The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-19

Refusing 10 Answcr nv Whose Authority he
Promised Troops TO GOV. stcarns.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1s.-The special COM
mittee on the powers, ptivileges and duties Of
the House In counting the electoral vote. met
this morning and had before them Secretary
Chandler, who was accompanied ty his stem
ographer. Mr.. Field asked him " he was now
prepared to answer the question heretofore pro-
pounded, namelv, by whose authority he sent a
telegram to Gov. Stearns promising troops. Soc
rotary Chandler said he was not prepared TO an
swer. lie was asked whether any copy Of the
TELEGRAM to Gov. Stearns was In existence-the
telegram sent on the 9Th or 9th Of Novembe r--
aud answered not that he was aware Of lie kept
no copy OF it, and could not tell who wrote 1t.
He thought, however, he sent II to Gov. Stcarns.
He said he declined to answer, bee ,use OF the
confidential character OF the communications
between the President and himself and other
members OF tho Caonet, and he was summoned
to appear before the committee rs the Secretary
Of the Interior. MIR. Burchafd inquired whether
he at the time was secretary OF the Interior, and
Mr.. Chandler answe cd he was.
MIR. Lawrence-Do YOU base your objection to
answ ering solely on the ground OF the cOnnden-
tia character OF the communications between
tue President and yourselir
Mr.. ChanJler-I do; on that ground exclu-
svely.
he secretary wen, on 70 say that he had no
himself and the President than a United states
Sen tor hss to disclose what ~ done in an exec
ut,ye session. OF ihe sen en- 't ,e;o,,o. s.,.,
telegram to GOV. Stearns was sent AS memoir
of the Cabinet.
Mr. LIwrence objected to the question, and
the committee went into private consultation.
When the doors were reopened, Mr.. Chandler
was asked whether he sent the telegram to Gov.
Stearns 81 his own yolitlon. or as Chairman OF
the National Republican Committee. lie an
swetcd tnat he presumed the telegram was sent
by him on his own notion aud III his own name.
Q.-was the sending Of that telegram your own IN
di,dul act or thai of chairman OF tae National Re
my name as Chairman OF the committee presume
did not
O DID YOU send the telegram at the request or su,
gee ion " anybody els than yoursefp Any i'm
prcs.io Is that received telegram from Coy.
stearus suggesting thc necessity Of hiiug troops
The witncs, then referred to- a telegram pub
li-hed IN tho NcC York Tribune. dated Nov. q.
addressed to the Chairman ot the uonil Re
pubncau Committee charging ku-kllx Ell 'fts
To Prevent count Gov. Stearns telegrapucd
| from Tallahassee that there was uO DOUBT Of a
keuubiictn majority In liDrdB II All honest can
81 Of the vote could be secured that the IN
| dicatiOns were that violence would be resorted
to IA eibteIiur of the state, and that the ku-
| klux had proven cd returns from being re-
| ccivcd, &c. The impression q the witness was
| that this telegram first suggested to him the
necessity for troops. lie did not know who
| not know whether the Governor or Legislature
called for troops.
| @. Did you send your Telegram to Gov stearns on
your vontou, witnou the suggestion. Instruction. OF
| direction Of any Oody eseY A-PrODably the suggev
| uon came from tn direction alre ny mentioned.
| Q.-And nobody clscf Al decline to answer on
the ground Of vti IA confidence oetseen members VI
| Mr. Fie.d-Werc you Informed ofa telegram sent to
Orcs mtuti inus iury Dy behalf Of the Dem.
ocratc party i on knOw VI that from the news
| papers, anu from Conversation.
q -Da not Mr.. orion communicate to YOU teie-
gram TO oregon On tnat suoJeetf A.-NoI that re-
| member
ent, and tue committee went ihto secret ses-
| sion,