New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-26
THE POTTER INQUIRY.

length, at Atlantic City yesterday. He de-
MED positively that he wrote the alleged
letter to Anderson and Weber, OF
that he received from them the letter
to which his is alleged to have been an answer
THE TRIBUNEs correspondent states that Mr..
Sherman's vindication is complete. General
Garfield also testified at Atlantic City. He waf
questioned by General Butler, and considerable
fencing in logic took place. At New-Orleana
Major E. A. Burke testified to the steps which
led up to the Wormley Conference, and to
what occurred at that meeting. He submitted
large lot of kilograms and letters.
Mr.. SHERMANS VINDlCATION.
THE COMMITTEE NOW IN TIGHT PLAcE-A FRANK
CONFESSION THE ONLY THING NOW IN ORDER
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUSE.I
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., July 25.-Secretary Sher.
mans vlndcatlon from the outrageous accusations
made against him in the Potter resolution is
plete as was that of General Noyes; and the only
decent thing for the committee now to do is frankly
to report that the cases are not proved. The out
rage upon these two gentlemen is almost without par
aleln legislative history and ordinary treatment
of this part of the investigation in the report that
will probably be made to Congress during the next
session, will satisfy fair-minded people. Mr. Sher.
mans vindicatOn in the report ought to be COM
plete as it is in the testimony. Nothing short Of
that can the committee afford to give him. The
Secretary leaves Atlantic City this evening for
Washington, and he goes back in the best Of spirits.
If there was single shred Of the tissue of false
hood which James f. Anderson told to the Potter
Committee, and which the basis Of the arraign-
ment of Secretary Sherman by the Potter resolu-
ton, the testimony taken yesterday and to-day
has destroyed it. The stories Of Messrs. Kelley,
Parker and Hale, who were Mr.. Sherman's most
intimate associates during his stay in Louisiana in
1876, establish two points beyond all question.
The first of these is that all the Republicans who
accompanied Mr. Sherman to New-Orleans joined
with him IN refusing absolutely to do anything foR
the purpose of influencing the Returning Board in its
action upon the vote of Louisiana. while the
Democratic visitors actually proposed conference
for that purpose. More than this, there were no
private consultations between the Republican Wis
itOrs to Louisiana and the members of the Return
ing Board. and no correspondence between them.
The examination Of testimony by the Republican
visitors. and the abstracts of it that were
made, were not used by the Returning
Board, and were not prepared for their BEN
eft. The whole line of testimony. therefore,
the object of which is to prove that Secretary Sher
man and the other Republican visitors conspired to
have false afidavts prepared and made the basis OF
the action of the Returning Board, falls to the
ground. The afidavits and the testimony in ques-
n ,o os the basis of the report that was subss.
quently made to the President
THE TESTIMONY EMPHATIC.
The second point established by the testimony
Yesterday was the impossbility of conspiracy OF
the Republican visitors with the Returning Board
to change the result of the election in Louisiana
after conclusion had been substantially reached.
Isr,.- al toh x,E r
Weber. Every witness examined yesterday denied
the existence of such conspiracy and showed that
it would have been impossible for the Republican
visitors or the Returning Board to have known
how the vote was coming out at the date named.
because the returns had not all been opened.
Secretary Shermans testimony to-day was OF the
most direct and positive character on every inn
portant point. Those portions Of his evidence
which were identical with the testimony given by
Others of the visiting statesmen are passed over
here. Mr.. Sherman, IN reply to questions put by
Mr.. HiscOck, denied nearly all the assertions made
by James f.. Anderson in regard to the alleged in
terview at Moreaus restaurant, one after another.
He admitted frankly that he probably did see
Anderson and Weber at the place named;
his impression was that these two men came
in and introduced themselves each other, and
that an unmpOrtant conversation took place at
that time nothing was said about forged protest
or about any hesitation on the part Of either OK
them to stand by their protests information OF
this kind would certainly have made such An
impression upon his mind that he could not
have forgotten it. Mr.. Sherman swore most
positively that he received the letter alleged
| to have been signed by Anderson and Weber. He
is very careful regard to the preservation OF pa
pers, and he sent to Ohio to have search for such
a paper made. No such letter was found. When
Secretary Shermans attention was called to bis ala
legged letter to Webber and Anderson, he swore
most positively that he never wrote 1t. His testl-
mony on this point could not have been more sweep
ing. He explained substantially as he did about
month ago to the Washington correspondent of The
TRIBUNE, why his former testimony was not moro
uneaivocal on this point. He declared that on that
occasion he said all that any honest man
could say under the circumstances; he was called
| before the committee without warning; there had
been circulated through the newspapers. very much
to his annoyance numerous reports that letter Of
his was in the hands of the Democrats, that
many persons had seen it, that photo
graph or fac-simile would be produced,
etc, etc.. when he was suddenly confronted
made his denial as full lie could; now he knows
positively that he did not write it; he would repeat
what he said on former occasion that there were
certain things in that letter which he wonid nave
written if he wrote at all.
DRAMATIC INCIDENTS.
Secretary Sherman then referred to the evidence
of intimidation which was brought to his attention
while in New-Orleans, and said that it was
of such a convincing character that no
was unable to think of it without anger;
and even. to-day he read tho record OF
outrage over, it caused him to feel very
indignant He said that If he had been citizen OF
Louisiana in 1875 he had no doubt he would have
been killed: he would not have remained quiet
while poor negroes being abused and murdered,
and he supposed he would have lost his life as others