Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-15
The Potter Committee.
ROBERTS rEsTIMoNY CONTINUED
Anderson on the Stand AGAIN.
LETTER PRESENTED FROM 4. q
DAKKALL.

New YORK, August IA. The Potter committed
continued its Investigations this morning.
Roberts said he WAS familiar with what was GO
Ing on. and saw all of the visiting statesmen al
New Orleans. They we're not consulted about biz
visit to Ohio. lie merely nent toned it to Seph.
enson, Matthews and Sherman.
The situation OF the white people 10 the state
was desperate. We had been defeated by the re-
tnrpng board in 1872 and again in 1874, and were
ri aid of being defeated again in 1876; and the
people were beginning to think an election utterly
useless. We considered the election fan aud just
aud we polled every white vote available; but we
feared beng Counted out by the returning board.
We all believed the returning beard would not
dare to have done what they did do without they
had received the moral support of the visiting
| statesmen.
Ihess spprehensions about the returning board
were what led to my visit to Hayes. We wanted
to know what action he would take if elected
lie knew perfectly well was TALK ny for the der
ocratic side. undelsi ood Hayes meant by fair
ness and justice, that the returning board should
cease, ana that, AS told him, had clean MI =
jorty of oven 1000 IN the state the Nichols gov
eminent should be recognized.
There was determ nation to resist the estalI.
lishmsbt of Hayes IN the federal government nd
We were more deeply interested in finding out
what would be done if the democrauc vote Of
Louisiana was thrown out and Hayes counted in.
10 conversation with several gentlemen remark
ed the crookedness OF the returning board in
Louisiana was 80 bad and glaring that even the
rrpu0licans had TO disown all connection with il
ibis applied to previous elections.
We understood the military were to be with
drawn after the fourth OF March, aud that they
would be let down easily, but they would be let
down.
Butler-Who do you mean by ''they"a
A-lhe Packard government.
| did not hear of any forged electoral certi6
Gates OF Louisiana.
Ia conversation with Foster, he said it was very
strange that not single republican vote was cast
in East Fehcisns.
In my conversation with Senator Conklin told
him thought Hayes WAS fair man, and that he
had told me he would be PRECEDENT OF the United
States or not at all l detailed 10 the senator all
my conversation with Hayes.
There was committee appointed to go down to
Louisiana, and we all knew very we'll they were
intended simply TO let the Packard government
down easily. 1t looked better you know.
This ended Roberts testimony.
Mr.. Leete was re called and said the members
of the returning boa I'd in 1876 were the same As
10 1914 with one exception.
10 the census OF 1873 1t was deemed advisable
to swell the census OF the colored people As high
rs possible 50 that the basis of registration could
be AS high, as every colorod man was understo God
to be republican. The democrats ignore that
census Is fraud.
Witness WAS told to 6Dd a large republican cen.
sus meaning the large colored contingent. They
told the witness to mad them, matter how did
II. lie refused to do 50.
The only honest count was taken in his parish
which showed an increase OF whites aud a de
crease Of colored people.
Here j. \. ALueisOb, who was on the stand al
ready, recalled by Potter, who banded hn
the following letter. which he identified as having
been received from T.. Is. Darrell. The letter.
). NJ. aud ii. in the letter he sGid meant sherman
Matthews and Harlan
Morgan City, La, u. 1873.
private
Nv Dear Sir-I have your favor o. late date
and am pleased to hear from yoa. Marks has my
passes to use coming home but will send them to
you soon as get them. hope he will he sp-
pointed, but don't expect it nor anything else that
is decent from Hayes for Loulslana. His po.icy
appears to be to send Packar away and turn over
everything else to our enemies Ia the party which
will ensure democratic success next fall. For
myself in my district prefer to have such people
against me.
II conclude TO run can be elected without
patronage, and prefer it. | suppose NJ. did what
tie could, but they evidently don't think you will
do anything. Your letter taken with your sworn
evidence dnec'iv duplicating 5. NJ. and H. is val
liable. Use 1t d,creetly, but don't spare them, as
except NJ. they are the most unm itl2ated SQUAD
rels ever met. A miserable, hypoctical, psalm
singing, coidblooded set, whom 1t would be doing
the country service to expose.
Write me fully but be discreet. Send papers to
Mrs. ID. if you without trouble. Am glad
Laura Is bet Ell. We both send love to hcr.
Write often.
Truly &C.,
p. B DARRALL.
James +. Anderson, Philadelphia. Pa
The committee then adjourned.