The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-08-22
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.

The Potter Investigating Committee re-
sumed its session at New York on the 18th.
The Chairman reported that Stanley
Matthews had been again summoned to ap-
pear before the Committee, but had again
refused to present himself for examination.
Gen. Butler moved the facts be entered upon
the minutes and reported to the House. Two
of the Committee being absent no vote was
taken, and the Committee adjourned.
VIM. H. Roberts, editor Of the New Or
leans Times, was examined on the 18th. After
the election and prior to the meeting of the
Returning Board, he was selected by num-
Der of louisiana Democrats to go to Ohio,
see Gov Hayes, and ascertain his views and
what policy he would adopt in the event of
his election to the Presidency. Witness bore
a scaled letter from Murat Halstead, the
contents of which he did not know. His in
terview with Hayes was of an exceedingly
pleasant character, and he learned that the
Governor entertained a most friendly feeling
toward the South. The witness told him the
state must be saved at all hazards to the
Democrats, and that whatever they threw
over would in that respect be of least value
to them. He also told the Governor that they
could establish or show vote of $1,000. Gov.
Hayes told the witness that he had
less he were counted in fairly. He
spoken very kindly and courteously of the
South. The witness detailed at length con-
versations he had had at various times be-
fore the matter was definitely settled with
Mr.. Lamar and Others The witness said
from conversations with various Republican
leaders he understood if Louisiana and
South Carolina were counted for Hayes
the Governments OF those States would
be given to the Democrats. They proceed
ed on this assurance and the assurances
were carried out. Gen. Butler observed such
assurances seemed to be of much the same
natu!e as bargain. Witness replied that
Mr.. Hayes made no pledge of any kind, and
the witness was left to infer what his words
meant. Gen. Butler tried to show they i'm
piled bargain. The witness admitted that
when relating his talk with Mr.. Hayes to his
friends lie accompanied the information with
the statement that he understood Louisiana
was to be saved.
Col. Roberts's testimony was continued
on the 18th. He explained that his visit to
Gov Hayes was made without consultation
with the O-called visiting statesmen. The
Democrats considered that they had carried
the State fairly, but were apprehensive that
they would be counted out by the Returning
Board; it was therefore determined to as
certain precisely what course Hayes would
pursue should he become President. Wit
ness understood Hayes to mean by "fainess
and iustness," that the Returning Board
should not be allowed to count in the defeat
ed Republican State officers; thought that
the Returning Board would not dare to do so
without the moral support of the visiting
statesmen; understood that the military
would be withdrawn after the 4th of March
and the Nichols Government would then
take possession; received assurances of this
subsequently from Messrs. Matthews Foster,
Garfield, Dennison, and, he thought,
Evarts. The McVeigh Commission was
sent down, as he understood it, for
the purpose of inducing the Packard
Government quietly to yield to Nicholas it
was well understood that they (the Commits
siOn) were acting under official instructions
from the President. .....A letter from 2. B.
Darrall to James E. Anderson, dated May r.
1878, was identified by Anderson. The writer
speaks of Anderson's letters and evidence |
duplicating Sherman, Matthews and Harlan |
as valuable, and tells him not to spare Them |
as, excepting Matthews, they are all unmit-
igated scoundrels," etc.
The examination of John A. Leete was |
continued on the 10th, but no new facts were |
developed. Some correspondence passing |
between Leete and Gov. Kellogg was read, /
the intimate personal and political |
relations existing between them. The com
mittee adjourned till Monday.
The Potter Committee, ON the 18th, re- |
ceived telegram from Gov. Kellogg, deny |
ing several statements made by Leete, a for |
mer witness, who testified that he U4eete) |
had been in the confidence of the leading |
Republicans of Louisiana. The Committee |
an insane asylum, there being no doubt as to |
his insanity. 1t was stated that his wife and |
children were sick with fever in New Or |
leans, and this, coupled with the excitement
)f teSufyiDg, is supposed to have caused q
arrangement of mind. Gen. Buffers resolu-
lion, to report Stanley Matthe VS. to the House |
Tor contempt, was adopted. There being no
other witnesses present, the Committee adj
burned