The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-27
POTTER COMMITTEE.
SESSION AT ATLANTIC CITY-SYPHEF
AND MOREY ON THE STAND.
The Regulation Intimidation stOry-Vis-
tting statesmen - McVeIsh Commits
iOn-DissatisfacIi0n with Packard's
Nomination.

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j. July 26.--The COM
m ittee to-day continued the examination Of j..
H. Sypher, who testified that there was no
dissatisfaction with the national ticket, but
only with the State ticket. In Baton Rouge
there was sharp contest for political offices,
and the national ticket ran behind some 1000
votes. He believed that in the Feliciana dis
trict there was intimidation and terrorism.
Regarding the Sherman letter he said that
he had seen Sherman's signature in albums
and other papers, but was not prepared to
identify 1t. However, he thought he might do
so, If his memory was refreshed. At the time
he read the letter, eighteen months ago, 1t
made no impression on him.
III popular man had been nominated, the
Wing element would have been brought out
There certainly was intimidation as to the
colored. vote. Frank Morey, counsel Tor the
Republicans before the Returning Board,
testified as to the standing and honesty OF
the witnesses who were examined. There was
no istimidation or force used to get them to
tel anything but the truth:
TIN 1876 there was q presidential and guber-
material election, while in 1874 there was only
a congressional election. The vote OF 1876
exceeded that Of 1874 by several thousand
Think the majority increased In 1876. Don't
think the colored vote was polled, especially
in Feliciana. There was no division in the
Republican party, though there was luke
warrnness and general disgust at the candi-
dates. Witness believed that in these dis
tricts there was intimidation.
Mr.. Hiscock-Then you are Hayes sup
Mr. Svpher-No, sir; we liked Mr.. Wheeler
personally, but didn't like his compromise in
'72 when he sold US out
If a pOpUlar man had been nominated for
Governor he would have secured large white
vote. Witness was not largely In favor OF
ANYBODY; was against Mr.. Packard. A can
didate might have been nominated that
would have drawn out the old Wig element.
In his opinion the cOlOred voters OF the nom
intimidated parishes generally voted for Mr..
Packard. There was never any force uSed 10
get negroes to vote the Democratic ticket in
witness parish There were various ways !;
it was sometimes done as they do in New
York, by buying them.
Mr.. Frank MOrey sworn, said: have
lived in Louisiana fifteen years. L repre-
sented the fifth district in the Forty-secOnd,
Forty-third and Forty-fourth Congresses.
Was not candidate in 1876. CanvaSSed a
portion of my own and the third district,
making speeches for the Republicans. The
parishes lie on the river and communication
was by steamboat.
Prior to and during the last election was in
the parish of Madison. Know from reliable
information that the proposition to bulldoze
was discussed among the Democrats; SOme
under the leadership Of Gen Lukens, op-
posed it, and the opposition prevented it.
This resulted In an Increase OF a hundred or
two over the previous election in the vote
Was one of the counsel for the Republicans
before the Returning Board. The parishes
north of Red river were assigned to me. The
attention of the witness being called to evi-
dence of intimidation as appearing in the
printed evidence he said: saw Capt. Hale,
of the United States army, and talked to him
fully. No intimidation or force was used to
induce any witnesses to tell anything but the
truth. He also remembered Gen. McCauleY
and Ben James (cOlOred).
Heard of the PinkstOn case, OF course 1t
was after consultation with the visiting
statesmen that she was brought down; Her
affidavit was taken by Gen. Harry White
visiting statesman from PennsytlVd1nlad; w mia
her to tell an untruth. Witness opinion was
that she stated what she believed to be true.
When [ first saw her she was lying in an
ante-room and subject to fainting spells on
account of her wounds. She was afterwards
brought in and examined in the public room.
There was no one near her to influence her In
any way Her testimony made very profound
impression on several Democratic states
men.
/ was in Parlor P frequently, In cOnsulta-
ton with the Republican statesmen. Witness
work was done in the Custom House. The
work of supervision was divided among the
visiting statesmen. Was not present at any
formal conferences. Was on intimate terms
with resident Republicans at New Orleans
and was interested in the success OF the ticket
Saw Don Weber there; can't say how often
Saw James E. Anderson occasionally; ReGol-
lects hearing, in a general way, that Ander-
son was making some trouble OF some kind,
but heard nothing in reference to Weber IN
connection with that matter. Think, saw
Secretary sherman once or twice in the Col
lectors Office in the Custom-HOuse.
Being asked in regard to the assassination
of DR.. Dinkgrave, witness declined to tell
what he knew about it, assigning as reason
that the deceased was an intimate friend of
his, and he was working up the case He
would betray the confidence of others and de-
feat the ends of justice.
During the past two years, in the parish of
Ouachita and others, affairs were entirely in
the control of the Democratic party. There
has been no attempt to ferret out and punish
the perpetrators Of outrages. Never heard of
any convictions in any of the numerous cases
of outrage.
10 In. Potter Eliza Pinkston was carried