Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/173

RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES 139 silver dollar should be made a legal tender only at its market value. The standard of value should not be changed without the consent of both parties to the contract. National promises should be kept with unflinching fidelity. There is no power to compel a nation to pay its just debts. Its credit de pends on its honor. A nation owes what it has led or allowed its creditors to expect. I cannot ap prove a bill which in my judgment authorizes the violation of sacred obligations." But the bill was passed over the veto in both houses by majorities exceeding two-thirds. Dur ing the same session the house of representatives, which had a Democratic majority, on motion of Clarkson N. Potter, of New York, resolved to make an inquiry into the allegations of fraud said to have been committed in Louisiana and Florida in making the returns of the votes cast for presi dential electors at the election of 1876. The Re publicans charged that the investigation was set on foot for the purpose of ousting Mr. Hayes from the presidency and putting in Mr. Tilden. The Democrats disclaimed any such intention. The re sult of the investigation was an elaborate report from the Democratic majority of the committee, impugning the action of the returning boards in Louisiana and Florida as fraudulent, and a report from the Republican minority dissenting from the conclusions of the majority as unwarranted by the