Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-14
70 H street northwest.
''To Hon. Stanley Matthew's

ITO Hon. Stanley Matthew's"
A large number of letters were produced
before the Committee, showing very IA
miliar correspondence between Matthews
and And erson, and that Matthews had
recommended him to many offices of trust
to which however he was not appointed.
An appointment was made out for him
once, as Consul, but it was revoked by
President Hayes, until further inquiries
into Mr.. Anderson's character can be in
stituted." After the reading of the letters
Senator Matthews was summoned before
the Committee, but he plead his privilege
az member Of the Senate, and declined
to come, saying committee of investiga
ton had already been appointed by tins
Senate, at his request, to investigate the
matter. His letter says:
am not officially informed of the sub
ject under investigation by your commit
tee in reference to which I am also, by its
resolution, invited to appear and ''answer
such questions as may seem pertinent y
but from the copy of the resolution of the
House OF Representatives, from which your
committee derives its existence and author
ity as reported in the Congressional Ere
cord,'' / learn that it is limited to an in
quiry into certain alleged frauds in cleo
lions in Florida and Louisiana. and the
connection Herewith of certain named gen.
tlemen, of whom ! am not mentioned as
one.
have no knowledge whatever of any
matter relating to this subject, except 80
far as it appears in the correspondence
with Anderson, which is in evidence be-
fore your committee, and as for the reason
already given | reserve that for explana-
ton before the committee ordered by the
Senate, it only remains for me to subscribe
myself, Respectfully,
STANLEY MATTHEWS.
Gen. Butler, Of the committee, said
Matthews had been furnished with ali
official copy of the evidence by the COM
mittee's clerk before it was published in
the papers, and insisted on subpoena be
ing issued for him. Senator Matthew'S
preference for the Senate investigating
committee may be explained by the fact
that of the seven Senators who are to in
vestigate him, two-Alllson of Iowa and
Ingalls, of Kanses-were the teflers on the
part of the Senate at the count of the cleo
toral votes in joint convention. Two 9th
ers-Edmunds of Vermont, the Chairman.
and Hoar of Massachusetts, were mem
bers of the Eight-to-Seven Commission.
THE LEADING REPUBLICAN JOURNAL
ON SECRETARY SHERMAN AND
OTHERS.
[Frona the N. Y I5naes.]
'sInjudicious Republicans imagine that
the bad character of the witness iustifes
them in ignoring evidence which does not
depend upon his character, and in picking
flaws in his statement as demonstration
of the innocence of the accused. They
would conduct the case as a sharp lawyer
would defend his client in police court,
caring very little for the methods that Sc
cure acquittal provided only that result be
effected.
80 far, however, as this investigation is
concerned. the public will pay much less
attention to the ttchnicalities of legal pro-
eedu1e than to the broad, moral bearings
Of the evidence adduced. Evidence may
be insufficient to convict this person OF
that of specific offence, or to prove that
he acted corruptly, or otherwise wrongly,
as minutely as charge would have to be
proved in criminal court. And yet the
evidence may create an ineradicable i'm
nression both as to the fact of misconduct
and the discredit reflected on the party in
whose supposed interest the person acted.
Anderson IS credi5ility as witness is east
" demolished, The testimony that rests
npon his word must be corroborated be-
fore it can be accepted as having any real
value. But the documents he supplies
cannot be disproved OF explained away by
showing from his own mouth that he is
liar actuated from first to last by base
nantives Mr.. Sherman's authorship of the
Letter attributed to him is not disproved
Nth hy the revelation Of Anderson's guilt, Mr..
9oysarInanss eqlt;roeation qoath The document
asI h;s land. CONTRASTS so painfully qUitb has
no M deelaratio'as 10 7leaospaper correspo-
9 ge,,ts and his yaliant challenge to the COM
.,;ttee. that he mast establish the dlsitg of
the a5aper on submit to the uavorable inter
@a.etnfio1o eshiGt the circumstances suggest.
M. Stanley Matthew'S position is worse.
g,he more clearly Anderson is proved to be
: snnunayel, the more the Ohio Senator is
diamaaed hy the confidential relations that
ars ~ exempli6ed in his lepseesr:s The Nash
aseryrerusslt, infamous on its face, was in
Mr Matthew's possession. Other thinos
growing cr out Of intercourse with Anderson
nmnst have familiarized hiRl with that
m ma true character. Yet Mr.. NJ aSthews
Introduced him to Gen. Harlan as worthy
- cnnf;dance. recognized his claim to a