The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-22
POTTER
MAgOR BURKE RESUMES THE sTAND--
MORE ABOUT THE WORMLEY
CONFERENCE.
A Hlvely wrangle Between Butler and
the witness, which Ends I'm a Re~
frantaMaa NRy EhnMinaphEHas


traction NY Benjamin.
NEW YoRK, Aug. 21.-The Potter commit
tee resumed work at 10 80 O'Clock o. IN. Major
Burke, of Louisiana, took the stand and con-
tinusd his testimony,
"By mutual agreement" said witness, "the
friends of Mr.. Hayes visited, Or at lnast were
to visit Gen. Grant with view to ascertain
what his views were on the question OF the es-
tablishing Of the Nichols government No
thing was said on any OCCASION so far as | am
aware about commission. ] was assured
by Hayes and others that the troops would
be withdrawn, and that there would be no fur
ther oppression"
A long time was consumed by Gen. Butler,
trying to find out definitely what the con-
tract was between the Louisiana Democrats
and the Republicans as to the. bargain made
at the Wortnley Hotel for the electoral vote,
Finally witness said: "We committed the
whole thing to writing. Mr.. Sherman got the
writing. We examined copies of kilograms,
etc. Messrs. Foster and Matthews gave
written guarantees, while u verbal one was
given by Sherman aud Dennison.
"Mr. Ellis Was consulted al every stage In
the proceedings. We did not sweep off TIL
den we did not abandon him until he was
| abandoned by the Democratic party. Ellis
| and myself have already given all the
writings and guarantees that we know OF in
the matter" Witness declared that the pub
| lished statement, In 81 New Orleans paper, OF
an interview between witness and Il. L.
Smith was full Of inaccuracies: that he had
|
conference. Witness was confident that no
| written guarantees or assurances were made
| at the conference.
| Butler questioned the witness closely in
| reference TO the written guarantees, and read
| the statement WHICH witness said he furnished
the press of the Wormley conference at that
| time He questioned witness as to the truth
fulness Of this statement.
Witness said It was a synopsis OF The pro
| rectlings: he had furnished the COyY for pub
lication as the agent Of the Nichols govern
| ment
/ In this statement witness had omitted the
paragraph regarding tilibustering, and Butler
wanted to know why it was omitted.
A long wrangle occurred between Butler
and Witness, in which Butler intimated that
witness was not telling the truth; that oil the
papers in the Wornley conference had NOT
been submitted, and as he refused TO with"
draw the accusation, witness refused TO an,
swer any more questions. Finally Butler
consented to retract, and Burke resumed tbs
Witness chair.
Burke resumed the witness chair, where
upon the original question concerning filbus
tering was repeated, and witness said tht
reason for it's omission in the statement was
probably prudential, and that one, of the
members from Louisiana should state his
views on the floor Of the House
The particulars us given, 50 far as LouisianB
| WAS concerned, were considered sufficient nj
that time, 1t was our desire that the SUB
stance of what we expected should be before
| the country, hHG uHhetSU5Du by hl5 tphltt
at that time, in order to guard against any
violation Of the assurances given, in order
that if they were violated and evil effects fol
lowed In Louisiana. our course would be JUS
titled by the country.
!. Gen. Butler then handed witness book AM
asked if the statement contained therein wa!
made by Mr.. Levy on the floor Of the House
He replied that it was, but that he was NO
Ii the House when Levy made his speech.
Cen Butler continued to read extracts from
, the book and from New Orleans papers, whicl
. purpofted to give an interview between II. J.
smith and Major Burke.
l Witness testified that Mr.. Smith had draw
largely upon his imagination.
Gen. Butler then pressed witness to Civ
the committee the substance of the Telegram
] sent to President Hayes through Gov. Iount
In regard to the tilibustering question.
, Witness could not remember the exac
wording Of the Dispatch but promised to pre-
! duce some teegrnms before the ccmmitte
/ tomorrow. Witness said that he did nc
know what Hayes thought Of tho dispatch
neither did he attempt to find out. He neve
heard that Vermont was to be left out unit
the conference on Louisiana got some assu1
ance from President Hayes.
> The committee then adjourned until tx
L morrow.