River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-29
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

TUESDAY, August co. Major E. A.
Burke, of New Orleans was before the Potter
committee, and was examined at length. Gen
Butler did all the questioning. The effect Of
the examination of Burke was TO show that
there was bargain by which the Packard
government was to be overti'rown, and that
the Nichols government was to be recognize
cd, and that Hayes was privy to such bargain.
Partisans will accept or reject Burke's state
ments according to their preconclued notions,
and argue upon the definite indehniteness OF
many of his statements. The witness said he
religiously and seriously believes that Hayes
and Packard were defeated and Tilden and
Nichols elected, and that was the opinion OF
every honest man there. Witness went to
Washington, he said, the 18th Of January, as
agent for Gov. Nichols, TO secure non-inter-
yention ny government troops with the state
government. We had the moral and literal
force OF the people Of Louisiana, sufficient TO
establish ourselves. We never intended TO
have a collision with the United States troops.
| We We're determined tn protect the interests
of our State against any source whatever, and
| If an arT1c5 stack We're made on the Nichols
| government it would have been repealed. We
had become sick and tired of the state of
| things. Cheated out of two elections, and
| plundered, we determined not TO stand it
! longer, and would have forced a military gov
eminent in preference to standing such things.
| Gen. Grant modified his ideas after my visit
!
purpose OF getting the troops, not to interfere,
and got an order to that effect on the after
noon of the ID of March, Question by Butler.
Then you got the order on Monday when Gen
| Grants term expired at II O'Clock at night
| Now, did YOU not know that Hayes called on
| Grant the same day at IL O'clock in the morn
| ing. A. No, sir, i did not hear, did not
know of any confidence between Hayes and
Grant.
WEDNESDAY. Aug 2l.-The Potter
committee continued their examination oil
| Major Burke. He testified about the famous
| Wormlev conference and said: Il never
stated received any letter of guarantee OF
assurances from Sherman or Others OF the
conference Gen. Butler took the witness
in hand, and quite passage at arms occur
red between them. Without concluding the
examination Of the witness the COMMITTEES
| adjourned.
THURSDAY, August 22-Major Burke
again appeared before the Potter committee,
| and testified as to various matters and things
against Republicans, and favorable to Demo
Gratis. At the conclusion Of Major Burke's
| testimony, w. E. Howe was introduced. He
is d resident OF Texas. Butler took the wit.
ness in charge Hiscock (Rep.) insinuated
| that Butler had a conference with the witness
| last night and fixed up his line OF testimony
| Butler Jared up, end said these things came
| with bad grace from Hiscock. Hiseock re-
torted that it was bad grace on the part OF Q
disappointed candidate for honOrs to prompt
witnesses, and make it appear they were pos
| sessed OF great secrets.
FRIDAY. August 23.--Major Burke was
again upon the witness stand He said he
considered all the acts of the Louisiana re
| turning board Illegal, as the board was an il
| legally constituted body. In responce to q
question from Gen. Butler, Major Burke stat
ed that none of the Packard Legislature wer.
| allowed to become members of the NichJlls
Legislature who were not known to have Deen
elected by q majority Of votes. The witness
| further said that although the report o. the
visiting stanesmen to the United States Sen
| ate stated that the Nichols government was
| founded on bloodshed and riots, such ttate
ments were unfounded and he (Burke) die
not propose to square their report for them
Gen. Butler continued the questioning
at considerable length, during which botf
the witness and his questioner got excited
and both spoke in loud tones OF voice. Mr.
Hiscock read dispatch which he had inst re
ceived from Gov. Young, of Ohio. ii states
| $50 far as | am concerned Mr.. Horn IS a
liberty to testify all he knows. have no sc
crets to conceal as 20 our correspondence o.
telegraph" Mr.. Potter then read the follow
ing telegram from H. Z. Gibson: Il neve
had conversation with Mr.. Sherman abou
the settlement ofthe Louisiana question o.
on Louisiana politics. In this Mr.. Burke il
in error. RANDOLPH l.. GIBSON
SATURDAY, August 24-Several mino
witnesses were examined before the Potte
committee in brief session, eliciting nothin.
| sensational or very important but about tn
| same run as to Louisiana croekedness III pol
itics The committee adjourned, not TO NEE
again till called together by the chairman