The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-21
The Investigation Resolution.

The following is the text of the preRm-
able and resolution passed by the house
known as the Potter resolution:
WHEREAS the state of Maryland has, by
its legislature, formally declared that due
effect was not given to the electoral vote
cast by the state on the 9th day OF
December, 1876, by reason of fraudulent
returns in the electoral votes from the
states of Florida and Louisiana; and
WHEREAS an affidavit by Samuel b.
MeLin, chairman of the board of state
canvassers of the state OF Florida for the
election held in that state in November,
1876, for the election of president and
vice-president, has been made public,
alleging false and fraudulent returns of the
votes for such election in that state,
whereby the choice of the people of that
state was annulled and reversed, that the
action of the state board of canvassers
making such returns was influenced by the
conduct and promises of Hon. Edward +.
Noyes, now minister to the government of
France; and
WHEREAS it is alleged that conspiracy
existed in the state of Louisiana. whereby
the Republican vote in all the precincts of
election in November, 1876, was purposely
withheld from the polls to afford pretext
for the exclusion by the returning board of
that state of the vote cast in these precincts
for elector of president and vice. president,
and that James 4. Anderson, superinten-
tendent of registration of East Feliciana,
and D. A. Weber, supervisor of registra,
ton in the parish of West Feliciana, in
in F,r &c
acy, falsely protested that the election 10
such precincts had not been fair and free,
and that the state returning board there
upon falsely and fraudulently ex-
cluded the vote of said pre-.
cincts, aud by means thereof and OF
other false and fraudulent action by said
returning board, the choice of the people
Of that state was annulled and reversed
and that such action of said Weber and
Anderson was induced or encouraged by
the assurances OF the Hon. John Sher
man, secretary of the treasury of the Uni
ted States; and
WHEREAS the gravity of these charges
the nature of the evidence upon which
they are reported to be based, and the
official dignity and position of the persons
named in connection with said frauds
make it proper that the same should bt
| inquired into, 10 the end that the honor o
the nation may be indicated aud the
truth AS to said elections made known:
ReSOlUed that a committee, consisting
Of eleven members of the house, be ap
pointed to inquire into the aforesaid ale
CATION as to the conduct of the person
in Office as aforesaid, in respect of SAT-
election, and into the alleged false an,
fraudulent canvass and return of vote
/ by state, county, parish and precinc
officers in said states of Louisiana an
Florida, and into all the facts which, i
; the Judgment of said committee, are con
/ nected with or pertinent thereto. and tina
: said committee for the purpose of execu
ting this resolution shall have power t
send for persons and papers, to admins
ter oaths and to take testimony. and i
/. their discretion to detail subcommittee,
q with like full authority of said committe
q in every particular, with power to sit
Florida and Louisiana; which sub-co
mittees shall be committees of this hous
q and the chairman thereof shall be author
y ized to administer oaths. that said con
Il mittee and sub committee may emplo
!. stenographars and be attended each by
deputy sergeant -at-arms, and may S
: during the session of this house ar
d during vacation, and that said committt
j. proceed in their inquiry: