The daily gazette., 1878-05-22
SECOND EDITION
FROM WASHINGTON.
Sherman and the
Electoral Frauds.
lie DENIES THE CHARGES AGAINST
HIMSELF AND DEMANDS LEGAL RE-
PRESENTATION BEFORE THE
COMMIT rEE-wILD TALK OF
n N q IL
V l o L K N G K .

FERMENTATION BEFORE THE
CoMMITrEE-wILDT TALK OF
yIoLEN ICE.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-Secretary
Sherman has written a letter to MI.
Potter, the chairman of the investigation
committee, which Messrs. Shellabarger
and Wilson, the council he has employed
TO defend him, have taken great pains &c
make public III advance OF It's delivery to
the gentleman to whom it is addressed.
Up TO 8 O'Clock this afternoon Mr.. Pot
ter had not received the letter, although
last night the counsel Of Mr.. Sherman
were retailing its contents to all who
would listen TO them. A member of
the investigation committee said to-day
that Mr.. Sherman was impudent and
audacious in addressing such letter TO
the committee, and particularly before
the committee had been organized and
he had any official knowledge of It's ex-
isttnce. Mr.. Sherman will have an
abundant opportunity in due time TO ex-
plain his eutire connection with the Lou
isiana frauds, and it would probably be
| Just as well for him to keep quiet in the
meantime. There is the best of reason
| for the belief that the bravado air which
he has put OH is assumed, and that he is
| very far from being as easy in his mind
as be would have people believe. Some
| of the reasons for this belief cannot now
be stated without violation Of con-
fidence, but the public fact that he has
at this early stage of the business made
haste to engage counsel shows that he
| ackno wledges that there are some things
| in his ac!ion in Louisiana which wi
need TO be defended. The few repub-
licans here who are really devoted 10 The
personal fortunes of Mr.. Hayes acd of
his a I'm nistraton hava been mag
| lug themselves rather ridiculous to-day
by declaring that the whole republican
party will resist with violence any
move to displace Mr.. Hayes, no matter
what disclosures of crimes ana fraud
may result from the investigation. Sec
retary Sherman's letter is as follows:
| May 20, 1878-Hon. Clarkson N. r OF
ter. Chairman, &c-Sir: 1 observe that
the resolution of the House under which
your committee is organized singles me
out personally, by name, from among
twenty or more gentlemen who were
present at the request of President Grant
OR the chairman of the democratic
national committee to attend and witness
the action of the returning board upon
the presidential election returns in the
State Of Louisiana in 1876, and in sub
stance charges that at that election in
East Feliciana Parish and In part in
West Feliciana Parish, in Louisiana, the
Republican vote was withheld, and not
cast in pursuance and execution of a
conspiracy by such voters; that In furth-
erence of such conspiracy james E. An
Idsrson, supervisor of registration in East
Feliciana, and d. A. Weber, supervisor
or registration In West Foliciana, falsely
protested that said election in such par
fishes had not been free and fair, and that
lthereupon the returning board of said
State falsely and fraudulently excluded
the votes of said precincts, and "by
means thereof, and of other false and
fraudulent action of said returning board,
the choice of the people of the State was
annulled and reversed, and that such ac-
ton by the said Weber and Anderson
was induced or encouraged by the assur-
ances of Hon. John Sherman, now Sec
lretary of the Treasury"
This resolution requires you to investI-
gate three allegations, and upon the
truth of these depends ,the accusation
against me, viz:
First. That there was conspiracy
among the voters to withhold and not
false charge as to the election.
Second. That in point of fact there
was free and fair election in East and
West Feliciana which was falsely pro-
tested aud returned by said Anderson
and Weber, by which the vote of those
parishes were falsely and fraudulently
excluded by the returning board.
Third That the offense of Anderson
and Weber was encouraged by assur-
ances from me.
With the view, therefore, to meet this
accusation, which SO far az 1t effects mo,
declare and know to be absolutely des-
titute of even the shadow of truth. l re-
lspectfully ask and now make formal ap-
plication for leave to be represented be-
fore your committee by counsel in the
Investigation of all charges affecting my
Iself personally. l tender and offer to
prove that, In point of fact, the election
lin East and West Feliciana parishes
was governed and controlled by force,
I violence and intimidation OF all who be
came conversant with it, aud that proof
was submitted to that effect not ouly be
fore the returning board, in evidence
contained in executive document No. 9,
second session Forty fourth Congress,
but also IN the testimony taken by the
committee of the Senate on privileges
and elecuons, report No. 70l, second ses-
sion, Forty Congress-.
l will if allowed furnish the names of
witness whom desire TO examine before
you to prove the truth of this statement
as TO said parishes and that the protests
referred to were true supported by tes-
timony and properly acted upon and sus-
tanned by the reLurulng board. To my
personal conductsdHring this examination
invite your fair and candid scrutiny,
with entire confd-noe that not only my
self but nay associates OF both political
parties acted honestly and properly from
a sense of public duty. have requested
Hon Samuel Shellabarger To deliver this
to YOU and l respectfully designate him
as the gentleman 1 would desire Oh my
part TO be present to cross-cxamtne viii
nesses testityiDg IN relation to charges
against me, and who will, as my counsel
tender evidence in proof of this state
ment. The favor OF an early answer is
requested .., ~ -