Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-02
The Testimony Of the Visiting states
rnem

men.
The testimony given by Secretary Sherman
before the Potter committee last week, with
its explicit denial Of the storie, told by Andcr-
son and Z. l.. Wtbtr-au omhodying MS IL
docs Mr. Shcrmans straightforward letter
from New Orleans to Mr. Hayes and Mr.
Haycs's honest and manly declaration in re-
PHYS an interesting and important contri-
button to the political history Of the times.
Mr. Hale Of Maine, Judge Kelley Of Pcnnsyl-
vania, and Mr.. Danford and Gen. Garfield Of
Ohio, Of the celebrated visiting statesmen, -
have also testified before the committee and
their evidence in all respects strengthens and
confirms the general tenor of that given by
Mr. Sherman. The Boston journal in speak
ing of the testimony given 10y these gentle
men, taken as a whole, says that it establish
es the conclusion which Lad been previously
reached 10y all fair-mindcd men, that these
persons went to Louisiana, Mt the request of
Gen. Grant and Republican organizations, to
see that there was fair count Of the vote Of
that State. They had no plan Of action ont
side of that perfectly legitimate object; they
entered into no schemes, nor sanctioned them
in Others to interfere with the electoral pro.
cess. They had no understanding with, or
instructions from, Mr.. Hayes. This is made
particularly clear in Secretary Sherman's tos-
timony. He shows that the course of the
Republican and the Democratic visitors was
substantially the same. With regard TO his
own conduct. Mr. Sherman declares that he
never said anything in Louisiana about con
trolling patronage, nor did anybody receive
from him any promise of reward for services
rendered in connection with the returning
board, although he did say-and to his own
honor-thnt AL Republicans in Louisiana
who stood 10y their guns deserved credit -
The sherman letter, so called, ne empl,ati-
cally repudiatos as "A forgery, if any sucl doc
umont ever existed.
The correspondence between Mr. sherman
and Mr.. Hayes, now for the first time made
public, is very important as contemporary
evidence. Shermans letter, written from New
Orleans, Nov. %. 1876, gives a stuightfor-
ward account Of the election facts es he had
ascertained them up to that time, and says
that his associates were dividing out the dis
puted parishes with a view of careful exam
nation Of every paper and detail lie re-
cords his deliberate conviction that the vote
Of Louisiana fairly belongs to Hayes, and he
says. I'VE believe that you viii have it by
an honest and fair return, according 10 the
letter and spirit Of law in Louisiana Mr..
Hayes replies, four days ufterward, in the
same dsiuter,sted, honorable spirit. Will,
he believes that fair election would Lav,
given 10 Republican electoral votes at til,
South. there must be nothing crooked on
our part" to change the actual result. Let
Mr.. Tildon, he says, have the place by vi.
olence, intimidation and fraud rather than
undertake to prevent it by means that viii
not bear the sevcrcst scrutiny Not mucl
conspiracy no underhandcd agency, here
Gen Garfield fully coiTohoratos this view
He pronounccs it a lie that he or any of hi,
visiting associates advised the returning boart
to stretch their power to the utmost extent
with a view of throwing ont Democratic votes
While these examinations were going OF
before the main branch of the Potter com
mittee, the Louisiana branch had before i
Major Burke. who has had TO stand the hrur'
of Democratic charges Of fraudulent conniy
ance with the then incoming administration
for the support of the Nichols Government
The negotiations related, and presented il
writing 10y him, show that Grant was NOR,
disposed in Nicholas favor than Hayes was
the latter BEN 4 mainly concerned that tn,
Withdrawal of the troops should work no Diet
riment to the colorcd people and the genera
welfare of Louisiana. The whole record " i
bear the closest inspection, considering th'
| circumstances of the crisis