New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-21

by General Butler His answers were given in slow
and Tone documents being referred to when
great accuracy required in the case Of state
concerning the votes in the different parishes OF
! the dates Of events or letters.
General ButlerMr. Burke, what political position did
you hold In New-oreans during the campaign OF 1871
Al was chairman OF the Democratic State Commit
tee.
Gas sach chairman the details Of the cam
pagn substantially put into your handsi A-They
Q.-How early did you know what the result OF the
election as President and Governor of louisiana,
would be- Al think ABOUT the 18th of November.
Q.-The returns all in theni A.-The returns
we're all in with the exception OF parish the Parish
OF St. Martin.
GLOW large a vote has that parishi A.-AbOut
1000
Q-When the returns came in and certified by the
returning officers what the majority Of the highest
Tildon eleotor over the lowest Hayes elector Arhe
vote cast for the highest Tden eector counting the Par
ish Of St. Martins, which subsequently received was
$3.50 The vote east for the lowest Hayes eecor was
75,24O, making difference OF s.619.
OWN you give me the vote for Nichols, the DemO-
cratic candidate for Governor and the vote for Packard
the Republican candidate for GOyernOrf A-The high
est majority for Nichols.
Q-HOw much Al think there was one or two
thousand difference between the vote US between
Nichols and Packard and the vote as between the high
est Tilden eector and the lowest Hayes eector.
DIN order 10 elect either Packard Hayes there
must have been eight got rid Of by
somebody Ayes SIR; over eight thousand
Q-Packard, IN fact had thousands Of votes
more than Sthe lowest Hayes eectori Ale had.
There we're several parishes in which the three Hayes
electors not voted for.
Q.-sO that the Returning Board bad TO throw out
seven thousand votes to elect Packard from the votes OF
the returns and then foe the Hayes electors two
three thousand more A.-They did throw out about
ten thousand
Q.-I suppose you have no doubt in your mind, from
your knowledge Of affairs who carried the sEatei A
There is not the slightest doubt in my mind.
Q.-When did IL first come to your mind 30 as 70 be
factor upon which you based your actions, that
were going to lose the state Ave labOred under
that apprehension constantly, because had been
cheated out of the state in the two previous campaigns
Q.-By the same Returning Boardi AIN 1874 by
tho same Returning Board in 1872 by Returning
Board proceeding by the methods, but composed
OF other men.
Mr.. Potter-Actng under the same lawI A.-Under
the same law.
General Buter-Whicb was the Returning Board that
was commented upon by the Congressional Committee
of which Messrs Wheeler and Hoar were members
A. That was the Returning Board of 1874 and 1876
Q.-UpOn that basis you were fearful all the while
A.-All the time.
OIL suppose you were treasured when you learned
that the visiting statesman coming downi AOur
apprehensons increased by the discovery OF tel
grams that passing between prominent Repubh-
cans throughout the country and Kellogg and the Re-
publican managers IN Louisiana, which indicated right
clearly that il was the intention OF the Republican
party TO sustain those people whatever they might
These kilograms under observation. That first
increased apprehension, and certainly 10 was not
essened by the arrival of the visiting statesmen who
seemed to revive the Of the Republican leaders
Odd that courage continue A.-They never seemed
TO falter from that time.
n Ia 4 araf An 0f
the men Of Louisiana tbat the election Of Hayes OF
Elden would depend upon the result in Louisiana A
That in the latter part of November.
Q-Was that before the visiting statesmen camel
Alt
ODD you o report of a speech by Mr. Hayes,
the sth Of November, which made to q reporter in
which be said apparently giving up the result OF the
election he did much for himself but his
sOrTOw for the poor Degroesi Awe have read 1t
in the pu0lic prints.
Q.-Was that ever denied to your kuOwledgei Al
never heard il denied
Q,-Then tine cOlOred men In Louisiana were acting
under the impression that In Mr.. Hayes not
elected their situation was 20 be unendubef A.-Gen
eral can hardly speak for them.
AYTER THE MAKING or THE RETURNS.
Major Burke continued After the returns had been
ado in favor Of Packard and Hayes the Conservatives
organized and Nichols and the other State officers who
had been actually elected inaugurated, in she pres
enee OF some 10000 10000. We organized militia
at once; there more than 1000 on duty
probably 10000 could have been called out. We took
possession Of every vestge of authority In the city
espt the St. Louis Hotel where Packard After the
Inauguration Of Nichols sent to Washington to
represent the interests Of Conservatives remained
there from January 10 70 March T. 1877. My purpose
was to secure Administration OF General Grant
FIRST nOnnteryenton, and second, recognition All that
We ever asked Was simple withdrawal OF the troops
we felt that, though able to establish our gov
eminent by force we had the moral sentiment Of the
people with We never contemplated collision with
the Federal troops; would have made almost any
sacrifice to avoid IL but must say frankly that our
people determined Ia defend our State Government
against any In view Of the fact that had been
cheated Of our election twice before, and that had
seen our substance wasted, determined 10 force
a military government rather than to submit 70 the
Packard government President Grant modified his
views
General Buer-I don't care anything about his views
Modifying mans views thing, and modifying his
actions is another.
Major Burke-well General Grant modified his
lions after got 60 Washington.
General Butler--I want You to conhne your answers
to what President Grant actually did not 20 tell what
any thought. Show any order he actually made,
and which was known TO the public after you got to
Washington and told him Of the deermipatiOn of the
Louisiana Democrats to defend themselves.
Witness-You put in the false position Of having
threatened President Grant
General Butler-You told him that you were going 10
defend yourselves against the Packard government ct
all costs.
witness-we come to the order OF March 2, which
issued between IL a. m. and .. M have seen 1t
stated that Governor Hayes called President Grant
about ii a. m. Of that same day.
General DutlerThen what all Louisiana had failed to
accomplish IN many days. Mr.. Hayes accomplished In
an bouri Ave bad had the from President
Grant that 1t should be done the count
completed. The count was completed on the 1st The
telegram which Grant told should be sent