The New York herald., 1878-07-04
Details of the Plan to Override the
Democratic Majority.
ONE MORE HUNT FOR PROTESTS.
Sherman'S Verbal Promise to Weber
and Anderson.
THE TESTIMONY IN NEW ORLEANS
Alleged Payment Of Ten Thousand Dollars 10
One Of the Returning Board.

wAsurxcros, d. G.. July 8. 1878.
the Investigating Committee met at ten minutes
before eleven A. NJ Mr. Hunton presiding. In the ab
sence OF Mr. Potter, the Chairman Mr.. Shellabarger
counscl for secretary sherman. by unanimous con-
sent allowed to appear IN the place OF Mr.. Cox
and note any objections that might be doomed
pedient upon the republican side
MR.. WEBER RKcALLxD
EMIL. Weber, who testified ON yesterday. was
sailed and questioned by Mr.. Huuton as foows:-
@ You spoke yesterday OF conferences between
The visiting statesmen and tho local republican leaders
in Louisiana. State when ana where they noId
and who wore the parties holding them A. They
Hers held In tho Custom House and In the ST. Charles
HOTEL from the 14th until the latter part Of Novem
Dor; all tho parties recall being present
Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Stoughton, Mr.. Eugene Hale, Gen.
mal GARFIELD, Governor Packard, Governor Kellogg
General Anderson, Governor Wells and Mr.. j. p.
Harris; Mr.. Sherman understood be tho active
man both in these caucuses and in tho correspond
that took place between the democrats and the
visiting statesmen.
Q. What was the subject matter Of conference In
these meetings? A. They spoke Of tho application
shat was TO be put on the election law by the Rourn.
Ing Board, and considered statements made 10 them
by parties who seemed 10 be ''so-bstwecpsn for tho
republican and democratic statesmen and the re-
q Was the matter OF protests In East and West
FeIcian, parishes talked OF In that conference A.
@ Tell US what occurred In these conferences or
caucuses in regard 10 these TWO parishes and the
protest which was nicd by your brother anu Mr. Jane.
4. Andersonf A. AT that time my brother had filed
his protest and was nesitatng whether be would let
u stand, and have understood that Dir. Anderson's
protest nao then been hiled up or altered SO 10
make such protest as the republican leaders wanted
rscoliect worry distinctly that Mr.. Anderson kicked
up big ABOUT Il with Mr.. Ptkin and cursed all
,he republican leaders, and said they were going to
use his protest against his wish. and that they wcro
making such protest as they ted ana the
protest That he mad intended 10 make.
O. Were these visiting statesmen aware oil tho pro.
tess made by your brother and anderson A. Yes,
ton with MT. Sherman about The l5th 10th Of
November, and ne must have neen told about II by
Kellogg, Packard anu Others.
CONVERSATION WITH SHERMAN.
Q Give thc conversation that took place between
you aud Secretary Shorman on that OCCASION. A. As
I stated yesterday some one told me that Secretary
Sherman wnbtcd TO SEQ me. and went there and
my brother was nestating TO let this protest stand
and he understood IL Was because ne afraid IL
and against the iacts IN the case MT Sherman himself
tod that; our conversation was very short, but
he said that tnis matter could be arranged ana
" my brother did not want 10 return 10 East Fell.
cana that no would provide for protect him. and
understood By that that he proposed satisfy HIM
some way with AN ONCE away from there. Tho
witness then repeated the particuiars, stated on
yesterday, Of his going alter his brother ID. A. Weber
ana Mr. Anderson, and added that his broth.r mad
partially agreed The protest stand but was never
iuliy satisfied to DO SO; tho temptation. however was
great at the time that he could not well other
wise.
U We're you ever present any interview between
Mr.. Anderson ana Secretary sherman? A. was not
present. but on the evening Of the 20h OF November
while passing by Moreau's restaurant, Canal street.
noticed my brother, ID. A. Weber and James E. An.
derson IN there talking with secretary Sherman; 1
Was within hearing distance and don't know wnat
ranspired but they were Ia there together table
pnc each side of Mr.. sherman.
q Did either OF them sel you what was the pur
port o that conversa,onf A. On the following day,
litter my brotnor showed me the Icusr OF Secretary
Sherman, hc ssId he had obtained u from MN and
that II was the best they could do; tnat Mr. Sher-
mans assurances 70 them shat tncy both should
provided tor ana protected. yet thcy even hesi-
lated let their protest stand after that.
