Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-09
Tim.

Congressman William d. Kelley, Eugene Hale
and Mr.. CORTLAND Parker appeared as witnesses
and testified thatthey had visited New Orleans
in November, 1876, at the request Of General
Grant. The evidence of witnesses was intended
to show that everything done by the returning
board during the presidential countwas regular
as far as they or the other members OF the
Republican committee were concerned.
Congressman Danforth was recalled and
asked by Gen. Butler whether there was any
doubt that if the Hayes electors we're elected,
Packard was elected governor Of Louisiana.
The witness replied that there was no discrep-
ancy or difference between the votes cast for
Hayes and those cast for Packard except in
Natchitoches where Packard had 200 or 800
more votes than hayes. Ex-Congressman ].
Hale Sypher, of New orleans, was ex-
amined by Chairman Potter. He testified
that at the time the Republican visitors
went to Louisiana he met d. A. Weber, a
supervisor of elections at the entrance to
the custom house on Canal street, and
Weber asked him, "Can l take the promise
of gentlemen who are here to provide for me
if l am driven out Of my parish?" Witness
said in reply, "Whom do you meanp" Weber
named Matthews and Sherman especially. Wit
ness then said. "These gentlemen stand very
close to the incoming President, personally
and politically, and l think you can trust them"
Weber remarked that he had been deceived
good many times, and as he did not feel like
taking any mans verbal promise, he would de-
mand promise in writing. Witness said that
that was the only way. The next day he again
met Weber, who exhibited a letter, HIGH wit
ness read and then returned to him. Weber
made no special remark but appeared to be
pleased with the letter. 1t purported to be
signed by John Sherman. Witness had seen
Shermans handwriting. Would not swear
that the letter was in Sherman's handwriting,
hut fn 10 him fhiply
not his handwriting. Witness presumed it was
his. He could not give the purport, but the
published letter, the original of which he had
hastily read, seemed to him to be substantially
correct. On cross-examination, witness said
he could not swear that the signature to the
letter Weber showed him was genuine. Score.
tary Sherman made statement about his
going to New Orleans in 1876, at the request Of
General Grant. He stopped at Columbus, on
the way, and had general conversation with
Hayes. Adjourned
The examination Of Secretary Sherman was
begun by the committee and lasted four hours
He said that on November II, 1876, the visiting
Republicans called on the Returning Board to
pay their respects. They said that they came
| to New Orleans to witness the count not to
interfere with the official duties of the board,
| ings would be conducted openly. The board
adopted resolution inviting five gentlemen
| on each side to be present as witnesses. The
| witness said that he was never alone with any
member of the board, but treated them the
same as any other court before which he
| appeared as witness or advocate. He never
| mentioned the duties of the board, or alluded
to the investigation to any member. He
did not remember meeting either Weber or
Anderson, except in a casual way. He had a
somewhat indefinite recollection that Weber
| and Anderson came to him at the restaurant,
| engaged in short inconsequential talk and
then went away. Mr.. Stoughton was present.
Mr.. Sherman denied the truth of the testimony
Of James e. Anderson In regard to a converse
| ton between Mr.. Sherman and Weber and
| Anderson, in which the secretary said that
| they could be provided for elsewhere than in
| Louisiana The witness testified that he
| never could have made speech about
controlling patronage. nor did any body
mention to him anything of forged protest
When in New Orleans he was very cautious in
his expressions as were his associates Wit.
ness was shown the letter alleged to have been
written to him by Weber and Anderson, dated
November 20, 1876, and said that he never re-
ceived such letter. and never saw or heard of
it until it was published. Any such letter
would have excited his resentment. He never
suggested to these men employment for any
| service they might render in connection with
| the Returning Board, or in any other way, nor
was any promise of reward even intimated.
With reference to the alleged reply Secretary
Sherman SAID most emphatically he did not
write such letter; at the same time, however.
as be asserted when this investigation began,
| there we're things in it that he would have writ
ten to these or any other men who were en-
gagged in the performance of what he believed
| to be their duty il he had been asked, but he
| did not think he wrote the letter. He believed
| he did say in conversation with various gentle
men that all Republicans in Louisiana who
stood by their guns deserved credit. If he had
been citizen OF Louisiana witness said, h.
should probably have been killed in resisting
attempts to intimidste. Witness produced
letter written by him to Governor Hayes
dated November 20, 1876, and the latter's reply.
| The letters referred to the condition of affairs
| in Louisiana. General Garfield was the mex
witness and testified that he had visited New
| Orleans on the invitation Of General Grant in
| 1876. Witness believed there had been intimi
dalton in Louisiana, and that many of the
| statements Of E. L. Weber were inconsistent
| with truth On cross-examination by General
Butler witness said he believed Packard had
| been honestly and lawfully elected governor Of
Louisiana. Adjourned.
Ex-Congressman J. FL. Sypher was recalled
and testified that, although he had said in his
previous examination that he could not q ate
| to what documents he had ever seen Secretary
| Sherman's signature attached he had recol-
| lected since that he had seen such signature in
autograph albums, and attached to apetition for
office. St. Mary's parish, La. in which witness re-
sided, had been very peaceable during the cleo
| ton, although he had heard OF violence in some
sections. He thought Mr.. Packard's nomina-
ton had caused lukewarmness in some local.
| ties. Witness said that to the best of his rec
| election he thought when Weber showed
him the alleged Sherman letter that the hand
hat 49, o. MI
| next witness, ex-Congr essman Frank Morey of
Louisiana, testified that the subject of ball
| doing had been discussed IN Madison parish,
La, and 1t was agreed not to practice it, in
consequence Of which there was an increased
Democratic majority. Witness did not know
| Of single conviction for political murder
| under either Kellogg or Nichols administra-
ton. The fact Of intimidation and violence in
certain parishes, witness stated, was not dis
puted. On the face of the returns Nichols re-
ceived majority of votes for governor and
| the Tilden electors majority for the Presiden-
| cy; the Returning Board threw out enough
votes to elect Packard, and, after this, threw
out ,512 votes to elect the Hayes electors Wit
ness testified further that he believed the Pack
| ard government was recognized in all parts OF
| the State and could have maintained itself, and
Republicans and Democrats alike in Louisians
supposed it would be maintained. Adjourned
The examination of ex-Congressman Morey
was resumed Witness believed Packard could
have maintained himself without the aid OF
Federal troops. General Butler asked: Sup
pose Governor Tilden on the 4th of March
| 1877, had established himself by the aid Of the
New York militia in the city of New York, al
part OF the United States, on the ground thai
the people had elected him, but that he haC
been cheated out Of the election by the Re
| turning Board of Louisiana, and had sent
commission to Congress in order to secure re
cognition; and, after certain proceedings o.
bribery, intimidation and corruption, ant
after the bonds of the United States hat
come down thirty cents on the dollar OF
account OF trouble and anarchy, ant
surprising the majority in Congress wer'
cided to recognize Tilden as President, ant
the majority Of members of both houses haC
agreed to that and decided to form Congress
| To receive al Vnnoea from him sending hin