American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-08-03
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings of the Potter Committee

Proceedings of the Potter Committee.
The Committee reassembled, pursuant to
adjournment, at Atlantic City, n. j.. on the
sd. Present, Represe natives Potter, Butler,
Hiscock and Springer, and Mr.. Shellabarger
OF Counsel - Representative Danford tes-
titled he was a member of the Morrison Com
met Jas. K. Anderson, who told him a good
many bulldozing stories about his parish
(East Felicianal. Anderson also told him he
going Democratic, the coIored vote being
largely on that side. his purpose being to get
tho Democrats to offer him money as a bribe
so that he might expose them.
Representative Kelley, of Pennsylvania,
testified on the eth that he went to New Or
leans to witness the counting of the vote at
the request of President Grant. Never heard
any suggestion to manipulate the returns.
nor that the Returning Board was influenced
by the visiting statesmen to open the returns !;
believed in the evidence OF Eliza Pinkston
and others as to intimidation; believed there
an honest majority for Hayes. .Cort-
land T. Parker, of New Jersey. also
President Grant. His evidence agreed
with that of Mr.. Kelley. Representative
President Grant. He was in company with
senator Sherman nearly every day, and did
not believe he ever wrote the letter attributed
ard and Hayes were elected. Elk Con-
gressman J; Hale sypher. of Louisiana. tes-
garding certain promises which had been
made him, as he said, by some of the visiting
statesmen; MENTIONING particularly sherman
handed him letter, which he read,
he could not remember the text Of the letter
precisely, but belived it was the same as the
published letter offered in evidence; did not
had no reason TO suppose it to be a forgery
the letter was written on note paper.
Secretary Sherman was examined at
length before the Committee on the 25th He
gave detailed account of the visit of the
Northern Republicans to New Orleans to wit
which he testified were fairly conducted, so
far as he was able to determine. and without
the slightest collision on the part of the Re-
publican visitors. In regard to Anderson's
testimony as to interviews between Sherman
Weber and himself (Anderson), witness said
he had an fndistinct recollection of Anderson
and Weber coming into n restaurant where
engaging In some inconsequential
conversation, which he affirmed was in no
respect such as stated by Anderson I'm his
testimony; did not think he ever saw either
OF them before, and was positive he never
had any such conversation as was imputed to
him by Anderson. Being shown the letter al :.
legged to have been written by him to Ander
son ana weber. witness most emphatically
previously stated on several occasions there
were some things in the letter that he would
have written had he been requested to do So
rs ne nad freely expressed his opinion that all
Republicans in Louisiana who stood by their
guns deserved credit. Witness further en-
the evidence given by f. l.. Weber, Captain
jerks and Mrs jerks, SO far as 1t represent
ed him as being cogniZant of any scheme to
manipulate the vote of Louisiana or to re-
ward others for doing Gen. Butler ques-
toned witness regarding the recent appoint
Inents to office of Louis j. Sauer, Henry c.
Clark, and Badger, Postmaster at New Or
leans, his intention being, as he said, to
show that these men were adherents
OF Senator Kellogg, and appoint.
ed upon his accommodation. Mr.
sherman refused to relate any conversations
which had occurred between him and the
President regarding these appointments, but
said he would give the exact facts when the
committee returned to Washington. a letter
from senator sherman to Gov. HAYES was
submitted 1t Is dated New Orleans Nov
%, 1876. The writer gives full account of the
progress OF the canvass of the vote
speaks OF the serious blunder OF omit
ting the names of all but two
Electors from the Republican tickets in two
parishes, the result of which leaves the poll
in ono district 40 close az to render IL proba-
BILE TINT onn ore of the Tilden Electors
VIII nave -. The letter says. eve
are no" 'iInony to the bull