The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-05-22
BY TELEGRAPH.
SHERMAN's REPLY
To the Charges Brought Against
Him by Potter's Committee.
He Says the Associates of Both Parties
Acted Honestly and Properly.


Washington, May 21.-The follow
ing is the letter of Secretary Sherman
to GARRISON N. Potter on the subject of
the Potter resolution: aa4a bra yA4
WASHINGTON, May 81.
Hon. ClarLson N. Potter:
SIR:-I observe that the resolution of
the House, under which your- commit
tee is organized, singles me out person.
ally, by name, from among twenty or
more gentlemen, who were present at
the request of President Grant or the
chairman of the Democratic national
committee, to attend and witness the
action of the returning board upon
the Presidential election returns in the
state Of Louisiana in 1876, and in SUBJ
stance charges that ut that election in
East Feliciana parish and in part In
West Feliciana parish, in Louisiana,
the Republican vote was withheld, and
not cast, in pursuance and execution of
a conspiracy by such voters, and that
in furtherance of such conspiracy Jas.
E. Anderson, supervisor of registra-
tion in West Feliciana, falsely protest.
ed that said election in such parishes
had not been free and fair, and that
thereupon the returning board of said
state falsely and fraudulently excluded
the votes of said precincts ami, by the
means thereof and of other false and
fraudulent actions of said returning
board, the choice Of the people of the
state was annulled and reversed, and
that sudh action by the said Weber and
Anderson was induced or encouraged
by the assurances of Hon. John Sher-
man, now Secretary OF the Treasury.
This resolution requires you to in
vestigate three allegations, and upon
the truth Of these depends the accusa-
tion against me, viz:
First-That there was conspiracy
among the voters to withhold and not
cast votes; with the view to make
false charge as to the election. :
Second-That in point of fact there
was free and fair election in East and
West Feliciana, which was falsely pro-
tested and returned by said Anderson
and Weber, by which the votes of those
parishes were falsely and fraudulently
excluded by the returning board.
Third: That the offence of Anderson
and Weber was encouraged by assur-
ances from me. with the view. therefore
to meet this accusation, which, SO far
as 1t affects me, I declare and know to
be absolutely destitute OF even the sha-
dow Of trnth. I respectfully ask, and
now make formal application, for leave
to be represented before your commit
tee by counsel, in the investigation of
all charges affecting myself personally.
tender, and offer to prove, that in
point Of fact, the election in East and
West Feliciana parishes was governe d
and controlled by force, violence and
intimidation,S 50 revolving as to excite
the common indignation Of all who be-
came conversant with it, and that proof
was submitted to that effect, not only
before the Returning board in the evil
dence contained Elk. Doc. No. 2, Sec
ond session, Forty-fourth Congress,
but also in the testimony taken by the
committee on Privileges and Elections,
report 701, second session, lForty-fourth
Congress-. I win, If allowed, furnish