Such convictions on the part of the Democrats,
however honest or earnest, of the danger and dishonor of the
proceedings just inaugurated found expression in but a single
dissenting vote in the House of Representatives.
"They say that they believe that the result in two of the
States was accomplished by fraud. We believe, on the other
hand, that those States, and others whose votes were counted
for Tilden, were strongly Republican, and would have been
counted for Hayes without a question, but for violence and
crime. The Constitution provides the time, place and manner
in which these contentions must be settled. They have been
so settled as between Hayes and Tilden, and it is only by
usurpation and revolution that a subsequent Congress can undertake
to reopen them. You know how easily party majorities persuade
themselves, or affect to persuade themselves, of the existence
of facts, which it is for their party interest to establish.
"At the end of his four years the President lays down his
office, and his successor is chosen. The people have in their
hands this frequent, easy and peaceful remedy for all evils
of administration.
Pages:
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840