Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-29

WASHINGTON, D. G., May 2l.-
Following is the letter OF Secretary
Sherman to Clarkson N. Potter on the
subject of the Florida and Louisiana
investigation resolution =. "" .''-
- rs 81 May 90, 1878.
The Hon. Clarkson N Potter, Chairman,
etc, etc: o Ht'aI't.
q Sir-I observe that the resolution OF
the House under which your committee
is organized singles me out personally
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 aud witness the
action of the Returning Board upon
Presidential election returns in the
State of Louisiana in 1876, and in sub
stance charges that at that election, In
East Feliciana parish aad IN part in
West Feliciana parish, in Louisiana.
the Republican vote was withheld and
not cast, in pursuance and execution of
conspiracy by such voters; that IN
furtherance of such conspiracy James
E. Anderson, Supervisor of Reglstra-
tion in East Feliciana, and DR.. 5.
Weber. Supervisor of Registration in
West Feliciapa, falsely protested that
said election in such parishes had not
been free and tair, and thereupon the
Returning Board of said State falsely
ard fraudulently excluded the votes OF
said precincts, and by means thereof,
and of other false and fraudulent action
of said Returning Board, the choice of
the people Of the State was annulIed
and reversed, and THAT such action by
said Weber and Anderson was induced
or encouraged by the assurances OF the
Ho1 ohm Sherman, now Secretary OF
the Treasury"
This resolution requires you to III
vestigate these allegations, and upon
the truth Of these depends the accusa-
ton against me, viz First that there
was conspiracy among the voters to
/ withhold and not cast their votes, with
view to make false charge as to Ell
action. Second, that IN po'nt of fact,
there was free and fair election IN
! East and West Feliciana, which was
falsely protested and returned by said
Anderson and Weber, by which the
votes Of those parishes were falsely and
fraudulently excluded by the Return
ing Board. Third, that the otfense of
Anderson and Weber Was encouraged
by assurances from me.
With view, therefore to meet this
accusation, which, SO far as 1t affects
me, [ declare aud know to be absolute
ly destitute Of even a shadow of truth
| respectfully ask, and now ma Ike for
NAL application for, leave to be repre-
sented before your committee by coun-
sci in the investigation Of all charges
affecting myself personally. f..
| tender and offer to prove that In
point of face the election in East and
West Feliciana parishes was governed
and controlled by force, violence and
intimidation SO revolving as to excite
the common indignation Of all who be-
came conversant with it, aud that
proof was submitted to that effect, not
only before the Returning Board, in
the evidence contained in Ex. Doc.
No. 2, Second Session Forty-fourth
Congress, but also in the testimony
taken by the Committee Of the Senate
on Privileges and Elections: Report
No. 7Ol, Second Session Forty-fourth
Congress. [ will, If allowed, furnish
the names OF six witnesses whom I
desire to examine before you to prove
the truth of this statement as to said
parishes, and that the protests referred
to were true, supported by testimony
and properly acted upon and sustained
by the Returning Board.
To my personal conduct during this
examination l invite your fair and
candid scrutiny, with the entire conf.
dence that not only myself, but my
associates of both political parties,
acted honestly and properly, from a
sense of public duty.
| have requested the Hon. Samuel
Shellabarger to deliver this to you,
and l respectfully designate him as
the gentleman / would desire on my
part to be present to cross-examine
witnesses testifying in relation to
charges against me, and who will as my
counsel, render the evidence in proof
of this statement. sE
The favor of an early reply is re-
quested. { Very Respectfully, " 81
JOHN SHERMAN.