New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-29
NO PROOF AGAINST MR.. MOVES.


POSITION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRtBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-Only one thing remains
for the Potter Committee to do, in order to extrcate
itself and the House of Representatives from most
embarrassing position.
Its no longer a secret that Speaker Randall for
long time refused to permit the Potter resolution to
be presented as question of privilege, and that I'M
portant notifications in the preamble bad TO be
made in order to overcome his conscientious
scruples. Among the amendments devised for TINS
purpose was the auaignment of Secretary sherman
and Minister NOyes. Ii was not the original inten-
ton Of those who drew the resolution TO make any
direct accusation against these or any other proml-
nent public men, but they were forced TO do It or
give up all idea Of having an investigation at all
during that session OF Congress. Strangely enough
the Democrats did hot seem TO anticipate that Sec
rotary Sherman and General Noyes would have any
objections to public Indictment OF this kind and
one of the principal surprises of the investigation
has been the persistence with which both OF these
gentlemen have demanded a complete and thorough
iuyesipa ion OF their connection with the counting
of tine votes in Louisiana and Florida. and the sense
Of outrage which they feel at having been ar
rllgucd by the House OF Representatives. without
sufficient proof TO sustain the accusations made
against them.
The committee is now placed in a position where
IT. has no choice Iu determining what 10 snail do IN
General Noyc7's case When one private citizen
ISLANDERS another the only way IN winch rrpaTatlon
can Dee made j, by correcting the false report III as
pubIIc a manner a. jhc original accusation, were
made. The Potter Committee by the testimony 10
has taken to-day and that which It's subcommittee
obtained M iorIda, has proved beyond all question
that Minister Noyes had no di-honorabe connection
tf-. y-,.t.s in lac :
not coguzaut of any frauds; that he did not adj
wise or consent 10 the perpretraton of frauds and
that hc did not promise TO reward any one for ia.-I-
Iying the vote Of that state The Potter Commit
tee will therefore, De Obliged to pass resolution
declaring that Minister Noycs has been fully ynd-
Gated aud to secure the adoption OF that resolution
b. tho House Of Representative soon as Congress
rcconycucs. Any other course leaves that commit
tee and the great party which the majority OF It
represents m the position Of having willully SIAN
dcycd a high public official
Nor is4he committee likely 10 succeed any better
with the Florida case leaving out General Noycs's
relations to IT, than it has done with the Louisiana
inquiry The testimony Of Mr. Dennis IN regard to
the addition of Republican votes after the close
of the polls in Archer precinct No. 2, Of
Alachua County does not disclose any new fraud IL
has long been known aud admitted that 2l9 votes
were added 10 the pO-list in this precinct by
Dennis or at least in his house on the night after
the election But It has also been shown that these
votes were added simply to counterbalance greater
frauds in stuiiing the ballot-box, which had been
perpctrated by the Democrats during the day.
I'm the Investigation which grew out OF the con-
tested election case Of Finley against Bisbcc, the
former offered to call rs witnesses those who voted
AT Archer precinct No. ., of Alachua County,
and TO prove that frauds had been committed by
tLe ID, ocrsts during the day of the election which
were not fully cOuntcrba!anced by the adIitioh OF
votes hv the Republican callYaSscrS. ms the
Democrats refused 10 do, pretcrring TO rest their
case ON the count 10 stood rather than To run the
risk which would be attendant on such an Inqu ~
M honest Republican will defend Mr.. Dennis
or the Republican officials who are guilty
of this technical fraud. What they ought
tn have done was To obtain the proof
If fine Democratic frauds, and make that
n basis for correcting or rejecting the returns. AZ
the same time, the Democrats VIII make very niue
capital ont of this ease when the people understand
that whatever the Republicans did, tue result OF the
election i'm that precinct as returned by the oihcefS
was no more favorable to the Republicans than IL
would have been If the Democrats had not stuIeu
fine ballot-boX and the Republicans had not subse-
uurptlv added names to the pOll.llst.
But fhe Democrats have utterly iailed 10 connect
Governor Moves IN any way With the Alachua Ouuty
itrrvuIlritIcs. Dennis never informed nun OF ihth
and while he did advise that he should not ne called
"A "A witness IL was understood ny All ne htpupll-
ems that ne feared that his life would be tnken II
Le should testify. He had frequently been threat
cncd and IN a church he had placed Dand OF negro
followers under oath to ayengc ms death II he
should fall.
Mir Noyes's statement was confirmed by the ties,
tinony of General Lew Wallace, Acknowledgement
Little, OF Ohio, aud Governor ste"rns, Oh floilua'