New-York tribune., 1878-06-13
BUTLER AT THE TILLER.

WHAT lie ELECTED FROM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OPINION ABOUT TIE SHERMAN LETTER-COX
REPRovRs BUTLER.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, June 12.-General Butler had the
floor most Of the time at the meeting of the Potter
Committee to-day He subjected ex-Congressman
DarraIl to an exceedingly severe cross-examn-
ation He showed the witness up in the
attitude of being willing to the influence which
Anderson was supposed to possess with Senator Mat
thews on account Of the letters which he held, TO
promote his own political fortunes, and to secure
his appointment Collector of the Port OF New-Or-
leans and also of turning upon the Administration
and advising Anderson to publish his papers
and expose &" the psam-snnng, hypocritical' Presi-
dent when his application for Office was not favor
ably entertained.
This cross-examination disclosed some Of the dis
reputable expedients to which politicians in search
of Office are accustomed to resort.
One nepointwhich may be Ofimportance hereafter was
even more clearly brought out in the cross-eXamin-
alton Of Mr.. Darral than in the direct by Mr.McNa-
hon. and that was that Anderson had always told him
that the so-called sherman document was signed
by both Senator Sherman and Mr. Slough
ton Mr.. Darral did not discover that
Mr.. Stoughton's name was not attached TO it until
late this Spring and then the fact that Mr. Sber-
mans name alone appeared upon the paper was the
cause OF considerable surprise TO him. The whole
drift of the testimony thus far has been to con-
vince the Republicans, who have studied the case
with the most care that there is certainly something
irregular or suspicious about the Sherman letter
A theory which is gaining many adheTents Is that
Secretary Sherman did write something to
Webber and Anderson, or 70 one Of them
He admitted IN his testimony that he might
have done so. At the same time, those who hold
this theory believe that the document which Ander-
son has produced is not copy Of it. but that 1t has
been changed and added TO in order 20 make il more
available for the purposes TO which il is now put.
The latter part of the day occupied by the ex-
animation Of Mr.. Seymour. the notary public before
whom the soealled Webber-AuderSon agree
ment was authenticated, and Of the two
witnesses 10 the signatures of that document.
Their testimony was contradictory IN re-
gard 10 details, but agreed on all really
essential points The important feature of 1t was
that neither of these three men knew ID. A. Webber
or could identify him IL it had been possible
for him 10 have appeared before the com
mite to-day. They testified that Anderson
brought some one to them who he said was
d. A. Webber; but not having been acquainted
with him, neither Of them could swear to his
identity This fact, taken in connection with GER
tain internal evidence which the paper contains,
makes il possible, not TO say probable,
that Webber never signed the paper in
question. The Republicans are still confident, as
they were week ago, of their ability to prove that
Wcbber's signature TO the paper Is forgery and
perhaps show that II was attached 10 the paper
after all the other signatures had been signed
A sensational incident occurred ia the committee
loom late the afternoon, just before adjournment.
General Butler for reason best known 20 him.
self, treated General smith, late appoint
mont clerk Of the Treasury Department,
most OutrageOusly during the time he was
examining him. His insulting manner became so
unbcarabe that General Cox forced 20 inter
fcrc and he read lecture 10 General Butler such
ms one member of Congress rarely delivers to an
other He told General Buter that General Smith
was "A gent eman had answered the questions put 20
hIm 10 the best Of his ability, and that he
was entitled 20 geutlemany treatment. lie said IN
effect that General Buffers conduct dsgracetul
10 the committee. General Butler retOrted,
and Governor Cox resumed and repeated sub
stantaly what he had said before. Finally, Mr.
Morrison the acting chairman of the committee,
called both gentlemen 30 order and General Butler
proceeded IN a much more subdued manner The
Democratic members of the committee all sus-
taned Governor Cox in the position he took, and
agreed with him that General Buffers conduct was