Ride on, the prize is near.

CHAPTER IV
ATTEMPT TO REOPEN THE QUESTION OF THE TITLE TO
THE PRESIDENCY

In general the determination of the title to the Presidency
was acquiesced in in a manner highly creditable to the people.
The Democratic party submitted to their disappointment in
a manner which was on the whole exceedingly praiseworthy.
This was due very largely to the influence of Mr. Lamar,
of Mississippi, and I suppose to that of Mr. Bayard, of Delaware.
But there were not wanting persons who were willing to revive
the question for political advantage, whatever the effect
upon the public tranquillity. On May 13, 1878, when the President
had been for more than a year in the quiet possession of his
office, Mr. Clarkson N. Potter, of New York, introduced in
the House of Representatives a resolution for the appointment
of a Committee to investigate alleged frauds in the States
of Louisiana and Florida, in the recent Presidential election.
This resolution was adopted by the House, in which every
possible parliamentary method for its defeat was resorted
to by the Republican minority. The Republicans were exceedingly
alarmed, and the proceeding seemed likely to create a financial
panic which would disturb and injure the business of the country.

Shortly after Mr. Potter's committee was appointed, it was
expected that a report would be made denying the validity
of President Hayes's title, and that the Democratic House
of Representatives would be advised to refuse to acknowledge
him as President. This would have thrown the Government into
great confusion and would have made a square issue. A caucus
of Republican Senators was held, and the following gentlemen
were appointed a Committee, with directions to report what
action, if any, ought to be taken in the Senate in the matter:
Mr. Edmunds, Mr. Howe, Mr. Conkling, Mr. Allison, Mr. Sargent,
Mr. Ingalls, Mr. Oglesby, Mr. Jones (of Nevada), Mr. Christiancy,
Mr. Blaine, Mr. Hoar.

I was requested by my associates to prepare an address to
the people, to be signed by the Republican Senators, arraigning
the Democratic leaders for their unjustifiable and revolutionary
course, and pointing out the public danger. The Committee
had a second meeting, when I read to them the following address,
which I had prepared and which I still have in my possession:

"Our sense of the presence of a great public danger makes
it our duty to address you. We are satisfied that the le