River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-01
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

present ex-senator Trumbull, Representatives
Danford, Kelly, and of counsel Shellabarger
and sipher together with large number OF
| guests of the hotel, of both sexes, and repre-
| sentatiyes of the press. Representative Dam
ford was the first witness, at the instance OF
| Representative Hiscock, who conducted the
| direct examination Witness testified to a
/ long conversation with James II. Anderson
| The testimony of Danford eontrDaicted An
derson IN material points He said
| that Anderson told him that duriug
| the period of the registration he went
| to New Orleans and informed the Republican
comittee, including Gov. Kellogg, that his
parish was going Democratic, the colored vote
being largely on that side, and that he had
been advised by Kellogg and the Republican
| committee that he should either not, return
| to the parish at all or come away and make
| such protest as would throw the parish out
| He said he had put the story In circulation in
| the hope that the Democratic committee
would make him an offer of money; and when
/ by the offer of money he had them good and
| fast, he would expose the authors and blow
them sky high. The witness did not hear An
| derson question the truth of the protest. AT
| New Orleans, before the subcommittee, Ex-
| Gov. r. C. Wyklifie, Col. G. J. Powell and
| Capt W. w. Leake, OF West Feliciana parish,
| testified regarding their efforts to induce col
| ored men to vote the Democratic ticket at the
last election Each assisted in organizing
| eolored Democratic clubs, and addressing
hiSC1lHf-S VI NOIOltut ptppIG. - Hc fllpSb pO-
/ tent argument was in relation to public
| schools, which had been badly man, .ged by
| the Republicans, the funds being, in many
cases, misapplied. The last election was
| peaceable. and quiet. Dawbef told Col.
| Powell, Noy. 18TH, he had not filed yam
| so. Several other witnesses testified
| touching affidavits and the manner of obtain
| ing them. Some difficulty in obtaining wit
nesses was developed. GOV, Cox made a
| statement of efforts to secute the attendance,
| as witnesses, Of u. a. Weber and j. Soudran
! Webefs brother-in-law Mr.. Dunbar, an
officer of the committee, was afterwards sent
| to Donaldsonville with subpenas. Mrs. Weber
| replied that her children had scarlet fever,
| and she could not leave them. Soudran told
Dunbar he couldn't leaye his business, that he
| had no one to leave In charge, and further
more, If he came, he would have to tell the
| truth, and il he told all he knew he would not
afterwards live there.
WEDNESDAY, july 24th.-Judee Will
liam G. Whitaker and John Douglas testified
| regarding the signatures o the second set of
| electoral certificates. Several witnesses tes-
titled as to the crookedness in regard to aft
davis. Some testimony was given as to the
| form alton q 5anis OF regulators, outside of
the law. The regulators were. mostly, Young
men. The organization led to excuses and
| for that reason was disbanded At Atlantic
City, n. j., Mr.. Kelly testified that he went
| to New Orleans at the reduest of President
Grant, and testified as to intimidations there.
He said Weber's testimony there, that the re-
turning board was influenced by the visiting
statesmen, was unqualifiedly false. The gem
eral character of the evidence showed intim-
idation some of it was most abhorrent. He
heard the stories of Eliza Pinketon and Rosa
Richmond and another old negro witness.
Fully believed all their statements. There
wasviolence of the most desperate character.
Cortland Parker of New York, testified he Wis
tied New Orleans solely at therequest of Pres
ident Grant. He did not while in Louisiana,
hear doubts thrown on the protest made by An
derson as to East Feliciaha or that 1t was inter
lined, or that Anderson wished to withdraw it,
Hail. pahfofd, Secretary Sherman and others
were examined, the latter briefly and to be
examined further. Ex-congressman j. Hall
Sypher testified thate Wber showed him a let
ter purporting to be from John Sherman, in
substance such as he'd been published He
could not swear that the signature to the let
ter was Genuine.
