Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1878-08-24
The House Presidential Election InvestiGa.
t1Ons

After recess Of several weeks the Investigs-
ton Committee met again In New York. Mr.
Potter, the chairman. stated that as Mr.. HIS
cock was not present he would not go on with
the examination until that gentleman was pres
ent. Upon an inquiry from Mr.. Butler Mr.. Pot
ter stated that Senator Matthews had been sum
moned to attend, but he did not think the
Senator would be at hand for examination. mr..
Butler then said that Mr.. Matthews, "as dis
tinguisbed as he Is, Is bound like any other
citizen Of the United States, BY the subpoena
under resolution Of the House Of Represen
tatives." Mr.. Butler said further: l certain
" should not press the attendance OF Mr.. Mat
thews here to his personal or professional dis
comfort, had he stated that as the reason why
he did not come. But IL all this means that he
does not mean to obey the summons OF the
House Of Representatives then my Judgment
az member OF the House is, that the sooner
the issue Is made and determined and settled
the better for the ascertainment Of the rights
of the citizen, the rights Of the Senate, and the
rights and privileges Of the House. II Mr.: Mat
thews can set at naught our subpoena do not
see why any other citizen Of the United States
cannot do the same thing" The general
concluded his remarks by saying %! move
sir, as member Of this committee, that ~ DC
entered upon the records that Mr.. Matthews
refuses to appear, and that the contempt OF
the summons Of the House Of Representatives
be reported to the House for such action as in
their Judgment the House would consider q
proper enforcement Of the rights Of the repre-
sentatives of the House" Mr.. Potter re-
marked that It would be better to await the
presence of Mr.. Hiscock before voting upon
Gen. Buffers motion, and there the matter
rested.
The first witness examined after the recess
was William Il. Roberts. associate editor OF the
New Orleans Times. In answer to question
by General Butler, witness said he believed
Tilden and Nichols got majority Of the votes
cast in Louisiana. He had been sent from New
Orleans, before the Returning Board had an
nounced its decision, to visit Governor Hayes
and ascertain what would be his attitude to-
ward the several State Governments in case he
were made President. The witness gave the
committee the substance Of his conversations
with Governor Hayes and other leading Re-
Halstead, editor of the Cincinnati Commercial
who gave him letter to Governor Hayes. Wit
ness then described his visit to Governor
Hayes at Columbus a. follows: II was pre-
sented to him, and, after little conversation,
gave him my letters to read. After he had
read them, he asked: "What do you want to
know, Mr.. Roberts2" said, 'Of course un-
about to ask you, but in case you become Pres
ident Of the United States, what do you pro-
pose to do with the respective State Govern
ment Of Louisiana? He said he did not I'M
derstand what l meant. l said that there
would be a row over the National question, but
that il we were sure that he was friendly to US,
tho opposition to him would be less virulent.
He asked how our people we're feeling on the
subject, and said they thought if they had to
throw overheard anything, they would throw
over what they considered to be Of the least
value. said we must have the State at all
hazards. He asked me to explain the situa-
ton. said that we had carried the State by
10, 900 majority, but the indications were that
they would be counted out. He said that he
did not want the Presidency unless he got it
fairly"
Witness said further that at this interview
Governor Hayes denied saying-when he sup
posed he had lost the Presidency-that he felt
sorry for the colored people of the South, as
reported in the New York Herald. Witness
said that having received assurances he, as u
friend OF Louisiana urged all whom he could
influence to stand by the count. Upon CROSS
examination he said there had been nothing in
the way Of bargain, agreement or understand
ing. Adjourned.
After concluding the examination Of Colonel
Roberts, Of New Orleans, in relation to his in
terview with Governor Hayes at Columbus in
1876, John Z. Leete, writer on the staff of
the New Orleans Times, was called. Witness
said he had lived in New Orleans since 1870 and
gave history Of his experience there as Office
holder and detailed at length the condition of
political affairs; but nothing of importance
bearing directly upon the investigation was
elected by his testimony. Adjourned.