The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-06
Stanley Mathews Rises to Ques-
ton Of Privilege, and Demands
an Investigation Into His
Alleged Connection with
Louisiana Frauds.
The Senate Discusses tho Brazilian
Subsidy and Passes the Bill.
Progress Of the Potter Investigation
"A Pretty Lot Of unauthen-
ticated Documents.
AFull Crop ofPoIitioal Conventions
---Platforms and Resolutions.
Woods Tariff Bill Defeated.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 4.
Mr. Matthews said :

Mr.. PREsIDENT-l rise 10 o personal
explanation and question Of privilege.
feel that I owe duty 10 myself as well
as to the Senate which, however unpleas'
ant, I cannot in justice to either further
postpone or omit. The newspapers pub
lished here and elsewhere contain reports
Of statements made under oath in another
place, in reference to myself, which are
calculated TO reflect upon my character
and standing as a member Of this honor.
able body. These statements appear to
be designed to establish
!. That / was in some way connected,
by participation or encouragement, in
the preparation Of alleged frauds in the
Presidential election in 1876, In Louidi.
ana, at or about the time OF the canvass
and return thereof.
2. That l was party or privy to the
promises OF protection and reward TO the
officers charged with the duties in con.
nection with that election and the returns
thereof, made in consideration Of the
frauds and perjury committed or to be
committed by them in reference thereto.
3. That having subsequent knowledge
Of such frauds and of such promises for
the purpose OF concealing the former by
assisting in the execution Of the latter, |
used my personal and official influence
TO procure for James E. Anderson off,
cial employment in the Executive De.
partment Of the Government.
To each OF these accusations, whether
expressed or implied reply by emphatic
denial. deny that was connected in
any way by participation or encourage
menl; BY knowledge, consent or conniy.
ance with any frauds, real or pretended, in
the Louisiana election. deny that was
a party or privy to any promises OF pro.
lection or reward to any one in consider.
alton Of the commission by them Of
frauds, real or pretended, In that election.
l deny that made efforts to procure an
official appointment for Anderson, with
knowledge or belief on my part that he
or any one else had been guilty Of any
fraud in connection with that election
or in fulfllment Of any promise Of re.
ward that had been made to him on that
or any other consideration whatever, on
the contrary, assert upon my honor as 4
Senator which am prepared to main.
tain upon my oath that / do not know
and never have believed that any such
frauds were, in, fact, ever committed;
that do not know that any promise was
ever made 10 Anderson or any one else in
consideration OF fraudulent services
in connection with the Presidential cleo.
tion. Anderson, in my little intercourse
with him, all Of which has taken place
since March 4th 1877 never asserted
expressly or by any innuendo that Sher-
man or any one else had ever promised
him office or anything else, either for
doing wrong or right; never asked any.
thing from me or through me by virtue
Of any such promise. On the contrary
Anderson expressly and passionately up.
pealed to me on the ground that he had
rendered honest, and honorable, and law.
ful, and efficient service TO the Republi.
can cause In Louisiana, at the sacrifice
Of time and money and peril to his life,
and that be had for that cause Incurred
odium and hostility from political oppo.
nents.
The only wrong I understood or believed
him to be guilty Of was in having untruly
pretended he had been guilty Of things
be now sgain pretends 70 confess. That
wrong had no information Of until after
his appeal to me for my aid had been re-
sponded 10 by an act Of my good will in
his behalf. His disclosure Of 1t, with the
delivery Of the false documents which
constituted 1t, Isupposed was intended by
him and was regarded by me as an atone.
ment for and the undoipg Of II. Upon
that footing only / received them. 1t
never for moment occurred TO me that
the possession Of them by me could
be misconstrued into an ofense, and
believed that the only use which their
publication could serve would be TO prop
oga,e the mischievous and scandalous
falsehood. The only error, II there be
one, OF which am conscious, Is In hav.
| ing recommended to the office q person
who had msditated and prepared awrong,
but who had, as It appeared 70 me, with>
drawn from performing 1t. But as there
seems 10 be an attempt TO magnify into
one link what Is alleged to have con.
stituted conspiracy ngainst important
public rights, and as the coloring thus
sought be given 10 my conduct affects
my standing and character In this honor
able body, / consider it matter Of priv
ilege that the Senate should inquire into
the subject rs affecting II not less than
myself. have the honor, accordingly,
to submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That q select committee oi
seven Senator's be appointed to inquire
into and consider all things touching the
matters stated and referred TO by the
Senator from Ohio (MattheWs) and the
events connected thereunto, and particu.
lArly what connection, II any, that Sena-
tor had with any real or pretended frauds
or other wrongs committed in the conduct
and return Of the. election In the State oil
Louisiana in 1876, and with any promise
Of protection or reward, II any, made by
any one to James E. Anderson or others
10 consideration Of or connection with any
official conduct by Anderson or others Ia
relation TO said election or returns, and
into all the circumstances Of any recon-
meudation by said Senator Of said Ander.
son for appointment TO etice, and that
said committee have power 10 send Tor
persons and papers, 70 employ . clerk
and stenograper, and have leave TO eli
during recess.
Agreed to unanimously.
The President, pro TEN, laid before The
Senate communication from the Secre.
tAry Of the Treasury suggesting that ir
view Of the valuable services Of the late
. Prof. Henry, as member Of Light House
board without compensation, an appro-
Ipria.ion Of $500 for each year Of such