The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-08
The Presidential Election Frauds.

The great question Of the day, which
seems to take precedence Of every other,
for the time being, is the investigation Of
the frauds perpetrated in Louisiana and
Florida, at the Presidential election in
1876. Our readers are doubtless DESTROYS
Of being fully informed Of the progress of
Mr.. Pottcrs Investigating Committee, so
that they may thoroughly understand the
subject. To give them all the informa-
ton accessible, which viii throw any light
upon the facts in the case, We present them
with the following extractsfr from a number
Of leading journals of the country, Of all
shades Of political opinion, Republicans,
Democrats, and Independents. We do
not eonfnc our extracts to those from
Democratic journals only, but We give Sc
lections from newspapers Of all shades Of
political opinion, 20 that the voice of the
press may be heard and understood, in 50
great a matter as that now before COM
mittee of the House of Representatives,
aud which so vitality affects the country at
large. Let US commend the subjoined ex-
tracts to the attention Of all who would
fully understand the great fraud by which
a man not chosen by the people has been
foisted upon the country as its President,
in the place Of one who was fairly elected.
VIEWS OF THE PRESS OF THE COUNTRY.
Philadelphia Times, Monday, Ind. Rep
CHATTER OxE or TUE IyvEsTIGATTOy.-The
first chapter Of the official record ofthe frauds
in Loaisiane which led 10 the return of the
vote Of that State for Hayes and Wheeler, and
with which Il Is sought to connect John Sher-
man as an accOmpiee and Rutherford b.
HAYES "a accessory after the fact, is presented
to-day ia the testimony of James 4. Ander-
son before the Potter committee. The read
ers Of this journal need not to be told who
and what the witness is and has been IL Is
sufficient TO recall the fact that but for the as
sistance given BY him and his friend and asso-
ciate. Weber. in the form of protests against
the canvassing Of the returns from the East
and West Feliciana parishes in louisiana the
vote of that State would not have been re-
turned for the Republican ticket. The story
told on Saturday has been discounted by press
reports. foreshadowing its tenor, but we ven
ture to say that few Democrats, If any, not In
possession OF all the facts, and fewer Repub-
Iicans who were not cognizant Of the whole
crime, we're prepared for such crushing re-
violation of rascality. The first tahleau shows
kellogg and others sitting in New Orleans
before the election, deliberately planning to
throw out the vote OF these parishes for no
- stsnts he re rarf
sure TO carry them. In pursuance of this
conspiracy they contrive 20 get Anderson to
leave his parish in the midst Of registration,
and endeavor TO prevent his return, even
when he avows his readiness to do so and the
alleged bull -dozers guarantee his safety. The
election takes place and the returns are for
warded without protest, because, in the East
Feliciana case, at least, which is the one I'M
der consideration, there IS no eanse or pretext
for complaint. In the face of this fact An
derson IS besOught BY Marshal Pitkin, Hugh
j. Campbell, the author of the Returning
Board law, and others to make fraudulent
protest or any sort Of protest that may be used
rs an excuse for DISTINGUISHING the parish.
He Yields SO far as 10 sign a mild protest in
which there are blank lines, with the urder-
standing that he is to Gil the blanks at leisure,
but soon discovers that somebody has by for
gerry saved him the trouble in the insertion of
4 protest of the most sweeping character.
The same kind tHrn is done for Weber, and
these two worthless are about to expose the
fraud when the visiting statesmen appear on
the scene. Mr.. Sherman intimates desire
10 see them. They meet him at a restaurant
In company with Mr.. Stoughton, of clerical
error fame, who disereetly turns his head the
other way. Mr.. Hayes personal representa-
tive and prospective Cabinet Minister is in
formed that the protest is forged and that they
propose to aenounee it, whersupon he begs
them to stand 6rm THAT is, to let the forgery
90 unchallenged, , aud promises that they will
be upheld BY the administration. Not salts
fed with the terms of this agreement they ask
for an assurance in writing and get it. This
assurance Is that neither Mr.. Hayes nor the
gentlemen representing him in this important
business siwill forget the obligations under
which you will have placed Us, together with
a guarantee that they shall be provided for as
soon after the 4th Of March rs practicable,
and in such q manner as will enable them to
leave Louisiana should they deem it necessary.
The person most Immediately concerned in
the truth of this story, which is rich in its de-
tails, is John Sherman, a member of the pres
ent administration. fit is not true it would
seem to be an easy matter for him to disprove
il. or failing that, he might at least deny it.
Called 20 the stand at the request OF his friends
he does neither the one nor the other. At
first he says ~ beiiere / never wrote such
letter. again, II have no recollection of
writing such letter." again, ''if it was writ
ten il must have been on a certain day, and
again. Il have no recollection of it. Mr..
Sherman has never before shown such faHl-
~ memory; usually he is very emphatic in
denouncing anything that concerns his fair
fame. He was much more positive in Febru-
the original of which is before us at this mo-
ment:
isYou are mistaken in one thing, aud that
is that ever wrote a letter to Anderson or
ever did anything in Louisiana which could
ever be construed into wrong. / believe the
element in Louisiana that is endeavoring to
stir up these prosecutions now acknowledge
that they cannot assail me except by forgery
or perjury. They sought TO do this through
Anderson and Mrs. jerks, but this utterly
failed. and have now letters from each of
them that no such letter was received or was
ever written"
tits possible to refresh Mr.. Sherman mem
ory in either Of two ways-by the production
OF the original letter, which is said to be in
existence, or by the production of the letters
from Anderson and Mrs. jerks, above re-
ferred to, In which they declare that it was
not written. By all means LET his memory be
refreshed Meanwhile it IS interesting to note
whether the alleged and pretty well proven
contract was carried out BY Mr.. Hayes and
his advisers. A part of Mr.. Anderson's testi-
mony touches this branch of the subject.
From this il appears that Weber having de-
parted this life, Anderson came on to Wash
ington 10 claim his share of the price of ST.
lence about the forgery and OF the spoils of
the subsequent fraud of rejecting the returns.
Here Stanley Matthews appears, fitting about
as a go-between, and through his kind offices
Hayes and Anderson are brought face to face.
Well knowing the grounds upon which he asks
to be provided for, the President entertains
his proposition, and, although reminded in so
many words by his eonsiderate visitor that it
is a delicate piece of business, he promises to
consider the matter and then turns the :rou-
blesome customer over TO another confiden-
tial 0hioan, who holds the responsible posi-
ton of appointment clerk This functionary
gives Anderson Blue Book and with large
hearted liberality tells him to pick out his
place. That he did not get the place seems
10 have been simply because the administra-
ton and the candidate differed as to what sort
of place he ought to have The fact is that
he was given a Consulship, which he declined.
and that his brother was tucked away in a
custom house. How such a chain of circum-
stantial evidence is to be broken, and the ad-
ministration is 10 be acquitted of the grave
charges thus formulated, is the problem that