Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-05
Senator Matthews {. C.,ntradtcts Ander.


,SvESTIGATION.
tn the Senate today, Mr.. Matthews arose
and said:
Mr. President, l rise to a personal eXplana-
ton and question of privilege. feel that 1
owe duty to myself, as we'll as to the Senate,
which, however unpleasant, / cannot in justice
to either further postpone or omit
The newspapers, published here and else
where. contain reports of statements made
under oath, in another place, in reference to
myself, which are calculated to reflect upon
my character and standing as member of
this honorable body. These statements appear
to be designed to establish
FIRST. Ihat i was in some way connected,
oy pafllcipatlon or encouragement, in the
Dental election in IS76 in Louisiana, at or
about the time of the canvass and return
thereof.
Second. That was party OF privy to promi-
ses OF protection and reward to officers
charged with duties in connection with that
election and the returns thereof, made in con-
Slderatl0n OF frauds and perjurieS, committed
or to be committed by them in reference there
Third. That having subsequent knowledge
OF such frauds, and OF such promises for the
purpose of cOnceaing the former by assisting
in the execution of the latter, l used my per-
sOnal and official influence to procure for
James L. Anderson official employment in
the executive department of the government,
To each of these accusations, whether ex-
pressed or implied, reply by an emphatic de-
nial.
deny that | was connected. in any way, by
participation or encouragement, by knOWl-
edge, consent or cOnnivance with any frauds,
real or pretended in the Louisiana election.
l deny that | was party or privy to any
promises OF protection or reward to any one,
in consideration of the commission by them of
any frauds, real OF pretended, in that election.
! deny that | made efforts to procure an
official appointment for Mr. Anderson, with the
knowledge or belief on my part that he or any
one else had been guilty of any fraud in cOnrec-
tion with that election, or in fulfillment of any
promise of reward that that had been made
to him on that OF Oh any other consideration
whatever.
On the contrary, assert upon my honor as a
upon MY oath that do not know and never
have believed that any such frauds were in
fact ever committed.
That do not know that any promise was
ever made TO Anderson or any one else in con-
Slderatl0n OF fraudulent services in connection
with the Presidential election. Anderson, in
my little intercourse with him, all of which has
taken place since March 1, 1871 never asserted,
expressed or by any inuendo, that Mr.. Sher-
man or any one else, had ever promised him
Office or anything else, either for doing wrong
or right, and never asked anything from me or
through me by virtue OF any such promise.
On the contrary, Anderson expressly and pa ss-
lODately appealed to me on the sole ground
that he had rendered honest, honorable, law
full and efficient service to the republican cause
in Louisiana at the sacrifice of time and
money, and peril to his life; and that he had
for that cause Incurred Odium and hostility
from political opponents.
The only wrong l understand or believe him
to be guilty of was in having previously un,
truly pretended that he had been guilty of the
That wrong / had no information of until
after his appeal to me for my aid, had been
responded TO by an offer of my good will in
his behalf His disclosure OF it with the de-
livery of the false documents which consti-
tuted 1t, supposed was intended by him and
was regarded by me as the atonement for and
undong of it,. Upon that footing only re-
ceived them; it never for moment occurring
to me that the possession of them by me,
could be miscOnStrued into an offence and
believing that the only use which their publ
cation could serve would be to propagate a
mlSchleVOuS and SpandaOuS faSehOOd.
The only error II there be one, of which /
am conscious, is in having recommended to
office a person who had meditated or pro
posed wrong, but had, as it appeared to me,
Withdrawn from performing it.
But as there seems to be an attempt to
magnify 1t with one link in what is alleged to
have constituted conspiracy against imDor-
tant public, rights, and as the coloring tnus
sought to be, given my conduct affects my
standing and character in this honorable
body, consider it matter of privilege that
the Senate should inquire into the subject as
affecting it not less than myself.
have the honor accordingly to submit the
| following resolution:
ReSO' ued, That a select committee of seven
senators be appointed to inquire into and con
slider al things touching the matters stated
and referred to by the Senator from Ohio, (Mr.
Matthews,) and the events connected there.
with; and particularly what connection, il
any, that Senator had with any real or pre-.
tended frauds or other wrsng committed in
| the conduct and returns of the election in the
| state OF Louisiana in 1876, and with any prom
ises of protection or reward, if any, made by
| any one to one James E. Anderson, or others
| in consideration of, or connection with, any
O1nclal conduct by said Anderson or others in
| relation to said election or the returns there
| Of and into all the circumstances of any rec
ommendatiOn by the said Senator of the said
that the said committee have power to send foI
persons and papers, to employ a clerk and
stenOgrapher, and have leave to sit during the
recess.
The resolution was adopted.