Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-07

| Jlme tne prOprlety OF hOldlng open SeS-
sions, and finally agreeing that they
would do so to the extent of admitting
a limited number of representative of
the press.
Chairman Potter to-day addressed
the following letter to Secretary Sher-
man:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 81.
SIR submitted your letter of the 20th
inst, directed to me as Chairman of the Com
mittee of Investigation, etc, to the commit
tee at its first meeting, and am now unani-
mously directed by the committee to inform
| you that until further order they will permit
any person named in the resolution appointing
the committee to be present when evidence
affecting him is taken, and to be attended by
his counsel, and to offer evidence in his own
behalf, but that all questions to witnesses
shall be addressed by a member of the COM
mittee. Your obedient servant
CLARKsoN N. POTTER.
WASHINGTON, June l.
The Committee of Investigation be-
gan its examination of witnesses to-day.
Wilson and Shellabarger were present
as counsel for Secretary Sherman.
Hunton, Springer and Hiscock were ap-
pointed the subcommittee TO visit
| Florida. James E. Anderson, the first
witness, testified that at the time of the
last Presidential election he was Super
visor of Registration for East Feliciana.
After the election he visited New Or
leans, and, at the suggestion of U. S.
Marshal Pitkin, drew up and swore to
an affidavit that he had heard of sever
al cases of intimidation in the parish.
Judge Campbell afterward drew up a
paper, partially in blank, which he
signed. Jewett, Secretary of the State
Republican Committee, told him their
object was to hold no election in five
particular parishes, and he was threat
ened with arrest if he returned to his
parish. The paper which he signed in
blank was filled up with sweeping
protest alleging intimidation, etc. Don
A. Weber, a Supervisor of West Felici-
ana, and witness sent the following let
ter to Secretary Sherman:
SR-We have carefully considered the argu-
ments advanced by you in our interview.
Your assurance that we shall be taken care of
is scarcely specific enough. In case we pursue
the course suggested by you, we would be
obliged to leave the State. viii you there
fore state in writing who we shall look to for
the tulhllment of these promises! Respect
fully, D. A. WEBER,
JAMES A. ANDERSON.
Mcmahon proposed to put in evil
dence copy of Sherman's letter in re-
ply, and after long discussion Sher-
man was sent for and testified that he
never wrote the offered letter. The
copy of the letter was read, as follows:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 20, 1876.
Messrs. D. A. WEBER and JAS. Il. ANDERSON:
GENTLEMEN-Your note of even date has
Just been received. Neither Mr.. Hayes nv
self, the gentlemen who accompany me, nor
the country at large can ever forget the obl-
cations under which YOU have placed us
should you stand firm in the position you
have taken. From long and intimate ac-
quaintance with Gov. Hayes l am justified in
assuming the responsibility for the promises
made, and will guarantee that you will be pro-
yided for as soon after the 4th of March as may
tsbe practicable, and in such manner as will en-
able you both to leave Louisiana should you
deem it necessary. Very truly yours,
JoHN SHERMAN
Anderson stated that Weber and he
concluded that in order to save the
electoral. vote of Louisiana for HAYES
the former would make a sort of gem
eral protest about his parish. A state
ment as to what they had done was also
| drawn up and sworn to, as follows:
New ORLEANS, Nov. IA, 1876.
The undersigned, James L. Anderson SUI
| pervisor of Registration for the parish of East
Fcliciana, and D. A Weber, Supervisor of
| the parish of West Feliciana Louisiana, have
respectfully refused to sign any protest
against the counting of the vote of our par
ishes cast at the election held on the 9TH day
of November, 1876, for the reason that the
election held on that day was the most peace
| able and orderly one ever witnessed by either,
and the large gain made by the Democrats
| being secured by legitimate means, and was
! owing in great measure to the disgust and
hatred with which large proportion of the
colored people regard the present State Gov
| ernment; but the electoral vote of Louisiana
| being necessary to secure the election of
! Hayes and Wheeler, and in order to Sc
cure such vote, it being necessary to throw
| out the parish of East Feliciana and enough
| Democratic votes in West Feliciana to make
the parish Republican, We have for this rea-
| son and no other consented to protest against
| the counting of the vote as cast, and we have
done this at the instigation and request of S.
Is. Packard, candidate on the Republican
States Marshal; VIM. P. Kellogg, now Gov
ernor of the State and Charles e. Nash, mem
Der of Congress from the Sixth District, and
others. ID. A. WEBER,
JAS. E. ANDERSON.
Anderson stated that Stanley Mat
thews held the original of this paper
When witness learned that his protest
had been changed he went to Pitkin' s
Office. and denounced it as forgery
Sherman asked for an interview with
witness and Webber and they visited
him-Stoughton being present. Sher-
man said to them that in this crisis
every Republican was expected to stand
by the party; Hayes, as President, would
control the Federal patronage, and if
they stood firm in this matter they
would find no cause to regret it. In
explanation of some of the correspond
ence submitted in evidence Anderson
related interviews which be had with
Matthews and the President. He told
the latter if he would appoint
his (Anderson's man to an Appraiser
ship he would withdraw all claims.
Hayes promised to attend to it, Wit
ness on his way home stopped at Gin
einnati and saw Matthews, and by the
latter's advice returned to Washington,
when Smith, the department. clerk, aft
er aninterview with the President. gave
him the Blue Book and told him TO pick
out such a position as he wanted. He
was offered an Inspectorship, which he
refused.
More of Anderson's testimony was
published on the 4th. Anderson testi-
fled that he met Congressman Nash,
who told him that he (Nash) was going
to be thrown out; Kellogg was his per-
sonal enemy; witness went to Kellogg
and told him TO return Nash or he
would burst the whole business; Kellogg
told witness TO have Nash make up a
good case in Landry, Livingstone and
Tangipahoa. Shortly after the wit
ness arrival in Washington he went
to the President with Darrall and Nash;
the latter urged witness appointment
| to a COnsulshiD and the President mada