The Portland daily press., 1878-06-03


obtained by legitimate means. The original of
the affidavit, the witness said, was recently in
the possession of Stanley Matthews While in
New Orleans he heard that John Sherman was
whereupon they called at the st. Charles hotel
to see Sherman, but failed to find him But
later they succeeded in finding him. He was
in MOlairs restaurant on Canal street. Weber
advanced addressing Mr.. Sherman, and the
latter remarked, "Gentlemeu, l am glad to see
you, as understand there is some difficulty in
your respective parishes. This is time when
the assistance Of every Republican and true
patriot is needed, and trust you will stand by
US.
They remarked that in endeavoring to do
their duty they incurred the dis spleasure of
Kellogg and were compelled to leave their re.
spective parishes, and in the event of Packard's
election as governor might get nothing from
the administration. On this they were assured
by Sherman that they would be cared for. as
All he desired of them was that they would
stand firm and let the record run along as it
is."
After short time Weber and Anderson con-
cluded to forward letter to sherman inform
ing him that they were not satisfied with the
conversation with him about being taken care
ofand requesting him to inform them in writ
ing as to whom they should look for the fnlfl-
ment of his promises
Messrs. Hseock, Butler and Cox objected to
the reading of what was claimed by the witness
to be copy Of Sherman's reply to the letter,
taking the ground that Sherman should first
see the document and if he recognized it as
copy of his reply, then, and not until then,
should it be acmitted.
Judge Shellabarger counsel for Sherman, said
in reply to question that he had no knowledge
OF Sherman's ever having written such let,
ter.
Butler offered a resolution which was adopt.
ed providing that the paper identified be re-
ceived but not read until Sherman be ca lied
before the committee and have an opportunity
TO TO see 1t, whereupon chairman Potter notified
Sherman of the action of the committee.
A letter was produced signed by the Witness
addressed to Weber, stating that Packard was
raising hell because of their refusal to protest
against the returns in their respective par.
ishes.
At o'clock the committee took a recess un.
til 1.30 p. NJ.
After the recess Secretary Sherman IN appeared
and the letter said to bs his reply to Anderson
was shown him. He said;
MT Chairman, bslieve that never wrote
such letter. If it was written in must have
been when the returning officers convened to
count the returns. and do not believe l wrote
it. Still there are things in this letter that |
wonld have written to these or any other men
engaged in such an occupation, but I do not
believe wrote this letter.
A vote was then taken, resulting in favor of
follows: 80
Your note of even date just received Meth.
er MI Hayes, myself or other gentlemen with
me shall forget the obligations under which
you will have placed us if You stand firm in
the position you are taking. From long con-
versation with Mr.. Hayes L am justified in as
suring you that you will be provided for az
soon after the 4th of March as is possible, and
in case you are compelled to leave the state that
will not materially interfere.
Anderson then said that when he came to
Washington he applied to Secretary Sherm an
for position and the Secretary informed him
that he had no position for him in his depsrt-
ment. Soon after he left the city and went to
see Stanley Matthews and explained the whole
case to him Matthews asked witness what
position he wanted and he replied nothing iu
particular. Whereupon Matthews advised him
to proceed to New Orleans and if possible se-
cnre the original written promise of Secretary
Sherman guaranteeing that Weber and HIM
self be provided for. He succeeded in obtains
ing the copy and forwarded it to Matthews.
Witness saw Gen. Harlan and explained mat
ters to him, and Harlan said he (Anderson)
had been badly treated and when he (Harau)
reached Washington he would sac that he was
provided for. Witness, at Gen. I'll arlan's re-
quest, furnished copies of the documents men,
toned, and Harlan promised to secure witness
consulship at Tientsing, and that was the last
he heard of either Harlan or the papers,
A letter from Stanley Matthews to Anderson
with the Secretary of State he had ascertained
the consulship at Callao could not be obtained
and another letter requesting witness to keep
Matthews advised, to have no fear but he be
provided for soon. Matthews, witness stated,
gave him letter and requested him to take il
to Washington and deliver it to the President
The latter on witness arrival, informed him be
had heard nothing from Matthew'S Witness
thereupon told the President that Matthews
had said if there should be any trouble about
his appointment. to have an interview with
him and explain matters generally. This,
witness says he endeavored to do but soon as
he mentioned the result of the election in his
parish EAST Feliciana) as being cheat. The
President excused himself for that day. Wit
ness had four or five interviews with the Presi-
dent. No third person was present except the
Presidents son at the interview when was told
the Pretident about the result of the election in
louisiana.
. In reply to Mr.. Cox, witness stated he did
not preserve the original envelope which con-
tanned the papers presented by him today 1t
ives addressed in Webber's handwriting to HIM
self (Webt 3r) or witness.
Witness next identified letter written by
him for publication in the New York Sun over
the initials 'W. B. f." enclosing the various
papers above referred to-
General Butler then commenced cross.
examination OF the witness, and asked him
numerous questions concerning his various
conversations with Webber's widow, and also
in regard to the manner in which he and Web
Der prepared the rough draft of their letter to
Sherman on tue night of Nov. 10Th.
WASHINGTON, May flames E. Anderson
the witness before the Potter Investigating
committC yesterday, in explanation of some Of
the correspondence submitted, related the in.
terview he had with the President and Stanley
Matthews. He had been offered the consulate
to Funchal and defined. He went to the Presi-
dent and the following is his account of the in
terview:
The President said he had received letter
from Matthews requesting him to give me a
place, and he said at the same time lie did not
see exactly what he could do. said, 'Mr.
President, appreciate the difficulties under
which you are laboring; 1 know if you give me
excite the attention of the country and will
cause unfav0rable comment will make a
suggestion, which, if you will adopt, will re-
lieve you and everybody else of all trouble in
the matter If you will appoint such man as
shall designate to one of the New Orleans ap-
praiserships now held by Riuggold, who has no
political backing except ex-senator West, L
will withdraw all my claims on your admins
tration.' The President pondered over the mat.
ter few minutes and asked me when [ was
going to return to New Orleans. told him L
did not intend to return 10 New Orleans unless
L had some definite promise made that
should ba provided for. Then he said, "you 90
back home and wrt3 me this proposition which
you have made and sead it to me under cover
of Mr.. Guston, one of my private secretaries, 50
that shall be sure to review it, and will at
tend to it." The next day 1 wrote to Mat
thews 1 thought the matter over and wrote
him and told him that in my telegram l did
not mean to threaten him, because 1 thought
he was doing what he could for me, but that
they had worried me so in Washington, and
that thought it was about time something
should be done one way or the other. went
to Cincinnati on my road to New Orleans and
stopped over there aud saw Matthews. He told
me to 60 back to Washington aud he would
follow me that night L came back, aud we
both arrived here Sunday evening the 10th of
June. L saw him three days after nv arrival
and asked him what had been done. He told
me he had not seen the President, but he would
see him that night.
On Wednesday l called at his room at the
Ebbitt House and he told me to call on Mr..
assistant secretary of the Treasury.
went to the Treasury Department and found
Mccormick was out of town and would not
return tor ten days. l returned to Mr.. Mat
,hews' room and he wrote for me note ad-
iressed to Gen. Smith, appointment clerk.
Mr.. Smith said he would take me over to the
White House, and Mr. Smith had an interview
With Mr.. Hayes, at which was not present.
He came out and said the President had in
'tructed him to give me some satisfactory posi-
ion on political consideration. He took me