The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-07-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our SPECIAL Correspondent

WAshiNGION, u. u, July Il 20.
The Acklen ROsser matter still
monopollzss good share Of local atten-
ton. 1t has assumed a new phase every
day since it first started our goSsips and
scandal-mongers out of all sense of pro
priety by the abruptness of its advent.
Acklen arrived here Friday. The Sat
urday papers contained the aiiidavits of
two walters at Welcker, who waited on
Acklen and his female companion on
the night of the alleged assault, denying
that Acklen was guilty of any impropri
ETY. towards her while at that establish
ment; statement jointly signed by
three NJ C's certifying that the lady's
brother (also member of Congress) Gr
her, had acquitted Acklen in their pres
ence of any misconduct towards her,
and statement from Acklen denounc-
ing the story as "an unmitigated and
willful lie" He says he only heard it
when he arrived in Louisiana from
Washington and at once turned back to
trace it to its originator and to charac-
terize it in fitting terms. He said he
had been unable to compass the former
but had taken the first opportunity to
set to rights the two parties most vitality
concerned. He also says that after
ROsserIs denisls, he cannot longer hold
him responsible. In what may be re
garded as L superiluous annex after
what he had proved and disproycd by
his witnesses, he goes 10 the very verge
of self immolation and chivalric self
sacrifice in an ayerment that he had
made tender ofL.s heart and hand to
the lady which hId been declined.
Everything about the sworn statements
of the two walters is most vigorously
explicit, even TO the exact kind of cheese
and wine (both of the most aristocratic
brands) ordered, and the comparative
length of time Rosser and his female
companion occupied their private din
ming room. Mr. Acklen's inability to
trace the scandal seems to many mex
plicable considering the exactness OF
details when it was first given publicity
And though the duels first promised
are "off,7 the tidbit was too sweet to be
ut once relinquished, though Mr. Acklen's
witnesses most solemnly affirm it had no
in fact, and he voluntarily
acknowledges tohaying agot the Initten."
The preamble and resolution under
which the Potter Committee was auth
thorized, offered as q pretext for the
inquiry that it was alleged that the
Electoral Votes of several States
among them Louisiana and Florida
we're tainted with fraud. Mr. Sherman
promised to prove it if allowed the op-
pOrtunity. Many of the Secretarys
political friends didn't hesitate to criti-
else what appeared to them his excep-
tional timidity when brought before the
Committee TO plead to the authorship of
a certain letter. But the Democrats
underrate the intelligence of the coun-
try if they count on its acquiescence in
their refusal to subpoena the witnesses
Mr. Sherman names, on the pretext that
be (Sherman) hadn't yet acknowledged
Or denied writing the letter that guaran-
iced Anderson and Webber Federal
offices. The country will more espec
ally condemn their refusal, as Mr. Sher-
man says he can prove by them all
grades of crime on the part ofthe Louis
ana bull-dozers. from downright murder
TO the number of more than 50, down
10 whippings and scourgings by the noe
.urnal raiders in the two parishes of
East and West Feliciana. But this is
precisely what the Democratic majority
Of the Committee has done, confirming
what WAS generally believed before that
40 effort would be spared to suppress all
evidence of the Democratic murders
md other outrages committed by tens
Of thousands during the last campaign
IN the South.
Potter, his Democratic and Butler
have steadily fallen into disre-
pute until they are the butt and laugh
ing stock Of the town. Their affection
for disreputable Anderson was not noted
10 their credit, and since their discOm
future by the jerks they occupy the
relative place accorded the squawman
Or counterfeit brave among the Abor
ginal tribes who allows himself to be
by n woman. But has had the
worst kind Of luck. In his expeditions
for wool he has almost invariably come
back shOrn to the hide by Witnesses who
wouldn't brook his bullying manners.
The jerks and Pitkin have left Ander
son without n vestige of character.
While she is conceded to be "smart"
and has gone home crowned with the
Iaurels she appears most TO covet no
modest woman need envy her the rep
utation she has earned. Chandlers ties
timony is not what Potter and Butler
probably hoped it would be. On the
whole it is thought that Potter can't too
soon close out his assortment Of witness
and adjourn ifhe would save shred of
Butler seems to have camped on the
trail of McVeagh and others Of the
Louisiana Commission, and it will sur
prise and disappoint a good many here,
if good many ofthe functions exercised
by that extrajudicial body ofpoliticians
in tearing down the Packard Govern
ment, are not brought to light within
the next few weeks. Maxwell.