The Portland daily press., 1878-05-20

says he opposed Potter's resolution because he
believes its tendency is to revive sectional agi-
tatioD. He said:
I object to having the South made the bone
of contention in all these political canvasses
We had commenced discussing the tariff and
revenue reform bills, and these are to be silenc-
ed and replaced by excitement. References
will be made by the Republicans to Ku.Klux
0utrages and negro murders, the old stories of
which will be revived and will doubtless 90 in
to the next campaign. If we lose the House,
then there may be recurrence of the repres-
sive legislation, by which the South alone will
suffer. intended to discuss the want of pow
er in the House to reopen the Presidential
election. When they passed upon it before,
they knew there were frauds as we'll as they do
now, and they gave Hayes the Presidential
seat by seal of authority they cannot revoke
The only reason why Tldeu is not President is
because Democratic House refused to dis
charge its duty, and Tilden refused to claim
the Presidency 1t was said to be in the in
| terests of peace and to avoid a revolution. The
| most prominent men who are leading in this,
| were the leaders of the Democratic wing that
adhered to the decision of the electoral commits
| sion, because they said they were in honor
bound to adhere to its decision and oppose all
those who were trying to overthrow it. Now,
they are proposing to go behind it on the
ground of newly discovered frauds, when they
had evidence enough before thsm in the 44th
Congress to induce the entire party to vote in
the House against the decision of the electoral
commission in the states of Florida and Lou.
isiana. They gave up the question to avoid a
revolution as they said then. and they ought to
abide in good faith by their decision now.
Opinions of Various Governors
AUGUSTA, May 18.-In regard to the move
ment to unseat President Hayes now being
made in Congress, Governor Conner expresses
his unqualified disapproval. No one for any
good purpose will think of again opening that
question. The resolutions Of the Republican
party of the state at their last state convention
declaring Hayes's title valid and unimpea CHI
able, fully represent the united sentiment of
the party throughout Maine. While they may
differ concerning certain features of the Presi-
dents policy, they would no more think of
| disturbing his title than that of George WASH
| ington. The Governor regards the present
| action OF the Democrats in Congress as revolu-
tionary in the extreme, and detrimental to the
business interests of the country.
BOSTON, May 19-The Sunday Herald pub-
fishes the opinions of the governors of % states
on the Potter resolution. The Governors of Mas.
sachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota,
Colorado and Iowa unqualifedly denounce the
resolution as calculated to retard the prosperity
| of the country. Gov. Rice thinks the purpose
OF the Democrats is to gather campaign mate
rial. Gov Hampton says the reopening of the
| question will do much to injure the South and
make Gen. Grant President in 1880. The
| Governor of New York believes that Tilden
was defrauded out of the Presidency, and that
an investigation can do no harm. Gov. Coch-
| ran of Delaware thinks the investigation is not
| for the purpose of unseating President Hayes.
| Gov. Halliday Of Virginia has no opinion to
| give, but is willing to trust the interests of
Virginia with her representatives The Gov
error of Texas expresses himself in the same
manner. Gov. Matthews Of West Virginia
| deprecates the resolution as tending to reopen
| sectional issues. He says: "If we are not
| ready to Mexicanze. we must uphold the
Presidents title to the end of bis term" The
Governor of Florida believes in the investiga-
| ton. Gov. Stone of Mississippi refuses to com
NIT himself, but is believed to oppose reopen
ing OF the Presidential question. Gov. Houston
| of Alabama regards the resolution as wise and
| sensible Gov. Williams of Indiana says the
| people Of that state are opposed to the fraudu-
| impeachment only. He thinks the Democrats
| will stand by the decision of the Electoral
Commission. The Governor Of California
favors an investigation, but not for the purpose
| of unseatiDg the President. The Governor of
| Tennessee thinks the idea of revolution is too
| absurd to be discussed.
Ex-Gov Hendricks emphatically opposes all
| attempts to invalidate the Presidents title
Judge Poland thinks the investig alton is
| pushed for the purpose of making campaign
capital and to keep Tilden before the people as
| presidential candidate.
President Hayes Views.
NEW YORK, May 19.-The Times Washing
| ton special says that gentleman in the conf
dence OF the President and having q perfect
knowledge OF Mr.. Hayes views respecting the
recent proceedings of the Democratic majority
Of the House, said this evening that the Presi-
dent while maintaining natural equanimity of
temper was not inclined to look lightly on the
situation. He did not think it matter to treat
sprang from small beginnings. Tue present
movement originated at Annapolis only a few
weeks ago, and when the resolutions of the
Maryland Legislature were published to the
country they were received with derison and
the author was characterized as a mailman
At that time great difficulty was found in per-
suading any Senator to present them to the
Senate, and when finally Senator Dennis SUBJ
mitted them he did so 10 speech disclaiming
any sympathy with their contents Tracing
the movement from its birth the President has
been struck with its rapid growth He points
to the significant circumstance that such indie.
pendent and influential men as Alexander a.
Stephens are already powerless to stay the
mandate. Whatever the result Of the invest-
cation might be, whatever disclosures might re-
suit, the President entertained no fear that
anything could be brought home to him. If
any person made any promise in his behalf or
entered into any bargain he did SO without his
knowledge and he hoped that such acts would
be exposed. The President regards the action
of the Southern Democrats in supporting the
investigation scheme as ungrateful in the high
est degree. irrespective of other considerations.
When he assumed the executive Office he found
the South. or large portion of it, distracted
and torn asunder by political strife almost bor-
dering upon revolution. He gave the South
peace. South Carolina and especially Louis
lana were restored to the rule of the native
population and carpetbagging had ceased to be
an element in Southern politics. The Presi-
dent OF course acted from strict sense of pub
lie duty 81 claims no reward at the hands of
the South for doing what he was bound iD con-
science to do, but he cannot avoid being wit
ness to the ingratitude evinced by the Repre-.
sentatives of the South to the man wins above
all others has had their welfare and happiness
in common with the rest of the Union sincere
ly at heart.
With reference to his title, the President con-
coded that it could be contested, but there was
only one way to test the question and that was BY
ajwrit of quo aoarranto theIonly remedy provided
by law when he became President. The act
creating the electoral commission specially de-
clared that nothing therein was to be construed
as impairing or affecting any right then exist
ing under the Constitution and laws to ques-
ton by proceeding in judicial courts OF the
United States the ri ght or title OF himself and
Mr. Wheeler, if any such right at that time
existed. The President admitted that Mr..
Tilden's only remedy at present was by writ
OF quo 1oaTTdnt0 and such writ was prer0ga-
tive writ and not obtained as matter of right,
put only in the discretion of the court, and he
doubted whether any court would grant it.
Inc PRESIDENT also comedies the power of
congress to pass a retroactive law to provide
otner means OF testing the title to the Presiden-
cy, as tne office can never be said to be in the
past, Dut Is always in the present. AS to his
impeachment being ordered by the House, the
President has not the remotest idea such &C.
currence ID even among the possibilities. The
President is fully alive to the exigencies that
may arise aud will see to it that the public
peace is maintained and the laws enforced at
whatever cost. He proposes to follow the pol
icy already marked out by his administration
and will take no backward step.
Ike COMMITTEE of Investigation.
PHILADELPHIA, May 19.-Spesker Randall
left this city for Pittsburg tonight to attend
the Democratic state convention. Before leav-
ing he decided upon the following as select
committee of IL on Potters's resolution, which
will be announced tomorrow by Sayler, Speak
er pro tenn: Carkson N. Potter of New York,
W. r. Morrison of Illinois, Eppa Hunton Of
VIRGINIA .Tohp - n q