THURSDAY, July 25.-Secretary Sher-
man resumed his testimony before TIE Potter
committee. Mr. Sherman narrated the cir
cumstances under which he went to New Or
leans on invitation of President Grant; to wit
ness the count, not to Interfere with the Off
cial duty of the board, and he did not interfere
neither he nor his associates met any member
of the board alone. Did not remember of meet
ing d. A Weber or j. E. Anderson except in a
casual way. Mr.. sherman denied explicitly
and emphatically the testimony of Anderson
alleging a conversation between Sherman
Weber and Anderson. Mr. Sherman was
shown the letter alleged to have been written
to him by Weber and Anderson, dated Nov 20,
1876, ard said he never received such letter, and
never saw or heard of it until twas published
Wife reference to the alleged reply, Secre-
rotary Sherman said most emphatically he did
not write such letter. at the SAME time,
however, as he stated when this investigation
began, there We're things in it he would
have written to those or any other men who
were engaged in the performance of what he
believed their duty, if he had been asked, but
he did not think he wrote the letter. He be-
lieves he did say in conversation with various
gentlemen that all Republicans in Louisiana,
who stood by their guns deserved credit.
Mr.. Sherman submitted lette written by him
to Mr.. Hayes for New Orleans in Nov. 1876,
and Mr.. Hayes reply. Gen. Garfield was ex-
amined at length.
FRIDAY, July 26s-E. A. Bafke was be-
fore the sub cofhmittee and testified at great
length as to arrangements made to secure
the recognition of the Nichols government,
and submitted serveral documents signed by
himself, L. J. Ellis, William NJ Levy, Stanley
Matthews and +. L. Nichols. Hon, E. J.. FL
lis testified regarding the Worttley hotel con
ference, and stated alphabetically that there
YVES no Bargain, that the ceasing to filibuster
was not insisted upon by The Republicans
WHO were db IUt COulSTCDCes WbIESFSCu al
ways steadily opposed alibustering. There
was not the eemblance of a bargain at
th-t conference The object of the. Re-
publicans seemed to be to- remove anxiety
in regard to the course Hayes would pursue
towards South Carolina and Louisiana
At Atlantic City, n. J., thefotter committee
were In session. Gen Sypher was recalled
and testified that he had seen Senatot Sher-
mans signature in Autograph albums He
sad to TIE best Of his recollection, be thought
when Weber showed him the Sherman letter
it was in the hand writing of John Sherman,
and was therefore genuine. The witness was
examined at great length touching matters
that transpired while the returning
board were In Session. Gen. Butle-rDo you
believe that if the Packard government had
recognition OF the general government, and
suchmoral support as would enable it to re-
take from the mob the court house and State
arms, it could have maintained itself in Louis
lana. A. Ny own belief is 1t would have
been maintained. After the election COM
mission counted the vote of Florida for Hayes
it was considered in New Orleans as a settled
matter that the vote of Louisiana woule also
be counted for Hayes and there was not the
least doubt that the Packard government
would be maintained This was the view of
the Democrats as well as Republicans.
SATURDAY, July 2o.-At At
lantic City, n. j. Ex-Congressman
Morey was recalled. Witness testified to an
interview Win FreSluenI dayeS, IN which
witness assumed that not maintaining the
Packard government would be the destruction
of the Republican party in the South. The
President took the position that the Republi.
can party could no longer maintain that
policy which had lost New York to the party.
With reference to Eliza Pinkston being
brought into the room Of the returning board
or a sofa, Mofey said such conveyance was a
matter of necessity, owing to her wounds
THIS was not designed to prodhce d strong
impression on the board, although it naturally
had the effect Gen. Sypher was recalled by
Hiscock and interrogated concerning the
alleged Sherman letter. Hiscock repeated
the question asked Wednesday,, namely
whether there was anything which enabled
him up to the time he saw what purported to
be letter written and signed By Mr.. Sherman
to carry the form of the latters hand writing
in his mind, and also reed the answer then
given by Gen. Sypher, namely: NO, sir,
have not the form of his writing in my mind
now, and have not seen it frequently since.
would not swear to his signature now.p Ex-
Senator frumbull and others briefly testified.