The Ottawa free trader., 1878-07-27
RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION,

1t is quite fashionable with the Republican
papers to sneer at the Potter Investigation,
because its work is slow and the facts have to
be dug after like hunting for diamonds. But
when the committee come to report and EN-
body in comprehensive form the aggregate
of the discoveries, the result will be somewhat
startling. This may be inferred from the fol
lowing brief resume which the Washington
Post gives of the work thus far
The Potter committee have proved, beyond
successful rebuttal things believed 10 DC lrue
but not absolutely proven to be true before 10
wit: That the electoral votes OF florida ana
Louisiana which were given 10 Hayes pe-
longed to Tilden. Leaving out OF considera-
tion the State Of Florida, which no hoheS,
man will deny to have been stolen, we VIII
take up Louisiana As to this State the rot
ter committee has clearly proved
| l. That the conspiracy was entered INTO Oy
certain Republican leaders, the object beng
to hold no election in East Feiciana, Grant
and other Democratic parishes.
| 9 That the fact that no Republican votes
were cast in East Feliciana was not dIe to in
timidation, as alleged, but was owing to An
derson's advice to the Republican leaders not
to vote as it would have better effect than
all the atfadavits that could be produced.
3 That for a period of two days after the
election the Republican leaders admitted that
Tilden and Nichols had carried the State by a
heavy majority.
4 That when it became evident that the ell
ection of Hayes depended upon the results Of
the State deliberate preparations were made
for defeating the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls.
g. That in pursuance of this plan, protests,
forged and altered to suit the occasion, were
made for the parishes of East and West Fell
ciana whereby Il Democratic majority of over
., 800 was changed to Republican majority
of 800
| g. That the Supervisors of the above named
parishes were prevented by promises of re-
ward made by John Sherman and Others from
exposing such forgeries.
| I. That on the 27 day of November, when
the Returning Board proceeded to sum up the
result of their labors, it was discovered that
while Packard and Republican Legislature
were elected, Hayes was defeated.
| g. That after the above date and in order to
secure the electoral vote for Hayes forged pro-
tests were made for Richand and other par
! isheS and the returns of Lafayette and other
parishes 50 changed as to increase the Repub-
| lican vote.
8. That aflidavits bearing fictitious names,
and the names of dead men, were manufac-
tured in the Custom House. and upon such af-
| fidavits various Democratic polls were thrown
out
TO- That the acts above stated were known
to some of the visiting statesmen, and received
their approval.
II. That the electoral vote of the State, as
'counted before the two Houses OF Congress,
| was a forgery.
! 10 That John Sherman, now Secretary of
the Treasury, and at the time the personal rep
rcsenlative Of Mr.. Hayes was guilty Of suhor-
nation of perjury.
l3 That the leading parties necessary to a
completiOn of the fraud were promised by
him protection and reward.
IA. That the Fraudulent President in fulfil
mcnt of Sherman's and Noyes's promises has
rewarded with office every scoundrel connec-
ted with the great crime in both Florida and
| Louisiana.
10. That Stanley Matthews "A Republican
Senator from Ohio, and Justice Harlan, a Judge
of the Supreme Court had guilty knowledge
of fraudulent transactions by which the vote of
Louisiana was stolen, and personally interested
To reward and protect the criminals.
| 1G. That Senator Morton and Gen. Garfield,
both members of the electoral commission,
knew when they voted to count the vote of
Louisiana for Hayes that it was both fraudu-
lent and forgery.
II. That Senator Kellogg, who assisted at
the forgery of the Louisiana returns, has since
been guilty of secreting the witnesses.
! Is. That not one of the criminals who as
sisted to perpetrate the colossal crime of the
age has been punished; but that all but two
numbering over a hundred-have been pro-
videl with offices by Mr. Hayes's direct order
or request, and in some cases by and through
his continued and persistent interference.
With few exceptions these facts are proved,
exclusive Of the testimony of either Anderson
or Weber, Notwithstanding that the committee
has only fairly entered upon its work.