The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-28
The Potter Investigation.

| day, was lnterf0gateu at leilRtu Will TeIeT'
encc to a statement made in his testimony
relative to The method Of employing deputy
marshals IN Louisiana.
Mr.. Potter then reviewed The testimony
OF Pitkin, eliciting various replies from the
witness. for'the purpose OF placing in the
minutes more detailed statements OF affairs
in Louisiana during the electoral count,
nothing OF note, however, being developed,
Mr.. Butler then examined witness as to
the probabilities OF the Packard govern
ment being able to sustain itself in The event
OF its recognition by the Administration.
The witness replied: He always believed
in the legality Of the Packard Legislature,
and was OF opinion that the Packard gov
eminent could have sustained itself within
three weeks after recognition without the
laid OF Federal troops.
| The witness narrated q statement made
him by G.. a. j. Swazey OF conference
held BY the members OF the Packard LeSis-
lature and the members Of the McFeagh
commission Immediately preceding the
withdrawal OF the troops and the recogni-
ton OF the Nichols government. The eX-
animation continued, bearing upon the acts
OF the McVeagh commission without hav-
ing developed anything new, when General
Butler requested that Packard he summon
|
the minority OF the committee were disposed
| to accept the testimony OF the witnesses on
the stand as regards affairs in Louisiana, and
suggested that by calling additional wit
neSSes to verify their statements already
| made would only accumulate evidence and
| delay the progress Of the Investigation;
| whereupon Mr.. Butler remarked that 1t was
| his idea to probe the great fraud which had
| been perpetrated to the bottom, without
considering whom it ight affect. He alone
was responsible for his actions, and that IL
the committee did not intend to establish
the entire facts OF the case they might az
| we'll stop ut once.
Dir. Cox and others expressed no oppoSl-
ton TO the calling Of further witnesses Tor
any reason excepting that it accumulated
testimony similar TO what WAS already III,
and winch they were willing to accept
without veriication. During the discus
sion Mr.. McHIahon remarked that the qucs-
toa OF going iuto the Investigation OF the
McVcish commission had been decided in
secret session, and he had voted for it upon
the grounds Of General! Butler having IT.
formed the committee, while in Sc
cret session, that IN agreement hau
been entered into whereby Tie fraud
uleut count o! votes in Louisiana
had been made etiectul, and that he could
grove it, Mr.. Butler said that the only
uuestion ut issue was should or should not
Governor Packard be invited to appear be-
fore the committee before he leaves the
country to fulfil bis duties abroad. Mr.
Potter suggested that the question was one
which should be determined in secret SEES
sion. Mr. Butler thereupon said that the
trouble with secret sessions is that every
thing that occurs therein is not kept secret:
r ha lnnrS
remain wide open." Mr.. Butler referred to
statement Just made by Mr.. Mcmahon in
regard to the agreement having been made
TO make the fraudulent count in Louisiana
etlectual. The examination was resumed,
and the witness, in answer TO Buffers
Inquiries, said that he had had conversations
with Hawley and Harlan before their return
to Washington and after. Nichols was re-
cognized. They said that when they ar
rived in Washington they would see Hayes
and arrange to have all the leading Repub-
iicans who had borne the brunt OF work il
Louisiana taken care Of. This, he informed
Butler. did not include Anderson.
After a secret session and recess Roger
C.. Glasscock, the proprietor OF Il restaurant
In this city, testified that Mrs. jerks took
her meals at his house. At dim
ner one day she remarked that Secretary
look out she would make it hot for him.
She also informed the witness that she had
a document from Sherman to Weber.
William Z. Chandler was SWORN and eN-
amined by Mr.. Springer. Hc visited Flo
rida shortly after the presidential election.
He met Governor Moves in Tallahassee,
and conyersed with him regarding the
election. At this point Leonard WHIT
ncy. manager Of the Western Union
Telegraph in this city, was sworn,
and testified that he had been subp@aaed to
appear with certain kilograms supposed 10
have been sent from Washington by Pitkln
and other parties to Anderson. During Au-
gust and September last lie was unable to
find but one telegram-tbat was from A. u.
jerks and addressed to Anderson at Phlla-
delphia. and asked him =" Are you coming
over tomorrow Witness was directed
TO have q search made In the company,s
storehouse in New York and ascertain II
any other kilograms Of the kind alluded TO
were in existence.
Mr.. Chandler, resumng, stated that ne
had no recollection OF any conversation Win
McLin, in which Governor Noyes parli-
cipated, as was reported by McLln. have
said that he was authorized TO say tnat NC
Lin would be taken care Of. Does not EMO"
made anv such statements. Moves ala not
state to witness upon bis arrival IN tiorloa
that the result OF the election depended upon
that State. He did not hear that Governor
Moves went to Florida as the direct agent
OF Governor Hayes. Never heard any proml-
ses or assurances given to McLin or other
members OF the Returning Board that IN
the event Of the State going for Hayes
they would be cared for by the Admin
istration. lie did not recollect that he
had made any assurances. DID not see
Governor HAYES on his (Chandler'S) trip 10
Florida. Had communicated with Captain
Lee, the secretary OF President Hayes, by
cinbcr-tcleeram, the substance OF Whlch
wa, to send Stanley Matthews and others
Of high character That things looked ia
yorabie. Matthews's answer did not come.
Witness said he did not know why. an
other cipher-telcgram, dated Tallahassee,
November 18th, substantially set 1orth that
the State looked good for about % majority,
and that S5g,0GO must be sent to Phlladei-
Mia in order that he (Chandler) could draw
ti1non it, He gave q detailed statement OF
the duties performed by Governor Noyes
while in Florida, which, he sad, were en-
tirely in /. legal capacity. 10 answering
question by Butler rs to whether there were
sny Appointments made through The IN
stance Of Governor Noyes, gentleman
prominent in tile Florida election, the Wit
ness said: 81 dare say that Governor
Moves recommended for places. either by
letter or orally, number of, persons. l
know I. did@so myself" Mr.. Butler re-
ouested the Witness 10 prepare list OF all
- :, o,,a<,,a,,fc tvhfoh had bnaD made on