BY MI SprinRer-Did you take this sherman letter
In your hAnd2 A. Yes, SIR, 1 did ana read /, over
carefully; 70 was written Ordinary sized note
pspcr--a double shetland began on the FIRST page
aud was continued on Tho third page, skipping the
second page entirely.
NETTING or rag REruRsIxe BOARD
Mr. Huhton then examined the witness rs to the
time OF the meeting OF the kciurnns Board and other
matters come ectcd tbcrcWitb. 1hs witness stated
that the Board met on tho 3Oth November the
the 24th; that the visiting statesmen knew about
these returns from the supervisors before they
pcnt to the Board.
1hs witness--l know that Mr George L. smith,
formerly member OF Congress snd coIlector OF
customs was charged with naving returns from some
of the parishes through the supervisors and the
supervisors denied Il In the newspapers but ,he
In precision still remained that he been
Ing tho returns. Two three days after the cleo
lion II was well known that ths republicans
had been beaten; that was thc talk; the re-
suit OF the election IN the different parishes mado
public IN tho newspapers, and II conceded mat
The state had gone lor Nichols by msjerity oil ten
Or twelve thousand on Tho lace OF ths returns and
that the democratic electors elected accerdne 10
the face OF the returna
q Did the visiting statesmen Know these isctsi
A. suppose so; saw many OF The supervisors
taking with them tho subject OF discussion was
WHIT parishes they could throw out and how they
serstood hai the East aud est re
10 20 by default on the part oi the republicans
then aidavi,s were to be sent IN alleging Intimidation
Ia orucr 10 enable The Board TO throw vote;
This matter was considered by visiting statesmen
and they went SO nr M 10 sdvisc tho Board stretch
tne arbitrary power that they had already exor
rised; 1 underaood this IRON conversations with
O VINO gave that advlcos A. 1 do NO, remember
The name OF any person. but " was com mon rumvr ~
the Custom House at New Orleans; heard II dis
cusscd by nearly all the vis,ting statesmen, but
could not give any name Ia part'cusr.
Y What induccmcnt was offered to you TO secure
yosr brothers. influence TO allo~ his protest 70 be
madef A. Governor Kellogg, Governor Packard aud
General Thomas q. Anderson, Of the Returning
Board. rcqaestcd inc to use my infuonce TO have my
brothers protest made ond then sitcr~ard, when
bad been made. they requested use my influence
Nith him 20 have ~ stand; they said would be sals
bcd; that they would see | was returned to the
Senate aud my orothcr would be taken care of.
by Nc. Sptinger-Dd General Anderson say that to
your A. Yes. sir; General Anderson. Governor
kellogg aud Governor Packard ssio so; u was stated
TO mo by L. B jerks also that u wanted to be
elected TO the Senate should pave 10 nie adavr,
hxo the rest OF them; beaten by over twclvs
q. what majority DID the Returning Bonrd give you
10 your district alter throwing out the different
parisnesf A. They gave mo q nisiofity oi between
SIX and seven husdred.
a. Then they reversed tho popular majority OF
L 200 anu returned you elected ny Return ning
Board majority Of SIX or seven hundrcdf A. Yes,
fr.
a Ihis was In consequences OF Jour influence with
your brother that he should allow your protest to
etnndf A. Yes STR.
by Mr.. nun,on--was there any ground for
throwing out the votes OF the parishes OF East
wsst foIicIspa2 A. According TO tho best Of my
kcowsedge and Information there was ground
whatever 10 East Feiiciana; ~ the rspubncans had
nasde o eunvsss there tncy probably would have cast
n respectable vote and much larger vote West
Feiiciana: nave always Uecn SATISFIED that could
have elected n 80 could nave mudc any knu Of
canvass IN those parishes but the republican lead
crs agreed bciof enand, and i understood 10
20 be Part OF their piap, IRON conversations had
wtth Mr. Kellogg about u, not 70 have republican
vote cast there whom visited HIM IN New Orleans
asked BIN 70 give tbs republican committee funds