New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-23
SPIRIT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
MR. HIscocK PRIcKNG GENERAL BUFFERS BUBBL
"A VERBAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE Tw

"A VERBAL ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE TWO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Mr. Hiscock stuck several goOd-szed pins yester-
dav into the bubble General Butler had spent two
DAYS in blowing and when the gas was let ont OF IT,
il suddenly disappeared. Mr. Potter began with the
witness-Alaior L. A. Burke, of New-Orleans-and
went over substantially the same ground That he
covered last week examining Colonel Roberts.
He sought to prove that there was no intimidation
of voters in Louisiana in 1876 that the Republicans
conspired to produce state Of things that would
warrant the throwing out of the bulldozed par
ishes; that the Returning Board acted arbitrarily
and illegally, aud that the Democrats protested
against every step of its proceedings all of which
ground was thoroughly covered by the committees
of the House and Senate of the XLIVth Congress-
and by testimony taken months ago by this Same
Potter Committee Perhaps the chairman hopes by
endless repetition to make an impression upon the
public mind. There certainly can be no other rea-
son why any more testimony should be taken on
this branch of the investigation.
Nh Potter did strike one interesting vein In his
examination of Major Burke, yesterday-he added
another laurel to the many already gained by the
witness James Z. Anderson, whose expected reyela-
tions caused the raising of the committee. Burke
said that Anderson offered, for $1,000 cash down,
and 81 900 more when the count was completed,
to furnish the Democrats with the evidence, docu-
mentary and oral of a Republican conspiracy to
throw out the votes of the bulldozed parishes.
The offer was accepted and the bargain would
have been carried out but for the fact that the
Democrats could not raise the money. This story
shows beyond all question just what Anderson was
about in November, 1876, He believed he held
trump card, and he was anxious to sell out to the
party that would pay the most for it, Between
two stools he finally came to the ground unless he
is now reapng his reward for his recent services to
the Democratic party.
Mr. Stenger vino seldom takes part in the pro-
oeedings Of the committee, induced Major Burke TO
tell the story of his interview with j. ID. Cameron,
Secretary of War at the time Of the electoral count
lie found Mr.. Cameron impressed with the belief
that Governor Nichols ought to succeed, but anx-
ions ia gain party advantage by securing two
Republican Senators from Louisiana. Mr. Sherman
shared this desire with him, and finally Columbus
Delano was sent to Ohio to see what Governor
Hayes would have to say about an arrangement
that should insure the withdrawal of the troops
from the Louisiana State House and the election OF
two Republican Senators. Major Burke never
heard a specific report Of this mission, but ne I'M
derstood that Mr.. Hayes positively refused TO APP
prove any such method.
The most important testimony Of the day was
that given by Major Burke, in answer to Mr.. His
cocks cross-questiOns. He showed that General
NICHOLS IdctO NON6TUOI Ol 4DulSidud On tllc
9th of January, 1877, and ever after; that the
policy adopted by General Grants Administration
was such as to allow Nichols to strengthen himsef
that General Grants dispatch sent to General
Augur, saying that neither government ought to
be allowed to destroy the other pieCemea and that
If either claimant was recognized it would have TO
be Packard was sent only for political effect, and
to prevent the Packard Government from falling to
pieces; and that the whole policy of General
Grants Administration favorable to Nichols
He also testified that Mr. Hayes, far from
having agreed that the troops in Louisiana should
be removed, as a consideration to the Democrats for
allowing the count Of the electoral votes to be COM
peted was IN favor OF policy of nOn-interference
before any consultations began. and even before the
election. Major Burke never thought it necessary
to capture Mr. Hayes by making any promises or
offering any considerations. He afraid that an
attempt by the new President to put his known
policy into operation would arouse much OppOs-
ton in the Republican party that Dir. Hayes would
be powerless He therefore labored to have the
troops removed before the Administration came
in or If he failed IN that, to commit the Republican
leaders as far as possible to the policy he desired
to have carried out. 1t was shown also that the
Packard government existed only in name when
Dir. Hayes became President, and that there was
not prominent Republican who ever declared that
IT was the duty of the President to tear down
government that was fully established in Louisiana
and set up in its place by brute force another
which could not sustain itself
General Butler was up to his tricks again yester-
day. In his examination Of Major Burke no has
labored to make it appear that Que William E.
Horne who was in Washington when the Electoral
count was gong on and IN frequent correspondence
with observation-disclosures Young. of Ohio. must
have IN his possession some tremendous secret
nothing less indeed than the evidence that Cover
nor Hayes participated in or approved Of the al
legged bargain by which the Republican President
was counted in and Louisiana delivered over to the
Democrats General Butler put Horne on the stand
Yesterday, and having proved by him that he is a
lawyer and was acting in January and February,
1877 as an attorney for Governor Young, allowed
him to plead his privilege a lawyer and did not
reduire him to answer questions. The purpose of
all this was apparent and was boldly
exposed by Mr.. Hiscock. General Butler
knows very we'll that Horne has no secrets.
and thinks that the effect upon the public
mind will De far greater if he is excused from tes-
tifying. and his communications with Governor
Young and Mr. Hayes arc left in mystery, than Il
he is required to tell his story. Mr. Hiscock boldly
asserted that Butler had had the witness in his
room the night before and that they had agreed
upon this programme. This gave rise to sharp
little encounter between HiScOok aud Butler, IN
which the former used the expression bottled mp"
Butler was very angry at this aud retorted: The
last man who used that expression about me took 1t
back After the adjournment of the committee
Butler reprOached HiscOck for using the offensive
expression and an amicable understanding was
rived at
General Arson McCOOk occupied a seat with the
committee during part of yesterdays session.
THE TESTIMONY.