The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-01
Two Important Letters.

In view Of the malignant and reyolutiona
ry purpose manifested by the Democrats
who supported the Potter resolution, and
the malicious spirit shown in the criticisms
of Secretary Sherman by the Democratic
press, the following letters will be read with
interest by all fair men,. The occasion of
their coming to light was the examination of
Secretary Sherman before the Potter com
mittee, sitting at Atlantic City, N. j. Ia
ken in connection with the testimony of
Mr.. Sherman as elsewhere given, it places
the Potter Committee and those who sup
ported it, in a very unenviable light, especi-
ally so when it is considered that the Dem
ocrats were anxious to avail themselves of
the testimony of such periured rascalsas An
derson and ETA Weber, to defame and de-
stroy the character OF a cen tlem an holding
a high position in the government and the
estimation of the country, whose private and
public record had been without blemisli, and
all because he happened to be a Republic
can:
THE sECRETARYs LETTER TO HAYES.
while in New Orleans he wrote letter to Gen.
Hayes, as follows
Estate OF Louisiana, Executive Department,
New Orleans, November %, 1875. My Dear Sir
/ have not written you sooner FOR the progress
of our visitation will be known to you through
papers sooner than from my letters. and the tele-
graph office here is more public than sheriff $
sale. We sometimes hear of private kilograms
before they are delivered. The action of the re
turning board has thus far been open, fair, and
only confirms The general result known before.
We are now approaching the contested parishes;
West Feliciana, Morehouse and 0nachita, the
evidence OF intimidation is so well made out
on paper that no man can doubt as to the Just eX
cluSion of their votes, In these parishes alone
We ought to have q majority of 1000. but under
the law the entire return must be excluded of
all election districts where intimidation has at
fected or changed the result. If this is done the
result will give the Hayes electors majority in
the aggregate of "a i'll. and the Tilden electors
q, 633, but in almost every parish the official re-
turn varies somewhat from the stated maiorities
and thus far slightly reduce the republican ma
l0rity. The vote OF each disputed parish has thus
far been laid aside. and among them are two par
ishes where most foolish blunder or something
worse was made in emitting from the republican
tickets the names of all the electors but the two
senatorial and one district elector. The demo-
Gratis claim this will lose us over 1000 votes but
our friends, whose information we have general
ly found confirmed, say it will lose us at the
most !, l93 votes. The law seems conclusive that
the defective ballots cannot be count
ted for any electors but those named on the tick
ct, though it is conclusively shown that the re-
naming electors were omitted by reason OF the
mistaken idea that the district could only vote
for one elector. The whole trouble has grown
out of the fact that in these two parishes cand-
date for district Judge was not named on the
ticket printed by the State committee. We I'M
dertook to correct this by printing new tickets,
which were voted in those parishes. The result
of this blunder will leave the poll close as to
render it proboble that one or more of the Til
den electors would have majority. There are
other parishes where the organized intimidation
was not general in the parishes named,
though in single election precincts it was effec-
tive These parishes, where formal protests
ha hnn l.
Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Lincoln, Richland and
Sabine. How far the proof in these par ishes will
sustain the protest, cannot Judge until the
evidence is heard before the returning board
We are now collecting the testimony as to the
sory ef PAT than Of - cvzsd aud chrstan
communities. The means adopted are almost
incredible, but were fearfully effective upon
ignorant and superstitious people. That you
would have received at q fair election by a large
majority in Louisiana no honest man can ques-
ton; that you did not receive majority is
kind and nature provided against by the Louisi-
ana law did enter into and control the election
in more election polls than would change the
result and give the republicans the vote | be-
lieve firmly as that write this. The difficult
ty of gathering this testimony and putting 1t in
legal form has been very great but believe it
has been fully met The whole case rests upon
the action OF the returning board I have care
opinion OF Gov. Wells and Col. Anderson. They
are firm, judicious, and, as far as l can judge,
thoroughly honest and conscientious. They are
personally familiar with the nature and degree
of intimidation in Louisiana, They can see
that the intimidation as organized was with a
view OF throwing out republican parishes rather
than endangering democratic parishes. Our lit
tie party are now dividing out the disputed par
ishes with the view of a careful examination of
every paper and detail
ssMany are impatient of the delay, and some
have gone home. We will probably be able to
keep about ten here We have incurred some
liabilities for reporting, printing, &C., but hope
it good II not we must provide for it ourselves.
We are in good hope and spirits, not wishing the
return in your favor unless it is clear that it
ought to be so, and not willing to be cheated out
Of it, or to be sbull-doZed inundated. The
truth is palpable that you ought to have the vote
it by an honest and fair return, according to the
letter and spirit OF the law OF Louisiana. Very
truly yours,
"JoHN SHERMAN"
RESPONSE OF MR.. HAYES.
To this letter Gen. Hayes responded as follows.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, Nov. 81, 1s76.-My Dear Sir I
am greatly obliged for your letter of the 23rd.-
You feel, am sure, as l do about this whole
business. A fair election would have given us
that many But not to allow our friends
to defeat one outrage and fraud by another
There must be nothing crooked on our part, Let
Mr.. Tilden have the place by violence, intimida-
ton and fraud rather than undertake to prevent
it by means that will not bear the severest scru-
sentatives who have gone South, and am espe
cially proud of the acknowledged honorable con-
duct of those from Ohio. The Democrats made
a mistake i'll sending so many eX-repub licanS.-
New converts are proverbially bitter and unfair
toward those they have recently left. I trust you
to return in health and safety. Sincerely,