Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-29
LATEST UP TO- NJ. TO-DAY
ALEX. b. STEPHENS.


SOU IN. TOtteE, III muuulSot NNN
Washington Post, which is given below;
NArroSAL HorEL, May Is
/ notice in the issue Of your paper OF
this morning a letter from Hon, ClafS-
sen N. Potter, Of the house, in response
to inquiries OF one of his correspondents
in relation to the passage of his resolu-
ton in regard to the appointment OF a
committee to investigate the frauds in the
late Presidential election, et~ which not
only justifes but requires some public
notice by me. So far as the letter relates
to me and my acts in connection there
with, this notice will be as brief as pos
able, and with all due respect to Mr..
Potter, since, for him personally, | en-
terrain sentiments Of high esteem That
portion of his letter to which | wish
chiefly to reply is contained in the fol.
lowing words expressed by bin to his
correspondent: you ask me why Mr..
Stephens was howled down. The howl
ing was by the newspapers. To inter
rupt the pending order Of business by
motion or statement, it requires unsn-
imous consent, and every member has
the absolute right to objeet to the inter
rnption. This objection is expressed by
the words, L object or u demand for
the regular order. Sometimes one per
son will prevent interruption. Some
times a desire to prevent 1t is general,
and then the cry Of Regular order
will be from many persons. II 80
happened that there was very gan
eral unwillingHess to hear Mr.. Stephens.
he had suggested that we should receive
and adopt the Hale amendment. 1t was
reported that il has given the Republi-
cans a list of twenty-five names who
would follow him in any motion OF his
to prevent an investigation. About this
be was grossly mistaken, and has made
our side especially unwilling to hear
him, but you will observe that when |
rose to make a proposition to Mr.. Hale
and the Republicans cutlery prevented
my being heard, it was announced by
the press that Mr.. Potter's inquiry was
interrupted while Mr.. Stephens was
head lined, as the venerable statesman
was howled down by Potter's mob. Ny
comments upon this extract from
his letter are as follows: First
If there was any gross mistake in this
matter it was by Mr.. Potter and not by
me. So far as his statement is calcula-
ted to convey the idea er.impression that
| had given the Republicans a list OF any
names who would follow me in any mo
ton to prevent investigation it is entire
" without foundation. AS a matter Of.
truth it has not a shade or shadow of q
fact L rest upon. | had not conferred,
directly or indirectly, with Mr. Hale,
Mr.. Garfield, or any other Republican
upon the subject. | had not spoken, di.
rectly or indirectly, within the last two
weeks before upon any subject, nor had
| had any words with Mr.. Garfield on
this matter except what were made
some weeks before, when he objected to
the reception of the Maryland memorial,
at which time / urged him 10 the house
to withdraw his objection and let this
memorial Of the State go to the commit
tee on judiciary aud be reported upon,
with a view Of quieting all questions at
tacbibg to the Presidential title. My
speech upon that occasion and my ap.
peal to him was duly reported in the
Record, nor bad ! at any tins any con
ference with the President, as | have
seer alleged in some OF the papers upon
this subject. 90 the Monday that Mr..
Potter's resolutions were offered | had
appeared in the house solely with a view
of obtaining a suspension OF the rules
for the purpose of having passed the bill
of the committee on coinage, providing
for the retirement Of the three and FIVE
cent silver pieces and having them re.
coined in other denominations, or 80 far
as making the debased or snbsiary coins
legal tender when they are present
ed IN amounts Of twenty dollars
and upward, and have them redeemed
when presented at the treasury in
like amounts. This bill upon being read
wac almost unanimously passed. then
got leave Of absence for one week, on
account OF my health, with a pair with
Mr.. Harris, Of Massachusetts,. was
told that had hardly gone out Of the
capitol when this cyclone burst upon
the house. / had no intimation Of it
before. On reaching my room | wes
confined to my bed, and it was not I'm il
the next day that | knew Of what had
occurred in the house after | leh Mr..
Potter himself was one of the first whom
a.. conferred with on the subject. On
Wednesday, the 18th, after the house had
come to d dead lock, | addressed to Mr..
Potter the following note, Of which Gen,
Knott furnished me a copy to day. 1t il
in these words:
Washington, D. c.. may Is. 1878.
The Hon. clarkson N. Potter, House Of Rep
resentatiyes;
My DEAR SRI am still conioed To
my room 10 this city. / greatly regret
that | cannot 20 and see you IN person
Let me then say to you in this way that
| think it will be a greet mistake il OUT
friends in the house shall pass your reso.
luton under the previous question, thus
cutting on Mr.. Hale or other amend
ments looking TO an enlarged investiga'
ton. Do not insist on the previous ques'
ton. should not vote for ii If were
present and we're not paired as | am
nor could | vote for the resolution under
tho previous question without allowing
the amendments. II would only divide
!. the Democrats and unite the Republi
cans. Ny opinion is that mischief in
stead Of good will come Of the investiga
ton by the passage Of your resolution
AZ it ia under the previous question.
Please excuse this note. ] feel it my
duty, feeble as ] am, to send II to you.
Very respectfully, and truly yours,
kLEy. Fl. sTEPaEya
After that note had been dispatched tc
him ! sent tbe following note TO Mr..
OspdleT, my colleague IN the housel
/ WASHINGTON. D.. O.. May IS, 1878.
Hon. Milton A, Gambler, House Of Represon'
tativeais
MY DEAR sIR-I am sorry ] cannot b.
!. in The house TO day. am still confined
d. 10 my room. | think it is lmportaql
"a 49, l-t - -. a.. Ekl