Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-06-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.


Matthews, rising to . personal ex-
PLANTATION referring TO Andersons tes-
timony, rejecting ON his character %
Senator. said: "These statements
were designed to show, first, that he
encouraged or participated in alleged
frauds In l876in Louisiana. Second,
that he was . party to promises of
protection and reward to Supervisors
in consideration Of the perpetration
OF frauds by them. Third, that he
had, for the purpose of concealing
those frauds and executing his prom
ises, used his personal and official in
fuence to procure Office for Ander-
son.
He continued: To each of these
accusations, whether expressed or
implied, reply by IN emphatic de-
NAL. I deny that I was connected In
any way, BY participating or encour-
aging, by knowledge, consent or con-
nivance with any frauds, real or pre-
tended, in the Louisiana election. 1
deny that I was party or privy to
any promises Of protection or reward
to any one, in confederation Of the
commission by them Of frauds, real
or pretended, In that election. I de-
ny that made efforts 70 procure an
official appointment for Anderson
with the knowledge or belief ON my
part that he or any ono else had been
guilty Of any fraud in connection
with that election or In the fulfill
ment OF any promises or reward that
had been made him on that or any
other confederation whatever. On
the contrary I assert upon my honor
% . Senator, which I am prepared to
maintain upon my oath, that / do not
know and never have, believed that
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any promise was ever made to An
derson or any one else in considera-
tion Of fraudulent service In connec-
tion with the Presidsntial election.
Anderson, In my little intercourse
with him, oil Of which has taken
place since March, 1877, never assert
ed expressly or by any innuendo that
Sherman or any ONE, else had ever
promised him Office, or anything else
either for doing wrong or right;
never asked anything from me or
through me by virtue OF any such
promise ON the contrary Anderson
expressly and passionately appealed
to me on the ground that he had rem
dered honest, honorable, lawful and
efficient service TO the republican
cause in Louisiana at the sacrifice of
time and money and perilto his life,
and that he had for that cause incur
red odium and hostility from politi-
cal opponents. The only wrong l
understood or believed him to be
guilty of was In having previously
untruly pretended that he had been
guilty of the things he now pretends
to confess. That wrong I had no in
formation of until after his appeal
to me for my aid had beon responded
to by an.act Of my good faith In his be-
half; his disclosure Of it with the de-
livery of false documents which con-
stitute It, l supposed was intended
by him and was regarded by me
as An stonement for them and
it was upon that footing that re-
ceived them; Il never for moment
occurring to me that the possession
Of them by me could be misconstrued
into an offense and believing that the
only use which their publication
could serve would be to propagate q
mischievons and scandalous false
hood. The only error, II there be one,
of which am conscious ID in having
recommended to Office person who
has meditated and prepared q wrong,
but had 40 ii appeared to me with
drawn from performing it. He SUBJ
mitted the following resolution:
Resolued That . select committee
Of seven Senators be appointed to in
quire into and consider all things
touching the matter stated and refer
red to by the Senator from Ohio,
{ (Matthews) and events connected
thereunto and particularly what con-
nection, II any, that Senator had with
any real or pretended frauds or other
wrongs committed in the conduct and
returns Of the election in Louisiana
In 1876, and with any promise or pro-
lection or reward, II any made, by
any one to James E. Anderson or
others In consideration Of or connec-
ton with any official conduct by said
Anderson or others In relation 10 said
elections or returns thereof and into
all circumstances Of fany recommends
ton by said Senator Of said Ander-
son for appointment TO Office, and that
said committee have power to send
for persons and papers, to employ .
clerk and stsnogrspher and have leave
to cit during recess. Agreed to unan-
imously.