The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-08-06
The Results Of the Investigation
WHAT HAS BEEN PROVED so FAR
BY THE POTTER COMMITTEE.

BY THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
The Potter committee have proved,
beyond successful rrbuttal, things bo-
lieved to be true, but not absolutely
proven to be true before. to wit: That
the electoral votes Of Florida and Lou
isiana, which we're given TO Hayes.
belonged to Tilden. Leaving out Of
consideration the State Of Florida, which
no honest man will deny to have been
stolen, we will take up Louisiana. As
to this State the Potter committee has
clearly proved:
/. That conspiracy was entered in
to by certain Republican leaders, the
object being to hold no election in East
Feliciana, Grant and other Democratic
parishes,
2. That the fact that no Republican
votes were cast in East Feliciana was
not 1dns 10 Intimidation rs allegea but
wa ocln. 70 1.n9eiS0i1 dSfce TO the
Republican leaders not to vote, as It
would have better effect than all the
afidayits that could be produced.
3. That for a period of two days af-
ter the election the Republican leaders
admitted that Tilden and Nichols had
carried the State by heavy majority.
4. That when it became evident that
the election of Hayes depended upon
the result of the State, deliberate pre-
parations were made for the purpose Of
defeating the will of the people as ex-
pressed at the polls.
5. That in pursuance of this plan,
protests, forged and altered to to suit the
occasion, were made for tie parishes Of
East and West Eeliciaaa, whereby a
Democratic majority Of over 2, 300 was
changed to a Republican majority OF
500.
6. That the supervisors Of the above
named parishes we're prevented by pro-
misses of reward made by John Sherman
and others from exposing such forgeries.
Z. That on the 9th day Of Novem-
ber, when the returning board proceed
ed to sum up the result Of their labors,
it was discovered that while Packard
aud Republican Legislature were
elected, Hayes was defeated.
8. That after the above date, and in
order to secure the electoral vote for
Hayes, forged protests were made for
Richlanl and other parishes, and the
returns from Lafayette and other par
ishes changed so as to increase the Re-.
publican vote,
9. That affidavits bearing fictitious
names, and the names of dead men,
we're manufactured in the custom house,
and upon such afidavits various Demo-
cratic polls were thrown out.
10. That the acts above recited were
known to some of the visiting statesme o
and received their approval.
II. That the electoral vote of the
State as counted before the two houses
of Congress was forgery.
II. That John Sherman. now Secre.
tary of the Treasury, and at the time
the personal representative of Hayes
was guilty Of subornation of perjury.
13. That the leading parties necessa'
ry to a completion of the fraud were
promised by him protection and re-
ward.
IA. That the fraudulent President, IL
fulflment of Sherman's and Noyes
promises, has rewarded with office every
scoundrel connected with the grea
crime both in Florida and Louisiana.
Is. That Stanly Matthews, a Repub
lican Senator from Ohio, and Justic'
Harlan, q Judge of the Supreme Court
had guilty knowledge Of the fraudu
lent transactions by which the vote D
Louisiana was stolen, and personally 10
terested themselves to reward aud pro
tect the criminals.
1G. That Senator Morton and Gen
Garfield, both members of the eleotora
commission, knew when they voted t
couot the vote Of Louisiana for Haye
that it was both fraudulent and a for
gerry
H. That Senator Kellogg, who as
sisted at the forgery Of the I,ou,siau
returns. has since hseu guilty Of secre
ting the witnesses.
l8. That not ono of tho criminal
lwhO assisted to perpetrate the colosss