The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-08
The Fraud Committee.

The Potter Committee convened in New
York, July 20 and examined Ex-Governor
Palmer, of Illinois, Governor Palmer said
that on the 18th of November, 1876, he went
to New Orleans, and was Chairman Of the
Visiting Committee. After their organiza
ton he called IN Governor Kellogg. He
also called on Governor Wells, and had q
full and free conversation with him. He
urged the necessity for filing the vacancy
in the Returning Board. He talked to Gov.
Wells and Gen. Anderson, and impressed
upon them that civil war might How this
matter of Presidential election. Gov.
Wells professed to feel great dis.
of the Democratic party, and expr. ssed an
unwillingness to filling the vacancy in the
Returning Board. Anderson always ex-
pressed his desire to fill the vacancy, but
that he was unable to agree with other
members as to who should be selected. His
in the politics of louisiana. Witness found
that from the statements of some of the col
ored men many Of the parishes had been a
good deal disturbed. Their school money
had been used up, and Democratic
politicians had m de many promises to them
to vote the Democratic ticket. The Demo-
Gratis had made extraordinary efforts to cap
ture the colored vote. Gov. Nichols had
obtained the espect of the colored people
down there ~ re than any Governor he
knew of, and more than Gov. Packard. Wit
ness had conferences with Gen. Garfield, in
which he urged coalition of the two dele
cations, so as to lay the facts before the coun-
try. The plan of the board was to lay aside
all disputed points, and take up the undis-
puted ones. On the 28th of November,
witness asked the Board, when the returns
from any parish were pO led, that he be
given the result, but they would not do so
until they were completed. Witness asked
permission from Governor Wells to enter
the compiling room. Witness thought
some Republicans had access to that room
He thought he saw Mr.. Hale coming out of
there. He saw Eliza Pinkston when she
was brought int, the room by two men,
and her condition was certainly horrible.
l. was about the 7th of December when the
witness left Louisiana. He had heard Mr..
Ascher say that Judge Levissee stated the
election was fraud, and If he could have
500 600 he would give his vote to Tildeu.
1t the witness were asked if the election
in Louisiana was far, he would say not
The sense of the people there was that
Tilden and Nichols were elected. He had
heard of no prosecutions against the parties
charged with committing the Pipkston out
rage. He said to Governor Wells and
General Anderson that the Tilden Electors
were chosen, but they might, on fair con-
sideration Of the question, come to a
different conclusion-but that this conclu-
sion should be arrived at on evidence
that could be clearly put before the
public. Witness satisfied himself
as to the perpetration of the Pinkston
outrage by inquiries, and he supposed that
the political parties then, by taking the
same means of inquiry that he did, could
have satisfied themselves as to its perpetra-
tors. He told Governor Kellogg that if
those things happened in Illinois he wit
messy would bring the parties to punish
ment or he would leave the State. He be-
lieved that people would have been salts
fed with the Packard government if they
thought he had been fairly elected.
After few unimportant questions, Gov.
Palmer's testimony was closed, and the COM
mittee adjourned till the 18th of August,
unless sooner called together.