such a power would
be a plain act of usurpation. The constitution of South Carolina
is much like that of Ohio. The count of the vote was to be made
by the general assembly of the state. Unfortunately for Chamberlain
a controlling question in the contest had been decided against him
by a Republican court, and he was only kept in possession of the
state house by the actual presence of United States troops in the
building. He had appealed again and again to President Grant to
recognize him as governor and give him the aid of Federal troops
in the enforcement of his claim, which General Grant had refused,
seeking only to preserve the public peace.

"When President Hayes was inaugurated both contestants were called
to Washington and both were patiently heard and the questions
presented were patiently and carefully examined. The President
held that a case was not presented in which, under the constitution
and the laws, he was justified in using the army of the United
States in deciding a purely local election contest. The soldiers
and bayonets of the United States were then withdrawn from the
state house--not from the state, nor the capital of the state--but
from the building in which the legislature, that alone could lawfully
decide this contest, must meet. This was all that was done by the
President, and Governor Chamberlain, without further contesting
his claim, abandoned it and left the state.

"I say to you now that, strongly as I desired the success of Governor
Chamberlain and the Republican party in South Carolina, the President
had not a shadow of right to interpose the power of the army in
this contest, and his attempt to do so would have been rash and
abortive as well as without legal right.

"The case of Louisiana was far more difficult. The local returning
officers of that state had, after a full examination, certified to
the election of the legislature, showing a Republican majority in
both houses. This had been done by excluding from their return
the votes of certain parishes and counties wherein intimidation,
violence and fraud had prevailed to an extent sufficient to change
the result of the election. I was present, at the request of
General Grant, to witness the count, and I assure you, as I have
said officially, that the proof of this intimidation, violence and
fraud, extending to murder, cruelty, and outrage in every form,
was absolutely conclusive, showing a degree of violence in some of
tho