Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-06-29
THE POTTER
Investigating Committee Examines Dem
MS, Minister NOyes, and Gov. stearns
as to the Frauds and Yillainies
Practieed In Florida in 1876.
NOyes Denies Everything Charged against
him, and Ayers Himself a Sweet
Lamb OF InnOcence-s.Oh! Sweet
Lamb! Sweet Lamb!'
And Yet he Promised to Recommend
Min for Position where he Could
Take Care of Himself and his
Family, for Doing his Duty.

Famlly, IOr DOing his Dutys
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The Potter com
mittee appointed Messrs. Hunton, Nj Mahon
Springer, Butler and Hlscock sub commit
tee to remain in Washington and take testl
mony. Messrs. Potter, Morrison and Coz
will act as relief for it aud the sub-commit
tee in New 0.leans.
AT the session to day
Mr.. L. Il. Dennis
resumed his story. He said box No. 2, o.
Archer precinct at Alachua county, Florida
was objected to by the Democrats on account
of the alleged fraud. The inspector of polls
had, In a confidential conversation with wit
ness, admitted that there had been two hun.
bred and nineteen fraudulent names added
to the list of voters, and his knowledge o.
this fact was partially the cause OF his de-
Clining to testify as requested by Governor
Noyes. The addition to these two hundred
aud nineteen names was matter of public
notoriety.
The witness was appointed by the secretary
OF the treasury as an emplOye In the secret
service. His instructions were to examine
the records In the United States courts IL
North and South Carolina, Georgia anG
Florida. After resigning this position he
was appointed agent of the internal revenue
but his commission was Cancelled before he
entered upon the duties of that Office.
The letter of recommendation written by
Governor Noyes was submitted. 1t is for
NAL Letter of recommendation to Secretary
Sherman. mentioning tue witness as one Of
many Republicans ostracised In Florida, and
commencing his application to the consider
alton of the secretary.
Witness never knew of Governor Moves
having put In evidence before the returning
board anything excepting the facts furnished
him. 1t was the idea of southern Repuhli.
cans to impress upon the minds of northern
Republicans that everything was fair and
honest in Florida. Witness believed the re-
turns from Archer precinct should have
shown two hundred and nineteen votes in ex-
cess of what they did for the Republican par
ty. Republican officers made up the def.
cheney from the registration book so as tc
make the returns show the proper number o!
votes He believed there were frauds or
both sides. When the votes We're turned out
of the box the missing number OF Republican
votes appeared as having been legally cast.
Witness testified that Black, the Republi-
can inspector of elections, and Vance, the
Republican clerk, had made affidayits to t1e
correctness OF the return, and his reason fol
not wishing to go on the stand was that his
testimony would have tended strongly to have
contradicted theirs. He did not disclose this
knowledge to Governor Noyes, but simply
tried to impress him with the idea that he
had not better put him on the stand because II
would ipjure his case.
MIR. Butler stated that he had gone into
the examination at greater length than he
intended, because he wanted to show thai
Governor Noyes had no knowledge at thai
tim. of the facts testified to by the witness
Mr. Hlscock said he expected to produce
the evidence of Vance and Black, showing
that they did not raise the return, and also
evidence showing that as many men swort
that they voted the Republican ticket, whose
names were on the poll list, as were certified
to by the returns. He was willing 10 leave
the issue right here, with the understanding
that the point was not closed before the pub
lie.
Dennis was instructed to hold himself il
readiness to appear before the committee, il
having been decided that the matter of the
manipulation of votes in Alachua county was
not yet closed.
Edward +. NOyes,
United States minister to France, testified
that he was In attendance upon the canvass
ing board in Florida during the last Presi
dental election; did not go at the request o.
with the knowledge of Governor Hayes, anC
while there did not receive either kilograms
letters or communications of any sort iron
Governor Hayes. He took legal part in the
proceedings of the canvass, arguing cases be
fore the board of canvassers, etc. He under
took to find out the facts relating to the al
legged fraud in Alachua county, Archer pre-
cinct, No. 2, and owing to parties swearing
one way, and Immediately thereafter directly
opposite, ne lost all confidence IN them; bu
finally, from diligent inquiry, and the consist
ent testimony Of some forty or fifty Republi-
cans that they had voted the Republican
ticket, he reached the honest conclusion tina
the count was returned correct. He hao
asked Dennis to be witness, and he Den
mis- had proved the correctness of the vote
in question to the satisfaction of wit
ness. He did not doubt Dennis's word tha
he intended to impress upon him [Noyes
that it would not be safe for him to %
on the stand for the Republicans, owing tc
his knowledge of the fraud, but that ht
witness could now solemnly swear that M
such impression was conveyed by the remarks
of Mr.. Dennis, and General Wallace, WIKI
was present at the time, and who was nov
In the commlttee-room, would corroboratt
| his Noyes's statement. Witness pronounced
| the statement made by General Cooke before
| the Florida sub committee, to the effect tha
| he witness Cowgirl, Governor Stearn
| and M Lin were locked up together in
room at the secretary of state before the
| meeting of the board, an unqualified
| falsehood. He had no such conference witt
any of these gentlemen that required locked
| doors, and with NJ Lin he had nv private con
| ference at all Governor Moves then submit
| ted in evidence two letters written by NJ LII
IN a very friendly spirit. In which ne pictured
| very deliberately the frauds perpetrated b,
| Dennis and the delight he experienced upoI
! learning the success of the Republican party
| and embracing in his last letter request tina
witness should aid him In securing the posi-
| ton of district judge of Florida.
| The following is one of the letters alludet
| to:
| TALLAHAssEE. Fla, January %, 1877.
4 Hon. E. F. Moves, Cincinnati
DEAR SIR-Lamentable changes hav
| taken place since we parted on the sixth G
December last. Then we were hopeful an
| happy in pleasant assurances that Governo
| Hayes would be inaugurated our next Presi
| dent. Now we are Inundated with the nea
| approach OF defeat; not an honest defeat, bU
| a defeat that will be brought about by crave
| submission and sheer cowardice. As to Flol
ida, recent developments show that the Dem
ocratic frauds and villainles were even greai
er than we had any idea Of at the date Of th
canvass. he senate committee held session
in Gainesville, and succeeded in proving u
all the Democratic voters, while Mr.. Elem
ing, smart witness, could not testify as
twenty Democrats who voted at Archer prs
clnct No. 2. The Republicans who WEI
l proven TO be dead were produced in the t1esf
and testified that they voted at said precinc
But, my dear governor, what does all III
| amount to when we have such men as Bal
| low among our great Leaders
| When senator's crayenly quake IN the
boots when they hear the rebel yell. If Tide
is inaugurated it will be through the shet
cowardice and treachery Of the men we wei
pleased to look upon as great and good mel
| At the present writing there does not seem
| be CLEAN of hope. Four years will quick
pass away with the Republicans of the mort
but with US of the south they will roll wit
the weight of centuries. l fear, indeed. tn
the black cloud OF Democracy will never
| removed. feel sick at heart for the 10y
men, black and white, and feel sick for m
self. If my health would permit, | wou
gladly seek more con2enlal latitude; as it j
] l must brave the tempest of prescription al