The Portland daily press., 1878-07-10
THE INVESTIGATION.
Secretary Sherman's Reply Ito
Chairman P0tter's Last.
The Inconsistency of the Proceed
ings Shown up.
Senator Kellogg to Testify To-Day.
Secretury Shermnn's Reply to Potter,


secretury shermnn's Reply to Poi.ar's
Last Letter.
WASHINGTON, July 9.-Secretary Sherman
has sent the following reply to chairman Pot
ter's letter of July /:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Office of the Secretary,
Washington, July s.
Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, chairman:
Sir,-I heve the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the LIST inst, upon my
return to the city after brief absence. In re-
spect to the evidence rendered by me to prove
fraud and intimidation at the election, L have
to say that since the date of your letter the
question seems to have been settled by the
committee in favor of taking such testimony
as e. L. Weber, a witness called by the COM
mittee, has been examined as to whether
there was violence and fraud at the election in
East Feliciana. In his prepared statement he
was not only allowed to testify to the extent of
the violence and fraud in East and West Fell
cana, but to the cause of that violence and its
effect upon the election, and the next day was
examined by the members of the committee
distinctly upon the causes and grounds for the
throwing out of the vote of those parishes.
cannot be denied the right 10 prove that muir
der, whipping, burning, raiding and all forms Of
Intimidation did prevail 10 both those parishes
and that in East Feliciana they were sufficient
to deter every Republican voter from voting,
though there had previously been been recog-
nized majority of nearly 1000 Republicans
Whether the testimony shall be taken anew by
your committed, or that taken by the former
committee shall be received, will with entire
Difference await your decision.
With the view to identify the testimony of.
fered by me nave placed it in the hands of
one of your committee in the order in which it
is referred to in my written offer. In view of
the fact that your committee is now engaged in
taking further testimony intended to show
that the declaration set forth in the various
DrOtaqtg a n II IN haS r
should be allowed to prove by additional testi-
mony that these protests are true.
l call your attention to the character of the
examination of E. L. Weber of the Sd of July
when no member of the minority of the COM
mittee was present to object or cross-examine,
and when by some Misunderstanding my coun-
sci was denied the privilege of cross examina-
ton unless he did so against what was claimed
to be the order and wish of the majority of the
committee. The questions were not only lead
ing ones, but he was allowed to testify to COM
mon Iumor and to his differences based on COM
mon rumOr, and this not only as against me
but against several members of the House of
Representatives and other high officers of the
government.
also beg leave to correct msapprehension
into which you have fallen 10 saying had Civ
en- to the public communications designed for
you. The only communication have given the
public is my final offer of testimony of violence
and that only gave several weeks after it was
sent to you and after Mr.. Morrison's paper
had been published; but now respectfully ask
that my tender of testimony and my memoran-
dunn to Gov. Cox and this letter may be pub
lished in the official records.
have also to state that am now prepared
at the convenience of the committee to submit
testimony here in Washington to repel the
charges against me, and have given to Mr..
Shellabarger list Of the witnesses whom 1 ask
may be subp9naed.
Very respectfully,
JOHN SHERMAN