The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1878-06-14
The Matthews Letter.

| When man turns State evidence, il
is competent for the defence to assaiI
his credibility: and this is what the
defenders of the Fraudulent President
are doing as respects the testimony of
| James F.. Anderson before the Potter
| Committee, But there is no part of
| the evidence produced by Mr.. Ander-
| son which cannot be assailed in this
| manner. We refer to the letters of
Stanley Matthews, the intimate friend
and agent of Rutherford b. Hayes du-
ring these Louisiana affairs. These
letters are in the hands of Mr.. Mat>
thews, and it is impossible to misun-
derstand their purport or to mistake
the character of the transaction to
which they refer.
By way of introduction to these
documents, the following contract
mOny in the case.
"Agreement between Anderson and
Nash, Representative in Congress,
New Orleans Nov. 81, 1876:
"By an agreement entered into
this day between James L. Anderson,
Supervisor of Registration for the par
ish of East Feliciana, La, and Char
les 4. Nash, member of the Congress
from the Sixth Congressional District
of Louisiana, il is agreed that said
Anderson shall suppress evidence
showing that the said parish, of East
Feliciana was fairly carried by the
Democratic party at the election held
Nov. 8, 1876, thereby electing the en-
tire Democratic State ticket and Con-
gTessSmen, in consideration of which
the. said Nash agrees to secure for said
Anderson the position of Naval Otfi-
Ger at the Port of New Orleans, La.
"JAMEs 4. ANDERSON.
&" ID. j.. NASH.
"The above agreement was signed |
in our presence this 2lst day of No |
Vember, 1876. 81. NJ. TOMLINSON. |
go. B. MORGAN.
This agreement, as Anderson testi- |
fled, was long since put into the hands |
of Mr. Matthews, and was in his pos |
session to AndersOn's knowledge until
April last. In fact, in a letter |
thews himself acknowledges that il is |
in his hands. This letter we here |
produce along with another to Gen.
Harlan of Kentucky, since appoint
ed Mr.. Hayes to be Judge of the SUI
preme Court:
"Mr. Anderson: You are at libertyl
to use the note on the 9TH
er page as an introduction to Gen.
Harlan, who is one of the Commits
sion, and you talk to him as freely IL
to me You should say TO Nash, if ins
quired of, that | have the agreement
STANLEY MATTHEW'S"
"CCININNATI, March 20, 1877
Gen. J HILurICtIl.
"DEAR SIR: This will he presented
to you by Mr.. James +. Anderson,
who may desire to communicate with
you confidentially. Yours truly.
STANLEY MATTHEW'S"
The agreement which Mr.. Mat
thews here refers to is that with Nash,
which appears above. What is its
character? 1t is ali agreement to
"supprCss eriCIcnce shOicing that the
said parish Of Fast F6IicidlG trds
faiyLy carried 6y the Democratic par
tn at the cIectiOU hoId NOU. 8, 1876, in
GUhich the said Nash
ug1'ccs to secure for sTjd Anderson the
position Of NuudL officer Of the Port
Of -NelO Orleans" If there was a
corrupt and criminal agreement this
is one. The one party bargains TO
falsify the true returns of the election,
by suppressing evidence respecting it,
and the other party bargains to the falls
ifier a valuable office by the way of
pay! And yet, here we have this Uni
ted States Senator, this bosom friend
and representative of Mr. Hayes, intro
lucing one of these parties TO another
friend and agent of Mr.. Hayes, the
same whom Mr.. Hayes has since re-
Ivarded by making him a Judge of
he supreme COurt!