The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-19
WASIIINGrON.
Secretary Chandler BEFORE tho
Joint Committee OH Electoral
Vote.

SOlht NOHAhANtcC OH hIeCtOFliI
Vote.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-The Special
Committee on tho Powers, Privilege and
Duties Of the House in counting the
electoral vote had before them this morn.
ing Secretary Chandler, who was accom-
panied by his stcnogrnphcr. Mr.. Field
asked him il he was now prepared to
answer the question heretofore propunl.
ed, namely: by whose authority he sent
4 telegram TO Gov. Slearns promising
troops? Secretary Chandler Raid lac was
not prepared to answer. lie waR further
asked ii any copy Of the telegram
sent TO Governor Stcarus was in
existence, (the telegram sent on the
Sth or 9th OF NOvcmbcr), and answered
not that he was aware Of he kept no
copy OF il and could mol tell who wrote
it; he thought however, that he sent il to
Gov. Stearns; he stated that he declined TO
answer, because OF the confidential char.
acter Of the communication between the
President and himself, and other mem.
bers Of the cabinet, and he waasummoned
TO appear before the Committee rs Sec.
retary OF the interior. Burchard in
quirCd whether he, at that time was Sec.
retary of the interior, and Mr.. Chandler
answered, he was.
Mr.. LawrenCe-Do you base your oh.
jectiOns to answering solely on the
ground Of the confidential character of
the communication between the President
and yourself2
Mr.. Chandler do on that ground cx-
clusiycly. The Secretary went on 10 say
he had no more right TO disclose what
passed between himself and the President
than U. S, Senator has to disclose what
is done in executive session.
Mr.. Tucker asked Chandler whclhcr
the telegram to Gov. Stearns was sent as
Il member OF the Cabinet.
Mr.. Lawrence objected 10 the question,
when the committee went into private
consultation.
When the doors were opened, Mr..
Chandler was asked whether hc sent the
telegram to Governor Stearns on his own
volition rs Chairman OF the National
Republican Committee. lie answered
that he presumed the telegram was sent
by him on his own motion and in his own
name.
Question.-Was the sending Of that
telegram your own individual act or that
Of the chairman Of the National Rcpubli.
can Committee?
Answer.-l do not suppose | ,igred my
name as chairman oil the Committee. I
presume did not.
Q. Did You send this telegram at the
rcquest or suggestion OF any body cIse
than yourself 7
A. My impression is that received
telegram from Governor Slcarns, sugges
ting the necessity Of troOpa. The witness
then referred to 4 telegram published in
the New York Tribune, dated Nov. 0, ad.
dressed to the chairman OF the NatiHmal
Republican Committee, charging Ku.
klux efforts TO prevent count. Gov.
Stearns telegraphed from Tallahassee
that there was no doubt OF i Republican
majority in Florida il an honest canvass
of the vote could be secured, aud that the
Indications were that violence would be
resorted to in the interior Of the State
and that the ku.klux had prevented the
returns from being received, etc. The
impression Of the witness was that this
telegram first suggested TO him the nc
cessity for troops. lie did noll,nnw who
furnished this telegram in the Tribune.
lie did not know whether the Govern.
or or tne Legislature called ior troops
u Dlu you send your kilograms TO
uoV. otearns on your own voIition, with
oGt sugsestlon, instruction or direction