The Portland daily press., 1878-08-14
THE investigations.
The alleged Bargain With South
ern Democrats.
What "A Democratic Editor KNOWS
About 1t,

NEW YORK, Aug. 13.-The first witness
called before the Potter committee today was
William 81. Roberts, who testified that be was
editor of the New Orleans Times, Democrat
ic journal, and during the campaign it used its
influence to carry the state aud national ticket.
The witness believed that Nichols and Tilden
carried the state of Louisiana. In either 1866
or 1868, Mr.. Hayes came down to New Orleans
for the purpose of looking into the cause of the
riots He was good shot and good talker.
He went out hunting, and circulated freely
about, and made friends for his party in that
way. He did not seem to have come there to
fight the Democrats. The witness knew Mr..
Charles Forster of Ohio, and spoke of him as
truthful man, and who dared to give expression
to his opinions.
The witness was asked about the course
taken in regard to ascertaining the attitude of
Mr.. Hayes towards the government of Louisisi-
ana. He stated that as newspaper represent
tative and man not actively engaged in poll
TICS he was selected to 60 to Ohio and ascertain
adopt in case of his election to the Presidency.
The witness stated that be proceeded to Ohio
some time before the Returning Board met,
and was about stating the result of the CONVEX
sation he had with Halstead, who gave him
sealed letter to Hayes. when Mr. Hiscock OBJ
throwing mud upon the President.
Butler said his question to witness was
plain one and he merely asked him to state as
near as he could the result of his interview
cial. and he did not see how it was throwing
mud on the President by detailing exactly what
was said and done. In regard to this investi-
cation he thought they should 60 into the
length and breadth Of it. We are here to as
said it was shown in evidence that
Nichols had received about $1,000 votes more
than Hayes and that Packard had received so
many votes over Hayes, and yet with the WON
derful result the country already knows.
Ruflnr also spOkQ n 10 uOf hot hod haa
given in South Carolina and said all this SEEM
ed very strange. Many persons have seen
where the lightning has struck, but scarcely
anyone has seen the lightRing strike twice in
the same place. Such phenomena would would
surely have got into the newspapers. He
thought that every latitude should be given in
this investigation. He saw no objection to the
question as no electoral commission was then
thought Of
Mr. Hiscock intimated that Gen. Butler was
endeavoring TO show that forgery had been
committed and argued that such evidence was
sought to be obtained to iDjure the admiuistra-
ton.
Mr.. Roberts finally testified to an interview
with Mr.. Hayes at Columbus at which he told
Hayes that the state could be carried for him,
and that it had gone in favor of Nichols by
some 10000 Hayes told the witness that be
did not want the Presidency unless he got it
fairly, and his letter of acceptance was not q
mess of idle words. The witness was well i'm
pressed with MI. Hayes, and wrote South &C.
COrdngly. Senator Lamar was pleased with
the result of the interview, and said that the
party was all 10 the dark as to Tilden's plans
Witness said that from his conversations
with various Rspublicaa leaders he understood
that if Louisiana aud South Carolina were
counted in for Hayes the government of these
states would bs given to the Democrats. They
acted on this assurance and the assurances
were carried out.
Gen Butler observed that such assurances
looked much in the same nature as bargain
In the course of further evidence witness said
that he was offered position of naval officer,
but he recommended that it be given to
''nigger." He would not take any such posi-
ton where he would be obliged to take care of
Kenner of the returning board. Witness SAID
that Gen. Grants order known as the "Sniffen
ORDER" was issued short time before he went
out of Office at the urgent solicitation of Re
publlcans. When he left New Orleans to call
on Gov. Hayes he believed that the returning
board would declare Packard elected. In that
conversation Hayes told him that he did not
want the Presidential Office except he got it
Hayes said his letter of acceptance was not a
| mere empty form of words, but that he intend
ed to live up to 10 in its broadcast spirit and in
tended to treat the people of the South with
which state government he would recognize in
Louisiana. He understood fairness and jus
tice" to mean the withdrawal of the troops and
the election Of the person receiving the highest
vote. he believed Hayes to be well meaning
honest man.
Gen. Butler cross-,xaminsd witness to see
whether he did not understand "ju stice and
fairness" to mean the recognition of the
Democratic government. He replied that
Hayes made no pledges of any kind, and he
(wtness) wss left to infer what these words
meant.
Gen. Batter tried to show that they implied
bargain.
An article 10 the old time "bloody shirt
zk.l4 IL Al ny,I
given as Hayes sentiments towards the
South created great excitement until it was
proved that Gov. Hayes had 70 such opinion
and never authorized the article.
Gen. Butler-Had you then any doubt that
Hayes understood he was pledging himself to
you that your state would be placed in the
hands of the Democracy if he was elected
President?
long discussion ensued between Gen.
Butler and Mr.. Hiscock as to the question,
after which the witness said he understood
from Hayes manner and conversation that
the Nichols government would be given a
chanca tn psta hlish itsalf