The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-26
POTTER's COMMITTEE.
--s
The Meeting at Atlantic City.
IL
Secretary Sherman Before the
III cOmmitiss.
Sherman. Hayes Correspondents.
A straightforward Tale Ihst Puts Down
the Host Of Psrlsrsd Liars.

l2th Of November the visiting Rspubli-
cans called on the Returning Board 10
pay their respects, having understood
that the visiting Democrats had paid a
similar visit Of courtesy the day before.
The Republicans stated that they came 10
New Orleans at the request Of Gen. Grant
10 witness the count, and not 10 interfere
With the oticiEl dates OF the board and
they expressed hope that the proceed.
ings would be conducted openly. The
Board adopted 3 resolution inviting Eve
gentlemen on each aide 70 be present as
witnesses Of the count. eAfter the Board
had commenced the count on the 10th OF
November and testimony Was TO be taken
under the rules, il became necessary 10
prepare iuterrogatories and cross.inter-
rogatoriea. The visiting Republicans en-.
10 procure copies us last a. they
could on the Republican side, and As
there accumulated rapidly, The work OF
examining the bull doEed parishes wa
Cortlandt Parker being assigned
10 East Felicisns, Gen. Garfield TO West
Mr.. Hale to East Baton Rouge,
Gen. White 70 0uAhcita and Judge Kelly
TO Morehou-e parishes. .
Q. Did you or any Of your associates
meet privately with any member or
members Of the BoArd! +! a. / reply en-
no; ] was never privately
alone with any member ofsthe Board; !
treated the members the sArne "a ! would
have treated any other court or tribunal
before which ! appeared, either as awit-
neSs or advocate; was st dinner with them
and other guests, but never alone; never
mentioned the duties Of the Returning
Board or attended to the investigation or
protest OF any member OF The Returning
Board while In New Orleans; l was in the
Custom House several times, but never
transacted any business there.
O When Jon we're in New Orleans did
you meet with D. A. Weber! A. don't
remember Of meeting either him or An
dsrson except in = casual way mstEith
hundreds of persons without their max
Ing any particular impression on my
mind: | have a somewhat indefinite re-
collection that Weber and Anderson
came TO me al restaurant and engaged in
4 short inconsequential talk and then went
away; Mr.. sioughton va. with me; don
think ever saw them before.
In response 10 the question Sherman
denied emphAtically the truth OF the tes-
timony Of James E. Anderson, alleging
the conversation between sherman and
Weber and Anderson, in which 1t was
that Sherman said, ~ wanted
10 ace syou gentlemen, IS there was come
difhcnlty in reference 70 your PArishes.
Now this Is the crisis in which the whole
country is involved, and it is the time
when We expect every true patriot 10
sland by US. Now i hope you gentlemen
are going to do that thing" "well, Mr..
Sherman" said Weber, "Mr. Anderson
and / have done more than the circum-
stances Of the case would warrant Us In
doing, and have done 8 great deal more
than safety would warrant me in doing.
Sherman said "Whst do you mean BY
thatTs Weber replied: "The people oi
NV Parish are considerably worked up,
and l have made a protest which y
perhaps more sweeping than Il
should have been, and II / 90 back Twill
be undnubiedly in danger of my lie: /"
"WelI," said Sherman, what necessity Is
there for your going baekr Weber
slid aMy flmily is there, my vile and
children. my whole property Is there.
What have / 10 DOR Sherman said :
IiYou can be provided for elsewhere"
Secretary Sherman in reply 70 the above,
aid he never had such . conversation, he
never could have made speech about
The patronage, nor did any
one mention 10 him anything about the
forged protest he never beard oil sueh
n thing. and when IN New Orleans was
very cautious in his expressions. q we're
his associates. Secretary Sherman was
ehovn the letter alleged to-hAye been
written 70. him by Weber and Anderson,
dated November 10Th, 1876, aud aid he
never received any such letter and never
saw or hesrd Of it until it was Published.
When, said Secretary Sherman, this pAt-
ter came 10 my kuoSledge 4 sent home
10 Ohio for MY pspers to be forwarded 10
me. 90 that might find the original oil
this letter, il II Was there sleh letter
could not have been cent me without my
knowing it, any such letters would have
excited my resentment, the letter on ik
face isimnltipg.
8. In What respect Is the letter in;,
suIiing! A. It /. sugeestive ot tAlsehood
and exceedingly improper. They. say ;
1--WE have carefully considered me argn'
ment advanced by you In DOR interview.
Your assurance that We shall be taken
care Of il scarcely specific enough: 10
case We pursue the course suggested 6J
you We would be obliged 10 leave the
State. wiIlyou therefore state inErit-
ing Who We snail look to for the fulhil-
msnt Of those promisesf E, - -
In response 10 further questions, ,Secre'
tary Sherman said that he never suggest
ed 10 these men employment Tor any ser
yice they might reader in connection with
the Returning Board or other way, nor
Uls any promise Of reward ssen inttnai-
with rsrsrtbce TO the alleged reply,
Sherman said most emPhAtieal'
II thai be did not write such a-ietter. Al
the same time, a. be stated, when this
s,igation began. There were things
IN II he would hsVe written 70 these or
any other men who were engaged In the
pefiormaues Of what he believed their
duty II be hsi been mixed, bot be did not
think be wrote the letter. he believed
IL did say 10 eonversAiiOn with various
centIemen that all the Republicans in
fonisiAna who stood by their guns de.
serysd credit. II be had been 4 citizen
Of Louisiana be would probably have
hem killed, for be should have resisted
he ride clubs who, In addition 70 Other
crime, drove The negroes from their
Nome 10 IN sSamps. Hile0hSersations
on M tubiect were similar TO the re:
mx,kS be had uttered in the senate, and
he would make them In New Orleans To-
dsy TApplause by The audience. There
nsSer eolid be peace ard qnieI While
49, tbines occurred. 'IntbefGilotl 1875,
10 IouisisnA, there were scores oi eases oi
ipnmIdGtion, violence and wrong. de
could not think Of these Occurrences
even now without 4 feeling OF resentment
and without exciting his anger. The
testimony was overwhelming. y
Secretary shermAn-In reply 70 ne
question HANDED In the memorandnm De
failing The circumstances Of Anderson
as-1G tf,fl lJsg --sHsFsS5 q