Year: 1876

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2o.-The Journal


of to morrow will contain an interview


with Governor Hendricks, the leading
points OF which are as follows:


The Governor said the men who voted


for Governor Tilden believed he was
elected and they are CRAFTY excited at
the possibility that he is to be deprived
OF the office and another to be inaugural
ed who was elected by means of party
machinery, anti republican in its char.
acter, and even by disregard of the local
law in its organization and by the fraud
ulent exercise of its powe,. They do not
believe that under republican institutions
1t is possible that no inquiry can be made
into the conduct of four men who under.
took to control the Presidential election
by fraudulent means. They believe that
1t is the duty ofthe House of Represen.
tatlves to see that the proposed wrong is
defeated even should the Senate ATTEMPT
to maintain it. The opinion prevails
generally, believe universally, among
them that the House of Representatives
is clothed with equal power with the SEN
ate IN the decision of all questions which
arse during the progress of the count of
the Electoral vote, and that it would be
usurpation fragrant violation of the
rights OF the people, should the vote be
counted and the questions decided by
the presiding officer of the Senate in de-
nance OF the rights of the House.


Keporter-What public significance
should be attached to the action of the
Democrats in calling public meetings in
the North West, and especially in this
state and, as your supposed connection
with 1t has given rise to much comment,
VIII you state whether, in your opinion,
either party would under any circum
stances be justified in resorting to force
to secure the Presidency


Governor Hendricks-The fact that
this power above alluded to is claimed
by the President Of the Senate and its
exercise by him is threatened has great
ly contributed to excite the popular feel
ing. In this condition of the public mind
he Democratic Committee of the State
ssued the call for the Convention of the
SIN OF January not for the purpose. as |
suppose, of making any threats or of
any resistance to authority,
'ut for the purpose of making a public
Expression against the threatened inva-
ions otthe popular rights and of giving
he House of Representative an assur.
nee of support in the exercise Of its
institutional rights and prerogatives.
here Is no purpose, SO far as am in
ormed, OF going further, In further t
nswer to your inquiry, do not regard l.
orce as means to be contemplated to /
ecure the Presidency. So far as the 9Th
+ January and its Convention is con.
erned, | am very sure that its reliance '
Its only reliance-to secure the result
the Presidential election will be upon y
lie force and power of public opinion in
lpport of the right and against the 7
rong, and iii support of the House of
in the assertion and ex. l
-clse OF its constitutional powers, as
lose powers have been declared in the 0
inform practice and in the adoption of
e Twenty second Joint Rule, and the "
lssage by the Senate of Governor Nor. =,
ms bill at the last session, It is per- N
APPS. proper to add that should the r.
ouse positively assert its right to parti. "
pate in this count, and should that right
done and refused by the Senate, sup.
'rted by the Executive power, we
ould stand in the presence of serious
myers, not because of any party move.
ents, but because of conflict in the RI
achinery of Government without any an an
bunal for its adjustment. W. W.
| observe in some newspapers the state IN, r
ent that a secret political society is be- de-
organized in this State, the purposes ma
which are dangerous to the peace of Fo
,iety. | think l am in position to ed
ow if there were any such movement ma
this State or any portion of it, and | an
! confident in saying that the report
without any foundation. In truth, it
Wholly false, as | believe, and as |
ok know, has its origin with bad frio
n and for partisan and bad purposes, boI
e contest In this State last summer Do,
fall was, on the part of the Demo 7
cy and Conservatives, eminently fair t
open. There is no motive, and as | t
sure there is no purpose to depart A
n that policy. T


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