The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-17

HxSA@ytAkA4t&sssk 49, 49, ~ 49, -.
FRIDAY. !. ~ ts
Congress artls. III Il a y
81 aAe importance os Tho present session q
cc1nrCSsrss sEouia 1npel that body tp steady
and earnest devotion 90 the Interests and
xstssiisais of ske. nation. That Id great part
lie representatives ofsthes naslons have dess
voted themselyes With energy md, we may
ADJ, sincerisy 10 these Oh ecss 10 true.9g0 %
course, Id i sepublic part nosiyes cannot
be excluded from State proceedings and
these motives have had place on almost
every subject, but not 10 the extent OF Sc
rions injury.
Itisto be regretted, however, that whilst
there Is SIN very Important matters to DIS g
peseof the question about Florida frauds
should intervene with 50 much party con-
fiict and such violent measures Of delay, TO
the detrimento Oh the public business. Seye-
rai.days have been wasted with no adyan-
tage to anybody upon the question Of author
isingthe Investigation OF the alleged frauds q
during therccess OF Congress: .,.s 81.
IT Is apparent that the Republicans WI
not allow an investigation that is limited to
one State II they can help 1t, and the Demo
Gratis are appalled, at the labor,of under
takin. the investigation OF alleged frauds
in all the States. Indeed, they will not do
anything OF tho kind. Can the attempt TO
investigate Florida and Louisiana be car
rieds That is a question that may take q
Tong time before IL can pesettled; and when
it Ia settled what then II settled in favor
of'the Investigation. how much will be gain
ed thereby TO the Democrats? twill be nm an
investigation that cannot possibly affect tue
question Of Mr.. 5HAYEs's title to his seat; but
the Democrats, in moving it declare that Mr..
HAYss's title is, unassailable. The investi-
CATION WIN have no other object, then, than
ttiatrof exposing frauds. These frauds. are
wellknown, land the question arises. VIII 3ll
thekestjmeny taken by the committee, pre-
sent them in q clearer and more indisputa:
BILE manner? This may be well doubted
The confessions OF villains, SO long as there
is controversy Einpeachings the truth OF
their statements, cannot be considered sat
isfactory to the public. And there will, be
such statements and scounter-statementsta las
will mos. probably perplex and disgust all
those who are seeking after the truth.
Ii the movement to investigate fails. as
now seems probable, we think it will likely
be better than If it succeeds. We know as
much abont the frauds as we probably ever
will. The confessions OF the rascals cannot
be made more reliable, by their. oaths to the
truth 81 them, for who will believe pub
liclv-confessed liar on oath The failure TO
investigate will not disturb the information
that we have, and we believe that morally
the peo2le OF the United States are inn
pressed with the conviction that the last
presidential election was carried BIZ frauds
pa,pabIe aud monstrous. That we have
now, and can we get more by an inrestiga-
ton which will revive the warlof party con-
testat1on and party prejudice in q manner
that will tend to the binding OF the public
Judgment and the renewed disturbance OF
sectional relations?
The Democrats are sincere in desiring to
expose fraud. But after the horrible de-
prayity and yillainy brought out when
GRANT engineered the count, what reason
have they to hope that the digging into the
Same heap OF rottenness and attempting TO
force out OF the men who figured at that
time the truth about their. deeds will termi-
nate ID bringing out anything that is valua-
bic and reliable ?-anything that viii tend
to satisfy the public mind, promote justice,
and diminish sectional bitterness?
For;ourselves, We regard this movement,
stimulated by the revelations that have come
from Florida, as promising no advantages
such as are hoped for. We have not par
tic!e of doubt of the exact correctness OF
our declaration when we say: it would be of
infinite advantage to the country, and espe-
cially to the Democratic party, il Mont
GoMERY BLAIR and the so-called Judge NOR
TON (once resident of RichmonO had left
the. country two years since not, to visit
their homes again for five years to come. II
they have been Of no more benefit to them
selves than they have been to the United
States, then they are "poor devils" .<