The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-01
A Manly Statement
SECRETARY SHERMAN S TRIUMPIIANr VIM
CANON

SECRETARY SHERMAN S TRIUNIPHANT VIM
CATION.
Iiic Potter Committee, or that portion OF
it, now sitting at Atlantic City, has been
taking the testimony OF such men It's Hons.
Engene Hale, W. u. Kelly. and Secretary
SHERMAN. The evidence OF Messrs. Hale aud
Kelley was in strict accord with the spirit of
that OF Secretary Sherlnan, and all Went to
show that tae action OF the Republicans WHO
visited Louisiana, AT Jtie instance OF General
Grant, and not President Hayes, WAS con-
fined to II mere observation uf TIC proceed
ings on The occasion OF The Electoral Count,
and by no means designed TO iullacncc 1t,
except to Il fair and just determination.
AS to the statement MADE BY ETA. Webber
and j. E. Anderson, about Secretary Shor
mans conversation with them, land the whole
line of falshoods adopted by the Democrats
to assail the integrity of Mr.. Sherman, that
gentleman, under oath. gives the following
direct and unequivocal denial. No one, who
has particle of honor in his composition,
can read Mr.. Sherman's testimony without
concluding that his vindication is overwhel-
ming, and that the slanders circulated about
him, through the Democratic newspapers,
and mouthed by Democratic malignants, are
without particle OF foundation in truth.
The proceedings before the Committee on
the Goth, are reported as follows:
Secretary Sherman resumed his testimony this
morning before the Potter committee. There
was, as on previous occasions, a large attend
ance of auditors. The Secretary interroga-
ted by Representative Hscock. and said that on
the 18th OF November the visiting republicans
called on the returning board to pay their re-
spects, having understood that the visiting DEM
ocrats mad paid similar visit of courtesy the
day before The republicans stated that they
came to New Orleans at the request OF President
Grant and of political organizations to witness
the count not to interfere with the official du-
ties of the board, and they expressed the hope
that the proceedings would be conducted openly
The board adopted resolution inviting five gen
tlemen OF each side to be present as witnesses of
the proceedings. The republican visitors thought
the democratic visitors were more active than
they were, mingling with the board and examin
ing papers. In all other respects the conduct OF
both parties was the same, Shortly after the
board commenced their business, ON the Goth of
November, and testimony began to be taken I'M
der the rules, it became necessary to prepare in
terrogatories and neutrality-suspicious.. The Wis
iting republicans endeavored to procure copies
as fast as they could on the republican side,
these accumulated rapidly. The work of exam
ming the bull-dozed parishes divided, Cort-
land Parker being assigned to East Feliciana
General Garfield to West Feliciana Mr. Hale TO
East Baton Rouge, Gen. White to Ouachita, and
Judge Kelley, to Moorehouse parish The re-
publican visitors designated five persons to at
tend the board in pursuance OF invitation the
first day the witnesses attended,
@. Did you any OF your associates meet pri-
vately with any member or members OF the
board?
A. I reply, emphatically, no; I was never pri
vately OF alone with any member OF the board. 1
treated the members the same as would have
treated any other court or tribunal before which
appeared, either as a witness OF an advocate
tedinners with them and other guests, but new
er alone. 1 never mentioned the duties OF the
returning board or alluded to the Investigation
or protests to any member of the returning
board while in New Orleans. was in the Gus
tom house several times, but never transacted
any business there.
Q. When you were in New Orleans did you meet
with d. A. Weber?
A. do not remember meeting either him or
Anderson except i'll casual way. / met with
hundreds OF persons without their making par
ticuaP impression my mind. have some
what indefinite recollection that Weber and An
derson came to at the restaurant engaged
in an inconsequential talk, and then went away.
Mr.. Stoughton was. present with me; do not
think ever saw them before In response to
questions.
MR.. SHERMAN DENIED ALPHABETICALLY
the truth of the testimony of James i. Anderson
alleging conversation between Mr.. Sherman and
Weber and Anderson, in which it was represent
ID that Mr.. Sherman said 81 wanted to see you
ence to your parishes. Now this is a crisis in
which not only Louisiana, but the whole coull-
try is involved, ard it is time when we expect
and want every true republican and every true
men are going to do that thing well, Mr..
already done more than circumstances OF the case
would warrant US in doing, and have done
great deal more than safety would warrant me
in DOING Said he Sherman what do you
mean by that ?' Weber said: "The people of |
my parish are considerably walked up, and have |
made protest which is perhaps more sweeping |
than it should have been, and if go back, will
be undoubtedly in danger OF my life" ''Well,"
= ss1xr1a 10 fhnrn
your going back ?" Weber said: my family is
there. my wife and children are there. my whole
Sherman said you can be provided for else
where etc. Secretary sherman, in reply to the
He never could have made speech about con
trolling patronage, nor did anybody mention to
him anything OF a forged protest: He never
heard OF such thing, and when in New Orleans |
he was very cautious in his expressions, as were |
his associates. Secretary Sherman was shown |
the letter alleged to have been written to him by
Weber and Anderson, dated November 20, 1876:
and said that he never read such letter, and
never head of it until it published. |
when, said the Secretary, this matter came
to my knowledge sent to my home in Ohio for |
my papers to be forwarded to me in order that I
might find the original Of this letter if it was
there. Such a letter could not have been sent
to me without my knowing it. Any such letter
on its face is insulting.
9. In what respect is the letter insulting?
A 1t Is suggestive of fAlsehood and exceeding |
ly improper. They say I'VE have carefully con |
sldered the argument advanced by you in our in
GefVleW. 1OuT assurance Gilab we SHstll De taken
care OF is scarcely specific enough In case we |
pursue the course suggested by you we would |
be obliged to leave the State. Will you therefore
state in writing who we shall look to for the full
tillment OF these promises In response to
further questions Secretary Sherman said he
never suggested to these men employment for
any service they might render in connection with |
the returning board or in any other way. Nor |
was any promise of reward even intimated.
EMPHATIC DENIAL OF THE SHERMAN LETTER.
With reference to the alleged reply. Secretary |
Sherman said most emphatically he did not write
such letter, at the same time, however, as he
stated when this investigation began, there were
any other men who were engaged in the perform |
ance what he believed to be their duty, if he had
been asked: but he did not think he wrote the |
letter; he believed he did say in conversation
with various gentlemen that all republicans in
Louisiana who stood by their guns deserved |
would probably have been killed. for he should
have resisted the rifle club, who in additions to
other crimes, drove negroes from their homes
to the swamps, His conversations there on that
subject similar to the remarks he had ut
tered in the Senate, and he would make them in
New Orleans. [Applause.1 There never could be
peace and quiet W lille these things occurred. In
he fall of 1876 in Louisiana there scenes of in
limitation, violence and wrong. He could not
think of these occurrences even now without a
feeling of resentment and without exciting his
anger The testimony was overwhelming.
- Secretary Sherman, in reply to a question,
handed in a memorandum detailing the circum-
stances of Anderson'S visit to him at the Treas
account of the conversation as noted at the time
by the Secretary's stenographer. In the course
of the cooquy, Secretary Sherman, in reply to
Anderson, said he did not remember certain
alleged conversation.