Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-23
The End Of the rn,c.,lrstlon.

of New York, introduced resolution in the
House Of Representatives accusing the Secre-
tary of the Treasury Of the United States and
the minister Of the United States TO France Of
Infamous oifonses. The charge against Mr..
Noyes was founded upon MLin's affidavit
that against Secretary Sherman upon nothing
whatever but the phrase ''it is alleged" Such
accusations were not partisan only they in
volved the character of the country and the
good name of republican government. They
could be justified to honorable and patriotic
Americans only by the utmost probability.
The very fact that they proceeded from bitter
partisans and the most VIGOROUSLY doubtful
of politicians should have caused the facts to
be virtually assured before men of the high
est official position, of honorable public ca
reers, and of unblemished character were stig-
matized AZ presumptiye scoundrels and Grim
inals For this presumptve stigma Mr.. Pot
| ter made himself responsible. And now Mt
the beginning of August it is fair to say that
| after an investigation Of two months design
ed to destroy honorable regulations, there is
not an intelligent man or woman in the Unit
ed States who has kept informed upon the
subject who does not believe that the accusa-
ton against those gentlemen is totally nm
founded
There has been cloud of witnesses and
the most important Of them were self-confess-
cd liars and perjurers. But the instant Mr.
| Noyes and Mr.. Sherman are called TO testify
their evidence is 20 plainly truthful, and re-
mains so mistaken by the hostile cunning of
questioning, that the accusation disap-
pears amid public contempt, and the inquiry
| is morally at an end. The charge against Mr..
| Sherman was that he was an accomplice in
fraudulent action Of the Louisiana Returning
Board. The witness brought to prove it con-
fessed that he was a liar, and rested his story
upon n letter which has never been produced.
and which another man, also n confessed liar,
says that hc destroyed. Mr.. Sherman denies
that he wrote such letter the letter as
quoted does not prove the allegation and all
moral probability forbds the supposition that
n letter promising reward for fraud could
have been written by Mr.. Sherman to
n stranger. letter Of his, which he
himself introduced in the course of his ex-
animation, is plain statement Of his position
and that of his Republican associates in Lou
isiana, and expresses what we have no doubt
to have been the truth of the situation. The
letter was written from New Orleans to Mr..
Hayes in Ohio, and was dated November %,
1876. 1t concludes as follows
1--WE are in good hope and spirit Not
wishing the return in your favor unless 1t Is
clear that it ought to be so, and not willing to
be cheated out of it, or to be 'buldozed or in
undated the truth is palpable that you ought
to have the vote Of louisiana and we believe
that you will have it by an honest and lair re-
turn according to the letter and spirit OF the
law of Louisiana
Very truly yours, JoHS SHERMAN"
Mr.. Potter's resolution charges by allcga-
ton that while Mr. Sherman was writing thus
fairly to Mr. Hayes he was privately engaged
in cheating to secure Il false result. It was
hoped, also, and openly charged by the abet-
tors of the investigation, that Mr. Hayes
would be caught in its tolls, and driven in dis
grace from the White House. During the
canvass Of 1876, Mr.. Dorsheimer, Of this State,
who brought to the task the zeal of a Demo-
cratic proselytc searched the record OF Mr..
Hayes and could find nothing even discredit-
able It will be remembered that there was
only one charge attempted against him,
which was Immediately disprovod. Yet it
was assorted that he would be shown to have
been an accomplish in what was called the
fraud OF his own election. Here, however, is
the reply of Mr.. Hayes to the letter of Mr..
Sherman-mauly, simple, quiet self-respect-
full, and therefore perfectly Characteristic:
"CoLuMBrs ONO, 9th November, 1876
"MY DEAR SIR.-I am greatly obliged for
your letter Of the 23d. You feel, / am sure,
as | do about this whole business A fair
election would have given us about forty cleo
toral votes at the South-at least that many.
But we are not to allow our friends TO defeat
one outrage and fraud 10y another. There
must be nothing crooked on our part. Let
Mr.. Tilden have the place by violence, intim
idation, and fraud rather than undertake tC
, prevent it by means that will not bear the Sc.
p yerest scrutiny. appreciate the work doing
10y the Republicans who have gone South
and am especially proud of the acknowledged
honorable conduct of those from Ohio. The
Democrats made mistake in sending so many
eN-Republicans. New converts are proyorb
tally bitter and unfair toward those they hnv,
recently left. | trust you will soon reach ia,
end of the work. and be able TO return il
health and safety.
q Sincerely. r. Il. HAYES.
!. This is the letter of a man of whom Senator
Conkling, in the World interview, is reported
to have said, II am frank TO say that though
then there was something not exactly stragh
about that Louisiana business, but LOW l be
: lieye that when the whole truth is known, j
will sink this Administration, President an,
all, TO the lowest depths of infamy'
seems incredible that any Senator could hav,
said this, or if he had not said it, could hay,
treated it, under the circumstances, as mer,
wanton gossip. Senator Conklue, however
d, has taken no notice Of the report and un
questionably he is generally believed TO hay,
said it. But the investigation and all its in
stgators, direct and indirect, have total,
, failed to smirch the Administration with tn
slightest countenace of fraud. The appoint
~ ment to Office of the Republican politician
who took active part in the Louisiana an,
y Florida performance was in strict pursuance
of the spoils system as practiced and justified
by both parties, but it was an inconsisten
and weak act upon the part of this Admins
= tration. 1t is for that and for that alone
that it is to be blamed. Mr. Potter will b
forced in honor to report that the accuse
tions of fraudulent conspiracy against Mr.
Noycs and Mr. Sherman were utterly unbound
ed, and that no kind of dishonorable imputa
- ton attaches to either of them. Nonew ligh
o has been thrown upon the known rascality o
Louisiana politics on both sides, but the Dem
> ocratic purpose of showing guilty complcit
!, with that rascality upon the part of lendin
! Republicans has been completely bafiled.
II The nominations in this State are now neal
?. ly all made except those for town representa-
is tives. Not as much has been done or said a
W to State affairs as We had hoped for Tn