Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-22
The Potter Committee.
MAJOR BuRkE's TESTIMONY CON.
TINUED.

New YORK, August 81. The Potter committee
resumed this forenoon. Major Burke testified by
mutual agreement.
Friends were to visit Grant with view to as
certalning what his views on the question Of The
establishment of the Nichols government were
but there nothing ssid, so far Is | am con
cerned, about any commission. was assured by
Hayes and others that all of the troops would b.
Withdrawn.
Witness read from paper a statement that
the re ktler from Hayes to Foster, uDdel
date of February 23d containing the basis of The
guarantees assurance. Verbal guarantees were
given to Sherman, Matthews, Foster, Dennisou
and Garfield both at interv Jews held in the CON.
NJ ittee room OF the senate, aud at Wormey's no
tel. Thi. letter embraced all the guarantees snd
assurances we had. acted rs messenger myself
| gave the copy intended for Stanley Matthew US to
Sherman whom | met on the Stairs leading TO the
finance committees room. never stated | re
ceived any letters of guarantees or assurances
from sherman or others.
At the conference Burke said that to his know
ledge there was no note or memorandum in writ
ing. He met Foster subsequently at his room
but there was nothing of the conversation com.
mitted to writing.
There was no understanding between yourself
Garfield, sherman Foster and Matthews that you
| aud other gentlemen on the other side should re-
duce any pl opposition made to writing
Witness replied he was confident that the sub
ject was under discussion at the time but not re.
duced TO writing.
Q-You asked to whom you would hand over
the documents and Governor Nichols designated
Penn of Pennsylvania. What were those docu-
mentsi
A-Tbose have already repeatedly described
There were also briefs as to what we thought OF
the supreme court. There were memorials from
several parties, and other documents well that
cannot minutely describe. supplied the asso-
lated press with full synopsis Of the matter on
February q h.
Butler read the statement referred to by piece
meal and questioned the witness to its tiuthtul-
ness and algeness of scope as well as frankness.
Al did not say it WAS full, l said it contained
10 substance what 1t meant
Q-Why did you leave out "fllbusterng" was
not that important part
A-rhe words "full'' and "franR' are your
own.
Hi.cock-The motive for this man leaving out
the filbustering item il immaterisl.
Butler (hotl,)-l say it is not and | intend to
prove it.
Witness then said that they had agreed to do
all they could to stop filhbu,teripg.
Butler said he was DESTROYS of knowing why the
witness had failed to incorporate the hilibustering
paragraph in hi. desI atch 10 the associated press
| 1t Was the most important part OF the statemen Mt
and yet it was omitted. Now | want TO know the
| object for which this omission WAS made, and
all have it.
Burke then sail he was acting as only an au.
thorzed agent OF the Nichols government to
whom he made his reports. The approval of his
state government and the people of his state was
sufficient for him.
Butler said 1t was plain to him that all papers in
the Wormley hotel conference could not possible
he all on one side, and lie WAS determined 10 take
advantage Of the broadcast hne. The original
question on hlhbustering was repeated.
Burke replied, My reason for its omission was
probably IRON prudential motives, and that one
of tue members from Louisiana should state our
views on the floor of the house. 1t was our de-
sire that the substance OF what we expected should
he before he country and understood hy the
country at the time, in order to guard against any
violation OF the assurance gwen, and IN order that
If they were violated and evil eff, cts followed in
Louisiana our action would be justified by the
country.
Butler then handed the witness book aud ak
ed h i'm if the statcme ut contained therein was the
| one made by Mr.. Levy on the floor Of the house
Alt was.
Q-Was it known 10y the democratic side of the
house that an agreement hs d been msde to stop
fiilibustering.
Alt was subsi antis'iy stated to them that the
sooner the count was pei IN ted to proceed in La.
the sooner The troops could be withdrawn ard
necessary arrangements completed or the fourth
of March believe the count would have been
completed even if this arrangement had not been
ade fl om the fact that the members of congress
who favored the ii liOustering side did so on the
repi esentations of Louisiana that thereby we
could get guaertees which would save our state
government. Mahv Of them showed letters and
kilograms fiom their constituents, condemnng
the dilatory ton and that DELAY counting the
votes b, lore the 4th Of March would be highly
detrimental to the counting at large. When the
closing dsy came we ali agreed, Then telegraph
ed Nichols that despite all oul previous arrange
| ments the count would have gone on.