Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-08-29
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

TUESDAY, Aug ust 20.--Major E. A.
Burke, of New Orleans, was before the Potter
committee, and was examined at length, Gen.
Butler did all the questioning. The effect of
the examination OF Burke was to show that
there was bargain by which the Packard
government was to be overthrown, and that
the Nichols government was to be recognize
ed and that Hayes was privy to such bargain,
Partlsans will accept or reject Burke's state
ments according to their preconclued notions,
OF many of his statements. The witness said
and argue upon the definite Indebtedness
he religously believes that Hayes and Packard
were defeated and Tilden and Nichols elected,
and that was the opinion of every honest
man there: Witness went to Washington, he
said, the 18th OF January, as agent for Coy.
Nichols, to secure nOn-interventiOn by govern
ment troops with the State government We
had the moral and literal force of the people
Of Louisiana, sufficient to establish ourselves.
the United States troops. We were determin-
ed to protect the interests of our State against
any source whatever, and if an armed attack
were made on the Nichols government it
would have been repealed. We had become
sick and tired of the state of things. Cheated
termined not to stand it longer, and would
have forced a military government in prefer
ence to standing such things. Gen. Grant
modified his ideas after my visit to Washing
ton. was in Washington for the purpose Of
getting the troops, not to interfere, and got an
order to that effect on the afternoon of the I'd
of March. Question by Butler. Then you
got the order on Monday when Gen. Grants
term expired at IL o'clock at night. Now, did
you not know that Hayes called on Grant the
same day at II o'clock in the morning. A.
No, sir, I did not hear, did not know of any
confidence between Hayes and Grant.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21.--The Potter
committee continued their examination of
Major Burke. He testified about the famous
Wormley conference and said: II never
stated received any letter of guarantee or
assurances from Sherman or others of the
conference" Gen. Butler took the wit
ness in hand, and quite passage at arms &C.
Cured between them. Without concluding
the examination of the witness committee
adjourned.
THURSDAY, August 22-Major Burke
again appeared before the Potter committee,
and testified as to various matters and things
against Republicans, and favorable to Demo
Gratis. At the conclusion of Major Burke's
testimony, W. E. Howe was introduced. He
is resident of Texas. Butler took the wit
ness in charge. Hiscock (Rep) insinuated
that Butler had conference with the witness
last night and fixed up his line of testimony.
with bad grace from Hiscock. Hiscock re-
torted that it was bad grace on the part of a
disappointed candidate for hcnors to prompt
witnesses, and make it appear they were pos
sessed Of great secrets.
FRIDAY, August 23.-Major Burke was
again upon the witness stand. He said he
considered all the acts of the Louisiana return
ing board illegal, as the board was an illegal
| " constituted body. In response to ques-
ton from Gen. Butler, Major Burke stated
that none of the Packard legislature were al
lowed to become members of the Nichols
legislature who were not known to have been
elected by ma ority of votes. The witness
further said that although the report OF the
visiting statesmen to the United States Senate
stated that the Nichols government was
founded on bloodshed and riots, such state
ments were unfounded and he (Burke) did not
propose to square their report for them. Gen.
Butler continued the questioning at
considerable length, during which both the
witness and his questioner got excited and
both spoke in loud tones of voice. Mr.. His
cock read dispatch which he just received
from Gov. Young, of Ohio. It states: $50 far
as am concerned Mr.. Horn is at liberty to
testify all he knows. I have no secrets to
conceal as to our correspondence Or tele-
graph" Mr. Potter then read the following
telegram from R. L. Gibson: I never had a
conversation with Mr.. Sherman about the
settlement of the Louisiana question or on
Louisiana politics. In this Mr.. Burke is in
error. RANDOLPH L. G1BsoN.''
SATURDAY, August 24.-Several minor
witnesses were examined before the Potter
committee in brief session, eliciting nothiD g
sensational or very important but about the
same run as to Louisiana crockedaess in pol
itics. The committee adjourned, not to meet
again till called together by the chairman.