Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-15
Orlando II. Brewster. a Member Of the
Louisiana Electoral College, Tells
How his Signature was OBJ
tanned to a Second Edi-
tiOn OF the Election
Returns.
Secretary Evarts, by Advice OF the Presi-
dent, Evades the Call Made upon him
for All Papers in his Department
Rearing upon the Presiden-
tiaI Election.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-the sub-com.
mittee of the Potter investigation committee
having returned, the whole committee went
into secret session. When the doors were re-
mlttee reassembling the members said they
desired to be present at the proceedings OF
the house and left the room. On returning
Orlando HI. Brewster,
one of the members of the electoral college
IN Louisiana during the election of 1876, was
examined briefly in regard to his connection
with the signing of the certificates of cleo
ton. He testified that he attended the meet
ing of the electoral college in New Orleans
on the sixth of December; he was chosen in
the afternoon to ill the vacancy arising from
his own non-attendance in the morning;
counted the votes for President and Vice
President, and the college adjourned. In
answer to the question whether he signed
any certificate of the votes cast, the witness
said: / have no recollection of the time
when | signed them; think it was either
three weeks afterward l heard that defect
existed in the certificate for the
State of Louisiana; l heard it from
Fl. Conquest Clarke, who was Gov
ernor Kellogg's secretary and was acting
as clerk of the electoral college; as nearly as
| can remember, he stated that the defect
was clerical: some of our friends thought per-
thought a new set should be made out; we
had but little conversation on the subject; my
impression is he said it should read lists, y"
in the plural, where it then said ''hst;" it is
very indIstinct in my recollection; immediate
ly after that conversation he presented the
papers and asked me to sign them, and |
signed them in the governors office; | con t
remember who were present. but | think
there were men in the Office at the time; that
is all the connection l had with it.
Witness here identified the returns which
were shown him, and his signature on them,
including his signature on the envelop; he
testified that he did not know how many
times he signed his name on the first occa-
sion, or the second either; it seemed to him
that it was more than half dozen times !;
he had nothing to do with drawing them up;
he merely signed as he was obliged to, sup
posing it was all correc'; somebody pointed
the place out to him, and told him where to
sign. He added that he did not know wheth-
er anybody else signed or not.
In answer to General Butler, he stated that
he held the office of surveyor general up to
the time of the election; he sent in his
resignation three or four days after the cleo
ton but asked that it should be held back to
the fourth of November.
By Mr.. Cox-Did you undertake to make
any comparison yourself between the first
and second set of papers to see what the diff
i
Clarke.
Ques.-You acted upon his telling you that
you were correcting a formal error in the
papers you had drawn up at the meeting?
Ans.-Yes.
Ques-You say it was conducted in priva-
cy? Ans.-Yes, sir. l was sent for several
times during the day; they said was want
ed at the governors office.
Ques.-Did the messenger come direct
from the governor? Ans.-No, not direct.
Ques.-When you went into the governors
office, did you see the governor? Ans.-No,
sir; l saw Clarke, and he called my attention
to this matter right away, and l knew then
that that was the object in sending for me.
Que.-Didn't it excite your suspicion lit
tie that as the letter So only was left out,
he had not the original papers there. and mad
to execute a new one? Ans.-No; sup
posed it was the anxiety of our friends to have
everything exactly right.
The witness was examined at considerable
length, but nothing elected in addition to
what hes already been stated.
The following letter from the state depart
ment was submitted to the committee by the
chairman:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jur ID, 1878.
To Hon. Clarkson N. Potter, Chairman Of the Com
mittee of Investigation. etc., House Of Represent
atives
SIR have had the honor to receive from the
clerk of the committee Of which you are chairman
the following resolution:
Resolyed That the secretary of state be requested
to furnish to this committee all original communf-
cations, whether written, printed or tslegrsphc,
secret ,ry of state and which may be under his
troll received by him or other person In the state de-
paItment purporting to come from either or all of
the members of the commission of which Hon.
Wayne MVeigh and Hon. James r. Harlan were
members, which commission was sent by The Presi
dent to New Orleans, Louisiana, in April, 1877 and
also certified copies OF all communications, whether
written, printed teegraphic delivered to sent
to said commission or to all either of the MEM
bers Of said commission from the state department
or President which passed through said depart
ment."
Upon laying this report before the President 1 am
instructed by him to say that while he considers 1t
not at all incompatible with the public interests
that all documents sought for by this resolution
should be made public, yet he Is unable to perceive
that the subject embraced in said resolution Is with
In authority for the inquiry impaired 10 your COM
mittee by the house of representatives. The Presi
dent has, upon this view of the -tter. directed me
to communicate TO the house of representatives the
Information sought in the resolution of your COM
mittee for such disposition by that honorable body
as shall seem t. II meet. l have the honor to be,
sir, your obedient servant, WIN. N. EVARTS.
Adjourned.