New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-17
LISTENING TO A PERSONAL SKETCH.
Mr.. LEEr ALLOWED TO EXHAUST HrMsELF-oU1

N
Mr.. LEET ALLOWED TO EXHAUST HIMsELF-oUT-
LINE OF THE METHODS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Leet completed his biographical sketch of
himself yesterday. and Mr.. Potter discharged him
from further attendance on the committee. The
witness did not seem to appreciate the considerste
manner in which he has been treated by The TRIB-
USE, and launched ont into attack upon it's
Editor This was too much for Mr. Potter who had
already endured great deal from this Witness and
he cut him short before he had completed his first
sentence Leet then took from his pocket memo
randum-book, from which he read brief sketch of
his life from his birth to the time when he first be-
came acquainted with Governor Kellogg-he had
already given a pretty full account Of his subse-
quent career This was followed by an exhibition
of the Lcet genealogical tree and the production of
n lot of unmportant letters written by Kellogg,
West Darrall, Nash and others.
The committee will meet again on Monday, when
it is expected that Major f. A. Burke will be placed
upon the stand and examined by General Butler. 1t
will probably require about three days for Burke 10
tell all he knows about the Wormley Conference
and the MaeVeagh Commission. and after that the
present disposition of the committee to be to
adjourn until frost comes. Then the inquiry will
probably be continued in Washington. and through
another subcommittee which will be sent IN New
Orleans.
The purposes Of this investigation are too well
understood to need long explanation at this late
day. General Butler is a member of the committee
in order that he may throw mud at the Admns'ra-
ton and "get even" with the Hon. Wayne Mac
Veagh In this part Of the inquiry the Democrats
feel no interest. They believe that even if an ar
rangement was made at WOrmley's Hotel
by which the Democrats saved the State
Government of Louisiana (of which no
proof has yet been producedl, it was all right
They look with equal complaeency upon the APP
pointment Of the MacYeagh Commission and the
work it did in New-Orleans Mr. Potter himself
was not in favor of allowing General Butler to
waste the time of the committee over these matters
but the other Democrats, suppOsing that if General
Butler was allowed TO throw enough mud at the
President some Of it would stick, oyerruled the
chairman. THIS has made Mr.. HiscOck necessarily
the representative counsel of the Administration
and the Republican party-a position which he has
filed with remarkable tact and ability. 1t is very
easy for General Butler, by the use of argumenta-
tive and leading questions to leave the testimony in
such shape that it would be damaging to the
President and the party which elected him; while a
few questions in cross-eEamination skfully framed
by Mr. Hiscock completely upsets the Essex states
mans work. Butler has resented this more than
once, and Mr.. Hscock has rendered service TO his
party that will not soon be forgotten.
The Southern Democrats on the committee have
also an object in view aside from that which caused
the raising Of the committee. 1t is to destroy If
possible, the last vestige Of respect or sympathy
that may survive in the North for the carpet-bag
governments Of the Southern States and to con-
vince the North that bulldozing is not resorted to
in the South az a political expedient. To this end
Leet was called TO testify in NewYOrk, and scores
Of negroes were put upon the stand in New-Orlesns.
It is believed 10 be the purpose Of the Democrats
of the committee TO submit report to the House of
Representatives early in the next session. and to
make the debate upon il one Of the leading features
Of the Winter.