The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-06-27
THE LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA H.
vESTlGATION. I

THE LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA H.
vESTlGATION. q
The Committee resumed II session,
ON the morning of the 18th. ~
The Chairman presented . letter which he had
caused to be sent to Mr.. Matthews, with the sub
pona. in which hs stated that the Committee did
not desire to interfere In any way with his duties
Senator. and that there would be every disposi-
ton to meet his convenience in respect to the
Mr. ]. E. Anderson was recalled and Questioned
position in the Philadelphie Custom House. He
that he would withdraw an claims be might have
upon the Administration If the appointment
Xere made. and gave letter e that effect.
Registration. in which il. was minated
that bull: DOING Wa going On N the parnh: In
from the statements of his Republican friends
He had called upon Coy. Kellogg after his return
from the parish, and advised that the election be
& lie ep Sc e e
the parish thought the advice good and carried it
out. In explanation of his testimony before the
Senate Committee, he said he had made rs good
Republican case as he could. Witness clearly
remembered the circumstances attending the
Weber agreement, and said the signature Of We
OeE UAu uOC OcCU IOIkcU L0GT6UUs
Postoffice Department, stated that Bolles Baker
entered the service Oct. IT, 1876, under the adj
April l. 1877. and appointed special agent Aprll7,
1877. In regard to Howard, his recommendations
were signed by Senators McCraryr Hoar. and
others.
Ex-Congressman Darrell testified that he first
became acquainted with Matthews In New Ur-
leans. Had visited him to urge the appointment
of Packard as Collector of the Port Of New Or
1oanS Az frat hQ OrNuOaaN the anVbnlnfmQrf hyt
after Anderson had seen him he withdrew his op-
position, but said the President did not want
Packard appointed: He thought that Anders s9
thews changed: After Packard was dropped.
some son Of his friends had proposed himself
us @ Witness nsW Mrs.
jerks; had seen her in Washington in January,
at which time she told him she had the Sherman
sbs s. ana @ she Sad
tie believed Anderson had copy, and perhaps
others. He had talked with Matthews, in March
last, and no had told him that the papers in An
derson's hands were of no account, and that
Sherman had never written the letter Anderson
claimed lie had. Sundry letters from witness to
Anderson were identified and read. In February.
1885, he had been informed that negotiations were
pending, between Anderson 3 attorney and Tilden
and his friends IT, New York, by which the docu-
mcnts and letters in his Andcrson's 81 possession
We're to be surren Tered, and lad become uneasy.
Anderson had subsequently told him that they
were to be published. and that the ul'shot would
be that Matthews would lose his seat He had
therefore written letter, on the Sd of March,
the object of which was TO prevent such action on
the part of Anderson. Witness stated further
that the understanding with Matthews was that that
then the compromising letters should be
Mr.. .McMahon, witness said no Louisiana
as recommended by Thomas &. Anderson and
Wells, of the Returning Board. They had GER
tainly defeated Packard and secured Smith APP
Hxal ,oI 11ko C1c&< Of Av,,v
written to Anderson and requested him to bring
his papers. He had never seen them but he de.
sired to look them over and see whether he had
desired assistance. He had been told that copies
of the documents had been in the New York Sun
office, since December previous, and also in the
certain about it.
The hearing before the Potter COM
mittee was resumed on the 18th.
Ex-Congressman Darrall testified that, in the
spring Of 1877. Anderson had told him that his
protest in regard to intimidation in his parish
was correct. He stated that Anderson had later
ened him with the publication of his letters and
other DOCUMENTS, and that Matthews told him to
60 ahead and publish them if he wished: sub
would have nothing further to do with Anderson
If he intended publishing the documents. Wit
ness said he bad seen the Nash documents, which
BE
Anderson had told him that he intended to publish
it and ruin Nash. Witness had never convarsed
with Sherman about the eo-ce1led Sherman let
had seen what purported to be copy in .Ander-
son's hands. The witness further said that An
ccrson's reputation was fair in New Orleans.
After the appointment of the COmmitteefwitness
had written to Anderson, telling him that he bad
not been treated right, and advising him to pitch
in and expose the psalm-singing hypocrite at the
siderable length in regard t to tbe
attending the advent, in New Orleans. Of
the visiting statesmen, and stated that Anderson
bad then given to Judge Harlan, to whom he had O
letter Of introduction from MI. Matthews, a copy
or the original Weber affidavit. Witness had
tirst heard OF the Sherman letter from AnceAson.
to make of the document in his possession, and
that such use was blackmailing. He detailed the
circumstances attending his visit to Mr.. Mat
thews: how he had discussed with him the ques-
ton Of his appointments to the Collectorship:
how he had told him Of Andersons intention to
hand the documents over to the New York sun,
same information from Democratic sources and
that he did not care what disposition was made
OF his Letters. They also talked Of the Sher..
some one satisfactory to him and Anderson. AM
derscn should be willing to surrender the papers
ana ana doflmenss ne had and fSrego any claims he
The witness further said that he me. Matthews
in the Senate Chamber, and the latter mentioned
tirst the subject of Ander: Ons interview: saving
that Anderson had called upon him and spoken
very roughly to him, and had made threats of the
publication of these documents, OF something of
that kind. aud he told Anderson that he felt very
had been doing all that he could in accordance
with Anderson wishes, and that he had told An
derson that he did not want to see him any
the papers and documents, and that he would
drop him. and he said substantially the same to
meI,that it was no use trying TO do anything
with such man, or something Of that kind; that
he was unreasonable and expected him to do
more than he could do, and that he had done the
best he could under the circumstances. and that
ne was determined to have nothing further to do
with Anderson.
VIM. H. Seymour, of New Orleans. a Notary
Public. identified bis signature and seal attached
not remember the contents of the paper.
Fl. A. Wilder, who introduced Anderson to the
Notary Public Seymour. detailed the circum-
ami his partner witnessed the document.
Thomas g. 8. Smith, late Appointment Clerk Of
the Treasury Department, testified that he first
letter from Mr.. Matthews recommending his ap.
Eontment to some office. Several telegrams and
letters had pas ed between him and Matthews in
Matthews advised that Anderson be dropped il
he were not satisfied with the Office witness Of
fered him.
GEN. SMITH, late Appointment Clerk
of the Treasury Department, was recalled on the
18th, and testified that he had found one lettel
referred to his Department recommending An
derson's appointment Witness had had but one
interview with the President in regard to Ander
son. He had seen the letter written by Ander
son declining the position Of Inspector of Gus
toms and also Matthew'S letter adyising him t.
drop Anderson. He had appointed Ande sons
lieved in such appointment. MIR. Butler asked
witness with whom he bad counseled on the pre-
csdnS n,gh and NJ 20 Go1 o6seSsa ong On,
Butler stated his object to be to prove
Smith an unwilling witness. Thereuror
Smith, after having scored Mr.. Butler
and lectured him upon his duties as committee
man, asked the protection of the Committee
The investigation was resumed, and Smith stated
that he had mot counseled with Judge Shellabar
ger OF Mr.. Wilson. Witness then described hi
Interview with Sec'y sherman on receiving thu
note from the Committee, requesting the pro
matter. He had shown the Secretary the letter.
and he had read them. One letter from Matthew's