The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-05
THE LOUISIANA INVESTIGATION.
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN FOSTER - THE
WORK OF THE SUB COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. q, 1877

WASHINGTON, D. c., JAM 81, 1875.
| To the Editor Of the Cleve land Leader
| Permit me to correct few, inaccuracies il
your editorial of the 10Th inst, with regard tt
the report made by the committee which re
Gently visited New Orleans. We reached
| New Orleans on the 30th of December-in
stead of the 2Sth, as you have it-at A. M
We held our first meeting at 10 A. NJ, ou1
second at 80 P. NJ, and our third at p NJ
of that day. We remained in New Orleans
eight days. One day was Sunday, and on
that day we rested. We held two meetings a
day for six days, and three on the first day,
as above stated.
Our day sessions usually began at 1890 or
II A. NJ, and were continued till 4 or S P.
NJ. Our evening sessions were generally from
7:30 or s o'clock till II 80 or II, midnight.
We examined in that time ninety-five wit
nesses, (both parties being before us by coun-
sci, and arranged to have further testimony
taken before commissioner after we lett
The committee felt that they had not time to
60 into an exhaustive examination of the
whole political situation, as there were only a
few weeks of the present session remaining
In which to act upon any report that might
be made to Congress- We therefore decided
and publicly announced at our frs meeting,
that we would investigate only the acts of the
DOitIu, tut NulJS League, ana OF
course, incidentally, the affair of the 14th of
September, and the general subject OF intimi-
dalton.
In the article referred to, the following pas
sage is found: "Complaints have come from
New Orleans ever since the departure of the
committee, that it would hear only such wit
nesses as it chose. Judge Dibble, one of the
most prominent and intelligent Republicans
Ct the State, says that he was not permitted
to testify" All such complaints assert tn t
which is untrue. Judge Dibble appeared be-
fore us as counsel for The Republican party,
and was placed upon the stand, when he ex-
pressed desire to be examined, and testi-
fed at length, without let or hindrance. A
day or two after we left New Orleans ne ad-
dressed me an open letter, which appeared in
the public prints, giving still more in detail
his views. He did not complain in his letter
that he was not permitted to testify, nor do l
believe that ne ever made such an asser-
ton.
In seven days the committee took evidence
which which will probably make fifteen hun
bred printed pages. 1t is matter of regret
with us all that we were not able to inquire
into everything bearing upon the situation,
but found it impossible to do so.
The committee spent probably three hours
in witnessing the proceedings in the House of
Representatives on the 4th of January, after
which we resumed our session at the usual
place-United States Circuit Courtroom, in
the Custom House.
There is an inimation in your article
that, as soon as the offer of arbitration was
made, the committee abandoned the investi-
CATION and returned to Washington. On the
contrary, the offer to submit to the arbitration
of the committee was made the day following
our arrival in New Orleans
The examination was, in all respects, per-
fectly lair to all parties, and every possible ex-
pe1ient to obtain the exact truth from the
witnesses was exhausted by the committee
1 am by no means disposed to question
your right to criticise the findings Of the COM
mittee as embodied in our report As a
journalist it is Your duty as well as your privi-
lege to criticise in ali such cases fully and
freely. ! address you solely for the purpose
of correcting the errors into which you have
inadvertently fallen. Respectfully,
CHaRI.FS Fosrrp