The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-04
VOL. XLYI.--N0. 1875.
TIE FRAUD OF TIE CENTURY
rgE STEALING or THE PRESIDENCY
or THE UNITED STATES.

ar,ek. were and Rutherford ". Hayes
and Wininm a. Wheeler Were Not the
Real Choice OF Majority OF the Electors.
Mr Potter. from the Committee OF Invcstiga-
don into the Electoral Frauds. submitted the
following report;
The Committee appointed by the resolution |
a, the House to inquire into tho alleged fraud |
ulent canvass and return Of votes at the last |
presidential election in the States Of Louisiana
And Florida" and who. by Il subsequent rcsou-
ton Of the House. were authorized to ihvesti- |
ente frauds tou hing TINT election in any State
where they had probable cause TO believe tho
same * isted." respectfully report:
That they proceeded ut once to the discharge
Of tho duty imposed upon them. They have
Examined over 200 witnesses. and taken about
5000 finely printed pnGrs Of testimony.
1NvEsIIoATIoS CONFINED TO FLORIDA AND LOU
IsIANA.
No application having been made to them.
either by any member OF the Committee or Of
the House. or from any other quarter. to con
slider any matter connected with that election in
any other State. they hnve confined their in
ouiries to the said States OF Florida and Louis
lana
The House having lately directed the Com
mi,tee to inquire as to certain cipher kilograms.
they have proceeded with such investigation.
and will make separate report thereon.
WHAT CONGRESS SHOULD INVESTIGATE.
The Constitution provides that each State
shall direct the manner in which its electors are
to bo appointed. Their appointment Is. there
fore conducted under State law and determined
by State officers.
Wrongs in connection with State elections are
not novelties. The stufflng and destruction Of
ballots and alteration Of figures have heretofore
occurred. and il is within the power Of the
States in which such frauds occur to punish
them. Such cases do not require investigation
by Congress because as to none OF them has II
any power 10 remedy or punish the wrongs
committed. But frauds in the appointment OF
electors directly affect the choice Of II President.
and therefore demand investigation By the Con
gress.
FRAUDS IN QUESTION UNPRECEDENTED.
The frauds alleged in connection with tho ap-
pontment OF electors In Florida and Louis
lana, in 1876. were entirely unprecedented.
For the first time in the history OF the Gov
ernment electoral votes challenged Us fraudu-
lent and false. were nevertheless received and
counted. and did in fact change the result OF the
election.
In Florida the Board OF State Canvassers
usurped discretionary powers. and reversed the
result OF the votes cast. They did this in the
presence OF certain visiting statesmen sent
there by the President Of the United States. and
surrounded 10y feleral troops
That State by every department Of its gov
ernment-legslative. executive. and judicial
thereupon protested against this acton Of the
State canvassers and declared that the persons
thus certhcated were not its electors. and did
not represent the State. Nevertheless. 1t was
decided by the Electoral Comm sion that dur
ing the few hours those men pretended to be IL
office they did represent the State Of Florida.
and did exercise its discretion. The President;
OF the United Statee holds his place by virtue OF
their action.
Such action may be repeated in any State at
any Presidential election and II the Congress
cannot prevent this altogether It 10 at least
within their power to adopt measures that will
afford the State in which il may occur an oppor-
tunity to annul the fraudulent action so taken.
and r,-call the pretended vote so cast through
usurpation before the same ia finally received
and counted ne her genuine vote.
On the other hand the election In Louisiana
was determined by partisan Returning Board.
exercising discretionary revisory power over
the votes cast. This power was Unauthorized.
but even II authorized the Board had nalrantly
and outraReousy abused it. They were sup
ported in its exercise by visiting statesmen. sent
also by the President 10 Louisiana. They wer,
surrounded. while engaged in it, by Federal
troops.
Here then was disclosed a new danger. A
discretionary power over the result OF an cleo
ton in State by one OF the parties. to DO exer-
cised with the aid OF external influence and
patronage and with the protection of Fedora
troops. is. OF all conceivable things. the great
est mockery in the way Of an election and the
greatest danger 70 free government
1t became therefore. the duty OF Congress &c
inquire into the frauds in order 10 correct them
when within its power, and when not, TO recon
mend to the States legislation to that end.
To refrain from an inquiry into gross wrongs
is 10 invite their repetition.
CONDUCT OF THE INVEST IdATIoN.
In conducting this investigation. the Commit
tee have not been unmindfu Of its difficulty
and importance. and have endeayored to con
duct 1t with absolute and judicial fairness.
Since ii was unavoidable in an investigation
Of this magnitude that much secondary test
mony should be received. some Of which nigh
thus unJustly involve the fair fame Of indyd
uals. We thought il proper that the Republican
members Of the Committee should decid'
whether the sessions Of the Committee shoul,
be private or open and on their determination
al last. thatthe session OF the Committee should
be open. IL was so ordered.
We have called every witness that was re
duired by the minority of the Committee in re
spect OF questions at issue and as 10 any othe
matters we have endeayored 20 adapt our con
duct 10 their wishes.
Generally we have desired that every oppor
tunitv. consistent with our means Of ascertain
ing the truth. should be- afforded 10 ali con
cerned; and we are glad 10 know that in hi
respect there is no difference in the Committee
and that the majority AMI minority ara alik
agreed that every proper facility hns been NJ
forded by each to the other. No complaint. fl
respect Of the conduct OF the Committed ha
been expressed by any member Of IL.
DIFFICULTIES or SUCH Az INVESTIGATION.
An Investigation into the conduct Of part
in power. conducted by a committee SIT on ioc
by the opposition. is necessarily subject 10 grer
difficulties and embarrassment.
The power OF such n committee to elicit trut
is limited TO the willingness OF witnesses t
speak il for when witnesses choose to with
hold or peryert the truth they can do SO withou
fear Of punishment. since punishmentJs is alon
lodged in the hands Of those FOR whom the trut
is withheld or perverted. Men are natural
unwilling 10 nlmlt frauds in which they hay
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