The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-02
THE PRESIDENTIAL INvEsTlGA-
TON.


Springer, met at Atlantic City, N. j., ON the
Esd of July. Representative Danford, of Ohio,
was the first witness examined. He testified
that he was member OF the Morrison commit
tee that visited New Orleans and he there met
James Z. Anderson and talked to him about
East Feliciana; Anderson said it was the worst
bulldozed parish in the State, and related how
he had been shot at one night by
concealed assassins. He spoke of having put
in circulation the story that during the period
of registration he came to New Orleans and
informed the Republican committee, including
Gov. Kellogg, that his parish was going Demo-
cratic, the colored vote being largely on that
side, and that he had been advised by KEEL
logg and the Republican committee that he
should either not return to the parish at all or
come away and make such protest as would
throw the parish out He said he had put the
story in circulation in the hope that the Demo-
cratic committee would make him an offer of
money, and when by the offer of money he
had them good and fast he would expose the
authors and blow them sky-high. The wit
ness did not hear Anderson question the truth
of the protest.
Hon. William d. Kelley, of Pennsyl-
vania, testified before the committee on July
"a. Said he visited New Orleans to witness
the Returning Board count at the request Of
President Grant. A committee of distin-
guished Democrats proposed to the Republican
twisting statesmen" that the two bodies Of
visitors organize and participate in the business
OF the Returning Board, but the Republicans
declined, on the ground that they were there as
private citizens, with no official power Wit
ness said he never heard any conversation
among the Republican committee involving an
interference with the official duties Of the Re-
turning Board; never heard of any suggestion
to manipulate the parishes, nor that affidayits
were signed with fictitious names. .Cortlandt
Parker, of New Jersey, was the next witness
He testified that he visited New Orleans solely
at the request of President Grant. He did not,
while in Louisiana, hear doubts thrown on the
protest made by Anderson as to East Feliciana,
or that it was interlined, or that Ander-
son wished to withdraw it. Repre-
sentative Eugene Hale, Of Maine, testified that
all the Republican visitors maintained the posi-
ton that they should be careful to abstain
from any attempted influence on the Return
ing Board. Witness thought if Hayes
was elected President, Packard was
elected Governor of Louisiana. . Ex-
Congressman ]. Hale Sypher, of Louisi-
ana testified that he was in New
Orleans during the sittings of the Returning
Board, and that he was shown by Weber the
alleged Sherman letter to Weber and Ander-
son, and had no doubt of its genuineness.
Witness did not read it carefully, and could
not swear positively either as to the hand
writing or the substance of the document, but
believed the copy that has been printed is
correct Secretary Sherman was called to
the stand, and testified that he went
to New Orleans at the solicitation Of President
Grant. On his way he stopped at Columbus
and saw Gov. Hayes. Said his conversation
with Hayes was general about the election, all
then being in the dark.
The examination of Secretary Sherman
was resumed on the 25th. The witness
stated that, while in New Orleans, he was
never, privately or alone, with any member Of
members the same as he would have treated
any other court or tribunal before which he
appeared as a witness or advocate. He de-
MED emphatically the truth of the testimony
of James E. Anderson and E. L.
Weber, and certain conversations alleged
to have taken place between them and him
(Sherman); said he never suggested to these
render in connection with the Returning
Board, or in any other way, nor was any
promise of reward even intimated. In re-
gard to the celebrated SHERMAN letter" to
Anderson and Weber, the Secretary asserted
positively that he did not write it, although
"there were things in it that he would have
written to these or any other men who
were engaged in the performance OF their
duty" In reply to question, Mr.. Sherman
said that while in New Orleans he wrote letter
to Mr.. Hayes, in which he said
The action of the Returning Board has thus far
been open and fair, and only confirms the general
result as known before. We are now collecting tes-
timony as to the bulldozed parishes 1t seems more
like history of hell than Of civilized and Christian
communitiss. The means adopted are almost in
credible, but were fearfuly effective upon the igno-
rant and superstitous people. That you would have
received, at a fair election, large majority in
Louisiana, no honest man can question; that you
did not receive a majority is equally clear; but
that intimidation of every kind and nature pro-
vided against by Louisiana law did enter into and
control the election in more election polls than
would cnange the result and give you the vote, 1
believe firmly as write this. The truth is pal
pabe that you ought to have the vote of Louisiana,
and we believe that you will have it by an honest
and fair return according TO the letter and spirit Of
the law of Louisiana. Very truly yours,
JOHN SHERMAN.
This letter was dated Nov. 23 1876, and on
Nov. ~ Gov. Hayes responded as follows
am greatly obliged for your letter of the 23d.
You feel, am sure, as do about this whole bust.
ness. fair election would have given us about
forty electoral votes at the South-at least that
many-but we not to allow friends 10 defeat
one outrage and fraud by another. There must be
nothing CROOKED" on oar part. Let Mr.. Tilden
have the place by violence. intimidation and fraud
rather than undertake to prevent it by means that
will not bear the closest scrutiny appreciate the
work doing by the Republicans who have gone
South and am especially proud TO acknowledge the
honorable conduct Of those men from Ohio. The