River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-06
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

mOntloned.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Investigating the Election of 1876 Under
the Potter Resoiution---JaruesE r.. An
derson and Secretary sherman ON rhe
stand.
The select committee of the House of Repre-.
sentatiyes to investigate the alleged frauds in
Louisiana and Florida, began their labors on
the LIST inst. The committee sat with open
doors. Messrs. Wilson and Shellabarger ap.
peared as counsel for Secretary Sherman
The subcommittee to visit Florida was an.
nounced to consist of Hunter, Springer and
Hiscock. Louis E. Anderson was first called
to testify. At the time of the election lit
was supervisor of the election returns
for the parish of East Feliciana, Louisiana.
He testified at length in regard to transactions
in the parish, and interviews with certain par.
ties, and in regard to an attempt to get him to
enter a protest against the returns by reason
of intimidation having been used. In re-
ply TO Marshal Pitkin he said intimidation
had been used, but he did not know whether
Ii lad been practiced by Democrats Re
publieans, and that consequently he was not
prepared tomske protest. He subsequently,
entered a protest and testified as to various
attempts to lave him change and make said
protest stronger. He gave the substance of an
Interview between himself and ID. A. Weber
supervisor of election returns in West Fell
ciana and John Sherman. Mr.. Sherman re-
marked there is crisis in which not only
Louisiana but the whole country is involved
and it is time when we expect and want
every Republican aud every true patriot to
stand byu Now hope you, gentlemen, are
going to do that thing.n Mr.. Weber replied
that he and Anderson had already done more
| than the circumstances of the case would
warrant, and great deal more than safety
would warrant in that if Packard became Gov.
| ernor there was no possibility of their getting
anything under the United States Government
| Mr.. Sherman assured the witness, Mr.. Weber
| that no danger lay in that direction, what the
| Republican party had not been in the habit 81
| forgetting men who stood by it in the hour o.
peril Mr.. Sherman" said the witness
s'raised his left hand and sad,' "that wani
| to say to you is, that if you gentlemen, stand
| firm in this matter, and let it run as it is you
| will find no cause to regret it," Subsequent
| ly the witness wanted Sherman's verbal dec
| lorations and assurances in "black an6
white" and accordingly he and Weber jointly
| addressed the following letter to
MIR. SHERMAN:
"SIR. We have carefully considered the
| arrangements advanced by you in our inter,
view. Your assurance that we shall be taker
| care offs scarcely specific enough. In case We
pursue the course suggested by you, we
would be obliged TO leave the State. vii
| you, therefore, state in writing who we shall
| look TO for the fulfillment of these promises
Respectfully,
| (Signed.) D. A. WEBER,
JAMES ID. ANDERSON.
To Hon. JnO. Sherman.
| Mr. Mcmahon proposed to put in evidence
a copy of Sherman's letter in reply. Aftel
strong discussion as to whether the copy Of
Mr. Sherman's letter could be read and put
in evidence. Mr.. Cutler offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopted
RcSoloed, That the paper identified by the
witness be read, but not read nor given to the
public until Mr.. Secretary Sherman may be
| forthwith called and the paper shown and he
asked if he admits it to be copy of any letter
written by him.
Mr. Sherman being notified of this pro
ceeding and invited to appear, did appear ii
response to such invitation, when the follow
ing took place:
The chairman to Secretary Sherman: Jas
e. Anderson, the witness testifying before tht
committee this morning stated that he haC
received from the hands of p. A. Weber let
ter purporting to be signed by you, of which
Inow show you copy. VIII you now stat,
to the committee whether you ever wrote
such a letter?
Mr.. Sherman after an inspection of the pa
per handed him replied: | can only say this
chat believe upon my responsibility and thu
oath have taken, never wrote such Il letter
| have no recollection of ever writing such
letter. If this letter was written it must have
been, il | am not mistaken about dates, on tn
day when the returning officers first com
menced to open the returns. | think it wa
on the GOTH At that time ] knew but llttl,
about the transaction. The pape had no
been opened. / do not believe / aFef wrote
that letter. AT the same time there are thing
in this letter that | would have written t
these, or any other men who were engaged II
the performance of what believed to be theil
1IItU I DuI been asked 4 bpliGVt
| wrote that letter
THE LETTER.
New ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1S76.-Messrs. D. A
Weber and James Z. Anderson: Gentlemen
Your note of even date has just been received
Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself, the gentlemen wht
accompany me, or the country at large cal
ever forget the obligations under which YOU
will have placed us should you stand firm il
the position you have taken. From a lons
and intimate acquaintance with Gov. Hayes
am justified in assuming respon~i bility for thu
promises made, and will guarantee you will b
provided for as soon after the 4th of March al
may be practicable, and in such manner as vii
enable you both toIeaye Louisiana should yol
deem it necessary. Very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
The examination ofAnderson was resumed
and much correspondence was put in eyi
dence, including several letters that passed be
tween him and Stanley Matthews, pertaining
10 AnuerSon'S claim upon bne ddmlnlslfa
| ton for some lucrative appointment develop
ing the fact that though Matthews recog
nized such claim as legitimate, Anderson
expectations were not realized, and that h
finally turned with scorn on Matthews ant
the administration, saying in his letter Il
Matthews of June ~, 1877, II have nothint
further to ask at your hands, or of the monu
mental fraud who occupies the White House
dcn
Washington Telegram of June End state
that the evidence given on the LIST inst, wa
tile absorbing theme of conversation in Wash
ington political circles, and gave rise TO com
ments that sound in accordance with diver
gent political predictions. The committee a
the instance of its representative members Ia
subp9naed Judge Campbell now member 0
the Dakota supreme court, but formerly judg
OF the fourth district court of Louisiana. 1t i
claimed that he viii testify that Andersen
made oath before him TO the protest which h.
Anderson, yesterday denied having sworn TO
Ex- Marshall Pitkin has also been summone'
as 4 witness in rebuttal Of certain portions @
Andersons testimony. Anderson is at presen
one of the editors of the Philadelphia Mort
American