can control the house as they
do this, the senate then being democratic.
it will be but step 10 cease recognizing
Hayes rs president and thence to the rec
ogniion of Tlden. That is what is meant
and anyone can figure out whether after
passions have been f|nncd year such
elimination of events means civil war or
not
The duty of the republican party is
plain. Quarrels should henceforth cease
in our own ranks. The danger is ahead
and could have been averted by no course
in the past possible for either President
Hayes or the republican congressional
leaders. 1t comes not from solid south
but from the old-Mshioned democratic par.
ty whose worst elements are in the north
1t is not from rebels to the national gov
eminent who were largely such because
they believed true patriotism meant love
for their individual states instead of the
Union. 1t is from those politicians and
their lineal descendants who stole Louisi-
ana from Henry Clay by the Plaguemines
fraud, who " counted in " quarter of
century ago, governor not elected in II
western state, who made the antelope of
the Mississippi plan effective in Kansas,
who supported Yallandigham in Ohio in
the midst of the war, and declared the war
for the Union Il failure when the southern
ers who bravely bore arms therein knew
it was n success, and whose record shows
them doubly guilty of everything they
now allege against republic ms.
The fight needs to be made for the next
house Of personalities. And it will be
to see whether it shall be democratic and
Mexican or republican and American;
whether business is to 60 along unvexed
by wranglings about political succession
or whether it is to be pAralyzed by the
continuance Of a presidential campaign
throughout the rest of Il four years term
that should bring peace and prosperity.
The democrats recognize that they must
have the next house to carry out their
revolutionary programme and to that end
have redistricled Ohio within few days
so that they can elect more members.
They will use every means to accomplish
their great end, and from this day the
republican party once more united must
keep together for the security of that pros.
perity which Can only attend IA country
not torn by the fighting of factions for
succession to power
THE EAsT.--Schouvalo is on his way
back to London and rumors of the past
week have been of more peaceful tenor.
A report comes from Ottawa that the
Canadian authorities received dispatch
from the imperial government, Monday
announcing that war between England
and Russia is inevitable.
John H. Smythe, the new minister to
Liberia, like his predecessor Turner, is a
negro, native of North Carolina, gradu-
ate of Howard university, and now clerk
in the treasury department.