The Rock Island Argus., 1878-07-01
LOUISIANA.
The Potter Investigation.

NEW ORLEANS, June 29.-Ex-Gov.
Packard testified to-day before the sub
committee ofthe Potter committee. He
knew of the returning board labors only
through the published reports; never at
tended them; their report elected Hayes
and himself; his majority was less than
the highest Hayes elector and more than
the lowest one; he deemed himself legally
elected and all formalities of law were
complied with, the legislature having a
fnll quorum when the votes were cam
vassed; witness majority by the returns
was 1926; he considered his title as good
as Hayes, aud Senator Kellogg holds his
seat in the United States senate by the
same process that witness holds bis title
as governor of louisiana a large armed
mob ousted witness from the Guberpa-
torial Office and frightened some of the
legislators from their places; new su-
preme court was eptitiously installed; !;
witness narrated the formation of the
Nichols legislature, showing that it was
an illegal body; it had no governor, had
no returns, and had no legal or equitable
power to establish Nichols governor; the
Kellogg legislature of the lst of January,
called on the president for troops to sup
press Internal disorders; l made an appeal
to the president by letter on April 5, re-
ceived no answer, written or orally, neither
to this nor to the second letter, which l
sent April l6; this last was sent few
days before my abdication; at that time |
was under the impression that the Nc
Veagh commission was advising my sup
porters to join the Nichols legislature; |
| had no means of Information OF the proper
methods used by the commission 10 regard
to the membership of the legislature, save
by general rumors; | had an impression
that the commission had come here to
break up the Potter legislature; | have
no impression that Hayes sent the con-
mission here for the purpose above named {;
| cannot judge the Presidents intentions
or wishes, and cannot express an opinion:
the commission wanted one legislature, and
think they would have broken up the
Nichols Legislature if they could have done
so: the commission would have as gladly
recognized me as Nichols if they could BY
such means have got the whole body OF
the legislature to meet in the State House
know OF 10 threats or intimidation on tht
part OF the com J.issioners to obtain the
object of their visit; have no recollection
of having been approached by any N smbei
OF the commission requesting that | with
draw from my office | don't think my
members deserted because OF any belief o
my title, but have no means of knowipg
the actual cause of The desertiou;
; received dispatch from Secretary e. C
Snffet, dated March 1, concerning the
resolution of President Grant that he could
not longer allow the United States troops
to support candidates Tor State offices
received three letters from Stanley Mat
thews repeating the same assertion, dateC
March l6; believe if had been allowed
troops | could have maintained my posi-
ton; had the President acknowledged III,
position | have no doubt the opposition It
me would have ceased; had the decision
of the Returning Board been recognized
by the President could have maintained
my government il respective of the troops
| made a PROPOSE ion 10 Gen. kellogg tha
if the State wer" supplied with 9, 500 stant
of arms, ammunition, ETC., could maintain
my power; had only $50 muskets AM
D was 10 no condition to battle with tn
armed troops If my opposers
5 Gov. Packard was 10 the witness chai
!, three hours OF more At 430 the commits
sion adjourned till Monday.