Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-30
THE INVESTIGATION.

The Potter Committee resumed its investiga-
tion this morning Mai. f. A. Burke was the
first witness. lie said: | was charged with
the registration and election matters in 1876
in New Orleans, as Chairman of the Central
Committee and Registration Bureau.
Witness was here interrupted by Gen. But
Ter:
Questionable you and your party friends
agree to stop opposition to the counting in of
MIR. Hayesi Answer-We certainly did, sir
We wes'e assured by President Grant that
after the count was completed the troops
would be withdrawn. said to Matthews that
while we were assured that President Grants
assurances of President Hayes policy
were well intended, yet we wanted these
assurances from such men as Garfield
Morton and others whom they regarded
more than Hayes. He said he could not an
swer for them, and | said "Then we will
place your party in such position that they
must speak, | meant thereby that our peo-
pie would join the filibusters, and prevent
Louisiana and South Carolina being counted
for Hayes. Witness said there were but two
phases Of negotiations in this thing, the Cam
eron and Matthews phases; that he made the
same proposition Of agreement to Cameron as
he did tQ Matthews on the 18th of February
also to Foster and other leading members of
the Republican party.
O. After the resolution passed on the 18th
of FEBRUARY by Congress deciding not to in
terfere with the Louisiana count, was there
any hope for the Republican administration
A. No, sir; except some arrangement was
made With the Democrats of Louisiana. |
had a conversation with Hewitt, and he said
the Democrats were determined to put the
onus of this fraud on the shoulders Of the Re.
publican party. The Republican party were
well aware of our determination to break up
the count. Witness said he had conversations
with Gen. Grant on the 26th of February.
He intinated he would not do anything to
prejudice the Republican party and would not
act until the count was declared for HAYES.
Grant allowed us virtually to take possession
of the State. We acted on his intmations,
and h9 submitted to them. On the 18th of
February witness received a telegram from
Ellis IF Louisiana, from Congress, and went
to see him. He said "Come instantly" He
told ne he had letter from Lamar relative to
the conversation he (Lamar) had with Mat
thew and Foster in regard to speech made
by F'ster. The following is a copy of the
letter:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. 1877.
MYDEAR ELIIs-I have Just learned from un-
questionable authority, which | Will give if you
wish I, that Foster said to a gentleman (my
intornant) that the speech he made to-day which
80 significantly, but indirectly, hints at Hayes
southern policy. that he made it after Consulta-
| uon with MIR. Matthews. Mr.. Hayes brother-in-
| law andAlr Matthews told him and urged him
| to say aquarely that Hayes would have nothing
| to do or tay to Packard. Foster said he would.
but he said he afraid to take too much upon
| himself 10 say that; but Mr.. Matthews reiterates
| his deSlRS that Foster should say so plumDly,
! and further said if | were to speak should say
| it because it is the truth. Foster further said
| he did not the mode by which Hayes
| could accomplish practical recognition of
| Mr. Nichols as Governor, to which my inform
| ant replied: Let him ask Nichols if | with
| draw the army and gunbOats will you assure me
| you will not establish your Government by
bloodshe1 and bloody retaliation, and if Nichols
made pledges let him withdraw them" Now,
Ellis, this is the first thing have ever heard as
| coming nom Hayes directly or indirectly that is
| worth acting nv Southern We
| do not want Offices but we do want to get our
| States and our people free from carpet-bag Gov
| ernment Ought You not if available opportu.
| nifty offers you to serve your people, to spring
| forward At once and see if you cannot free youi
State? | think you should at once see Stanley
| Matthews and ask him If Gov. Hayes Will give
| you some assurance he will not maintain Pack
Your friend L. q. g. LAMAR,
| Mr.. Ellis proposed a conference in the room
of the Finance Committee of the Senate, and
| there were present at it Matthews, DennsOn
sherman and Foster and myself. | showed
| them the guarantees which the Nichols Gov.
