San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-07
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings of the Potter Committee.

ThE ELECIOkAL INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings Of the Potter Committee.
The Committee reassembled, pursuant to
adjournment, at Atlantic City, N. j., on the
23d. Present, Representatives Potter, Butler,
Htscock and Springer, and Mr.. Shellabarger
tined he was m tSo aSs
lnittee that visited New Orleans, and there
mes Jas. y. Anderson, who told him a good
many bulldozing stories about his parish
had circulated the report that his parish was
going Democratic, the colored vote being
largely ON that side. his purpose being to get
the Democrats to offer him money rs bride,
so that he might expose them.
Representative Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
testified on the gath that he went to New Or.
leans to witness the counting of the vote at
the request Of President Grant. Never heard
any suggestion to manipulate the returns,
nor that the Returning Board was Influenced
by the visiting statesmen to open the returns /;
believed in the evidence of Eliza Pinkston
and Others as to intimidation; believed there
were frauds on both sides, but that there was
land T. Parker, of New Jersey, also
visited Louisiana Mt the request of
President Grant. His evidence agreed
with that Of Mr.. Kelley. =. Representative
President Grant. He was in company with
Senator Sherman nearly every day, and did
not believe he ever wrote the letter attributed
to him by Anderson. He believed both Pack
ard and Hayes were elected. :. Eek. Con.
gresham j. Hale Sypher, of Louisiana, tes-
titled that ID. A. Weber consulted him re-
garding certain promises which had been
made him, as he said, by some of the
visiting statesmen, mentioning particularly
Sherman and Matthews; that subsequently,
Weber handed him letter, which he read,
purporting to be signed by John Sherman, he
cisely, but believed it was the same as the
published letter offered in evidence; did not
know that 1t was Sherman's handwriting but
had no reason to suppose 1t to be forgery !;
the letter WIS written on note paper.
Secretary Sherman was examined at
length before the Committee on the o5th. He
gave detailed account of the visit of the
Northern Republicans to New Orleans to wit.
ness the proceedings ofthe Returning Board,
which he testified were fairly conducted, so
far as he was able to determine, and without
the slightest collision on the part of the Re.
publican visitors. In regard to Anderson's
man, Weber and himself (Anderson), witness
said he had an indistinct recollection OF An.
derson and Weber coming into restaurant
where he sat at table with Mr.. Stoughton
and engaging in some inconsequential con.
versatiOn, which he affirmed was in no re-
spect such as stated by Anderson in his tes-
timony; did not think he ever saw either OF
them before, ana was positive ne never had
any such conversation as was imputed to
him by Anderson. Being shown the letter al
legged to have been written by him to Ander-
son and Weber, witness most emphatically
previously stated on several occasions, there
were some things in the letter that he would
have written had he been requested to do so,
as he had freely expressed the opinion that
all Republicans in Louisiana who stood by
their guns deserved credit. Witness further
entered q general and explicit denial as to all
the evidence given by E. l.. Weber, Captain
jerks and Mrs. jerks, so far as it represent
the vote of Louisiana or to re-
ward others for doing 30. Gen. Butler ques-
toned witness regarding the recent appoint
ments to office of Louis j. Sauer, Henry @.
leans, his intention being, as he said, to show
that these men were adherents of Senator
Kellogg, and appointed upon his recon.
mendation. Mr.. Sherman refused to re-
Cured between him and the President
regarding these appointments, but
said he would give the exact facts when the
Committee returned to Washington. letter
submitted. 1t is dated New Orleans, Nov. %,
1915. The writer gives a full account of the
progress OF the canvass OF the vote, speaks
Of the serious blunder OF emitting the names
Of all but two Electors from the Republican
tickets in two parishes, the result of which
leaves the poll in one district so close as to
render it probable that one or more of the
rilden Electors will have a majority. The
etter says: 1--WE are now collecting testi-
mony as to the bulldozed parishes 1t seems
more like history of hell than of civilized
and Christian communities. The means
adopted are almost incredible. That you
would have received at a fair election large
majority in Louisiana no honest man can
question. That you did not receive a
is equally clear; but that in
simidation of every Xxi kind ana nature
did enter in and control the election at more
election polls than would change the result
and give you the vote, | believe as firmly as
that write this: the dlihcu ~ OF gatheEng
been very great, but l believe it has been
fully met The whole case rests upon the
action of the Returning Board. have care
fully observed and have formed high opin-
ION of Gov. Wells and Col. Anderson. They
are firm, judicious, and, as far as can Judge,
honest and conscientious. They
are personally familiar with the nature and
degree of intimidation in Louisiana........
We are in good hopes and spirits, not wish
ing the return to be in your favor unless 1t is
clear that it ought to be so, and not willing
10 be cheated out of it or bulldoZed or in
undated The truth is palpable that you
believe that you will have it by an honest and
lair return, according to the letter and spirit
If the law of louisiana" The letter OF Gov.
Hayes in reply to the above was also put
n evidence. In it he says: A fair election
would have given us about 40 Electoral votes
1t the South--at least that many; but we are
not to allow our friends to defeat one outrage
md fraud by another. There must be moth
ng crooked on our part. Let Mr.. Tilden have
he place by violence, intimidation and fraud
'ather than undertake to prevent it by means
hat will not bear the severest scrutiny"
1t the conclusion of his testimony Secretary
sherman delivered notice that the sub Com
nittee at New Orleans had determined to ad-
ourn on the same day that he received no.
ice that the committee would permit him to
subpoena witnesses to prove intimidation OF
voters in Louisiana, and he in
ends on the first opportunity to avail him
elf of the privilege. General John a.
fairfield was next examined. He also went
% New Orleans at the personal request OF
PRESIDENT Grant. He said there was not a
word of truth in the statement that visiting
republicans advised the Returning Board
o stretch their powers to the utmost |
,xtent, with q view of throwing ont Demo
ratio votes. $50 far as this relates to me it
: a lie and is a lie also so far as it relates to
bndy was the DurDOep of the WIS., I