Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-24
The Potter Committee.
THE TOPIC OF INTEREST IN THE
COMMITTEE.

commencement of proceedings by the Potter com
mittee was whether Governor Young would an
swer the telegram sent him yesterday aud take
the seal Of secrecy off the lips of w K. Horn tue
last witness of yesterday.
Horn refused to answer nearly every question
yesterday, on the ground that he was q lawyer
and acted in professional capacity and that con.
sequently all conversations aud communication
were private.
1t was the purpose of Hiscock to show that
Horn was not retained, got no fee or considera-
ton and therefore he could not screen himsel II
under professional service plea.
At the opening, Horn took the stand. Potter
then said he had sent despatch IS had also His
cock to Gov Young, but he (Potter) had received
NO reply.
Horn said, 81 wish to say that had no inten-
ton to answer the subpoena of the COMM ttee.
When appearing | called on General Butler as q
lawyer, with Mr.. Chandle, and showed him that
was lawyer, aud such he felt bound to re spect
my position. On such consideration l took the
witness stand. Three statements made by Burke
l now sfhrm To be true. At future date | vii
submit 10 the committee. l sent numberless tele-
grams to Governor Young from Washington about
that time, and 1t Is said they were shown to the
President. | supplied the facts which appeared
IN the OHIO State Journal already referred to.
now cay that do not regard myself As the legal
adviser or attorney for Governor Young. | am
ready, as soon as can get my kilograms and let
tiers. to lay them before the committee at future
time.
Q-Thcn you are not now ready to testify
A-No, sir.
Witness said he still held Office under govern
men', IN the surgeon generals office.
Q-lhen you now say you say do not regard
yourself 10 the light of counsel for Gov. Youn
and do not use any professional privilege in that
respects
Ayes, sir; but when have received no mon
ey IN hand, aud have discharged all my oblga
tons, recognize my right to discharge myself
FROM all obligations against testfying except
where strictly private ommunication rested.
Major Burke then took the stand, and in answer
TO question by Butler, said he considered the
Louisiana returning board entirely Illegal and all
Its acts consequently illegal.
Witness then read following telegram.
Washington, ID. c., March 20. 1877.
To Major Ed Burke:
Put Packard clearly in the wrong if outbreak
occurs. Rumors Of conflict tonight. Answer
Hayes firm.
(Sighed) W. E. HORNE.
The witness wanted to explain the telegra IN bu
Butler said 1t expsn ned itself.
Burke then read several kilograms from him
self to Representative Gibson of Louisiana. One
showed that all necessary reforms were being car
RED out by the Nichols government, expenses
were reduced and confidence restored Another
was asking that Psckard's request for troops
should not be complied with by the president.
Here Butler handed him the following letter
taken from the bundle submitted by hun.
Burke said the letter was privre one which he
did not intend to have submitted. However, he
would allow it to be read, but declined to give
the name Of the writer. The following is the let
ter:
House Of Representatives.
Dear Major:
| think there will be difficulty not only in the
formation of the cabinet, but 10 its first sessions
however formed. On the Louisiana question
sherman will make fight. He represents the
party and will look to his own supremacy and sue
cess in 1851. lie wants lsckiss around him, es-
pecially southern lackies in the cabinet, IN the
senate in the custom houses, oil Offices. lie will
break Hayes down. mean to tell Hayes so at
my next interview. He means that We snail trade.
HAYES has no such purpose. the country will
condemn the bal gain. 1t will down the men who
make it, espec tally if they get federal offices of
any kind for themselves. Taking Key instead of
Joe johnson shows that they want putty, and that
their southern policy is a sham. Sherman will
play "butf' with US, and bride and bully. | in
tend to stand clear and assume the offensive at
the opening OF congress. They have idea OF
UNFOLDING Packard none In the world, but they
will try to make some of our uninitiated believe
that they will as to build no their fears. | re-
peat that they will bully aud bride, threaten some
with Packard and bride others with office, aud
they will touch no man from the south with brains
aud power, real independent men. Hayes would
like to do so, but Sherman will prevent But they
will never get HAYES to recognize Packard
use the troops against. | hope Is soon you are
installed and get your office in order you will re-
Turn This is Il free letter and you show it to
the governor but no one else.
Yours sincerely,
Here some other letters of an unimportant char
acter were read Butler then questioned the wit
ness respecting the difference between the original
drafts OF the guarantees by the n Icholls govern
ment and the printed copy as published. la the
original draft the government guaranteed to sup
port the 18Th, 14ih aud 10Th amendments OF the
90 -tjf N the United State. and n he
shed guarantee it reads that all citizens snail be
accorded civil aud religious nights.
Burke--lt has been published and passed
BY both houses in Louisiana in April, think that
the 18th, l4th and 18Th amendments would be
supported.
Burke could not remember whether in the
copies OF the guarantees he gave to Stanley Mat
thews and Mr. sherman, severa! provisions as in
the published copy were embodied, but he beiiev-
ed the 18Th, l4lh and 10 Ia amendments were men
toned
Q-Now sr WAS the abandonment of the Pack.
ard government ever consented to by Senator
Mottoni
Al was assured positively by Stanley Mat
thews that Senator Morton would sustain the
Hayes government In Withdrawing troops from
Louisiana, thus virtually recognizing the Nichols
government. Senator Matthews told me that
Senator Morton would make speech on that sub
ject.
Here Butler read a report of the speech made
by Governor Morton when serenaded, in which
he foreshsdowed Hayes action toward the south.
Witness WAS then asked If his associates Mat
thews aud other, were able to rope in any other
republican statesmen.
lie replied that he understood Frye was willing
to be roped.
Odd you understand that Morton or any 9TH
er 1--we man outside OF Ohio ever said before the
4lh OF March that the Packard government would
be overthrowni
Al understood that every one Of them acquies-
ed AS it was well known and published that such
would be the presidents policy. Not one Of them
in house or senate raised their voices against.
Q-Where Is there a word about Overthrowng
the Packard government
Ave construed 1t that the withdrawal OF the
troops the overthrow of Packard's govern
ment, and so did every one else with any sense.
Odd you take any especial pains 10 keep out
OF your publications what would beial the Pack
ard government.
A-No sir. we felt no pains over it.
Q-(Butler very excitedly standing up)--Did
YOU not keep the matter secret As to what was to
DC done to Packards government?
Atm loud voice NO, sir. 1t was all pub
lished aud Mr.. Levy stated il on the floor of the
house.
Here Hscock read despatch which he had just
received from Governor Young OF Ohio rs fol-
lows
"As far as / am concerned Horne is at liberty to
testify all he knows. have no secrets to conceal
t, our correspondence OF kilograms.
Tuas l. YoriNC