| ernment were willing to make. Sherman eX
presso6 SnSiety about the Senate. and re
marked II the 'ryiuboIIs Government were al
once recognized two Democratic Senators
would also have to be recognized. twas finally
| agreed to call on Grant and urge him to re.
| move the troops as such a request would
| co away with his expressed fears of doing
| anything to embarrass his successors policy
! AS was in the minority in that conference
| l. being four to one, suggested conference
| IN the evening when other parties represent
| ing the Democratic side could be present
| Il was I that suggested the conference. Il
was held in Evarts' room, but he was moi
| PRESENT. There were present Sherman, Gar
| field, Foster, Dennson, Matthews, Ellis, Vivy
Watterson and myself. We discussed thC
Whole condition of affairs Adjourned til
! tomorrow.
New YORK, Aug. 81.
| The Potter Committee resumed its labor
! this morning Major +. A. Burke again tool
| the stand BY mutual agreement, said wit
ness, the friends of Hayes were to visit Gen
| Grant with the view to ascertaining what hi
| views were on the question of the establish
| ment of the Nichols Government, but there
was nothing said, as far as l am aware, abOu
any commission. was assured by Hayes ant
Others that all the troops would be withdrawn
Witness read from some papers which he hat
! in his possession statement that there was
letter from Hayes to Foster under date o
February 23d, containing the basis o
| guarantees and assurances. Verbal guaran
tees were given to Sherman, Matthews, Eos,
ter, Dennison and Garfield at the interview
which was held in the committee room of tn
Senate and at Wormleys hotel. This lette
| embraced all the guarantees and assurance
we had. Witness acted as messenger, did no
| scratch Tilden until the Democratic part,
shook him; gave the copy intended for Stan
ley Matthews to Sherman; never stated tina
| he received any letter of guarantees or assuI
ances from Sherman or Others at the confer
ence; that to his knowledge there was no not
or memoranda in writing; met Foster subse
| quently at his room, but there was nothing q
any conversation committed to memory.
Q. Was there not an understanding bC
tween yourself, Garfield, sherman, Foster an
Matthews that you and other gentlemen o
the other side should reduce any propositio
made to writing!
Witness replied that he was confident tha
the subject under discussion at the time wa
not reduced to writing. We had the word {
the President of the United States.
Gen. Butler persisted in knowing why tn
witness left out the tlibustering' paragrap
in his synopsis of the Wormley Hotel Coz
ference papers TO the associated press, an
Mai. Burke replied; My reason for its omit
sion was probably from prudential motives
and. that one of the members from Louisian
should state our views ON the floor OF III
! House. 10 was our desire that the substanC
OF what we expected should be before til
country, and understood by the country
the time, in order to guard against any yiol
tion of the assurance given, and in order thi
If they were violated and evil effects fOllowe
in Louisiana our action would be justified
the country.
, Major Burke read his dispatch of Februar
2Sth to Gov Nichols, which he said clearl
: : explains their position. This tended to shO
| the leaders had agreed that the filibusterlr
: idea was no longer tenable, and that Il
, court would go on irrespective of any prev
, GUS agreements; in fact, that demoralizatic
had set in, and for the safety of all cOncern(
: it must be abandoned.
l Q. What or who was the high authority tn
) satisfied you that unless you were very muC
! deceived your plans would be successtuli
Stanley Matthews was one j. Il. Wilma
Z Bishop of Louisiana, went TO Washington
l describe the situation to Hayes and Gran
e and explain that any attempt to install Pac
ard would result in anarchy and bloodshed.
. Q. What was the meaning of Wilmar's 50
. ing; "Please don't be disturbed in Lou
D anal" A. understood by that that Hay
would not attempt TO place the Packard &c
ernment over Louisiana. The guarantees al
assurances TO be given by Hayes were agre
: upon by the Nichols Government, Feb.
d and %, and afterward indorsed by sherm
s and Matthews on the part of Hayes. Witne
e denied that he ever toldtanyone Mr. Hayes
= person had authorized guarantees or asst
u auces.
= Maj Burke promised to produce to-morr'
}. kilograms concerning guarantees ana asst