The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1878-07-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
NAsulSGrOS, July 10, 1878.
Editor Democrat:

Between tlosa Republican paper.
which wish tic Potter Investigation to
damage Stanley Matthews, BY. not to
ipjurs John Sherman, and those which
wish to ipjpro Sherman, but not to
damage Mathews, tho readers Of Re.
4 publican newspapers will got little
understanding Of the Ieal Importance
Of the testimony 50 far givcr, aud that
now boiug taken iu New Orleans. It
is being maIu clear that the election in
Louisiana was peaceful one; that
tho negroes il tho Fcliciauas had re.
solved of their own will to yots the
Democratic ticket; aud that tue Be.
publican managers, knowing this fact,
had resolved to hold no election in
those parishes. But tho elections were
held wcro perfectly fais and free; and
Anderson aud Weber, election officers
wcre bribcd by tho Now Orleans
politiciars ard tho visiting statesmen
to make false protests so that the votes
Of tho parishes might be thrown out.
If these facts arc net already establish
cd no facts can bc by human testimony.
Mr.. Reed, Of tho Louisiaqa spb.Com-
mit.ce, ro,urus TO Maius, aud Mr.. Coz,
Of Chic. takes Lis place. Tho sub.
Committee will sit for month or more
yet. Nearly The full Committee will
10 there after 10 or - days.
Tho General Fitz John Porter in.
quiry excitcs great interest from the
fact that parlizau considerations were
believed by many to lase Influenced
members Of tho Court ut lis trial.
Aside from this il would have been Of
interest because Of tho great services
rendered by the accused during one Of
the Seycn Days battles ou tho PENN.
sula, Wkcu having charge Of tho FEEDER.
al Artillery Lu was credited with saving
McClollan's army from destruction.
But after parties convicted by Court
Martial hayo thc same right 10 hear
lug that General Potter has, board
Of army officers, Hx.voluntecrs or
civilians ough. to sit in Washington
for tho purpose of hearing any ex.
soldicr's slat,meut Of his casc, and OK.
aiming the record Of his trial. The
a,tiirary rules of tho regular army
snrc applied to mob Of fresh young
meu, who loft their houes for patriot
ic purpose. and thousands Of them SUI
fer to-day, uudcserved punishment for
petty ofleusas committed ia ignorance.
The BOard could recommend 10 Con-
grcss relief ia cuses where relief seems
proper. | have in mind tho case Of q
Maine soldier, who, returning from
furlougk, lost several days time on ac.
count Of 4 storm which prevented rail.
road travel. Arriving at Augusta on
the day that he SHOULD have reached
Washington, tho sharks who aOurished
in that place arrested him, got $50 for
it, aud sent him hero to 10 tried, He
was tried. convicted Of dcser.ion and
sentenced to loss Of pay and iluprison'
mcut. The Imprisonment eaunOt 10
wiped out, but simple justice requires
that tho money curncd by tho soldier
shOpid be paid him. and that the
Government records should show,
somewhere, tho iaets in bis case.
There arc many thousands Of cases like
this.
No intelligent Democrat will be SC
fur insultcd by tho Radical at,ack, just
Tow at its ticrccst, against Speaker
Randall, as to forget tho leading par.
10 had ip forcing :hct party to loosen
tue shackIcs Of tho South aud in bring.
ing National Democracy cut Of its
worse than BabylOnish captivity. Nor
will honest men, heretofore acting with
tho Republican purity, bc deferred
from their purpose to ind d more con.
genial home aud associates with their
late enemies, by tho effort now being
male all along the Republican line to
smirch Mr.. Randall because 10 dared
to call the attention Of tho country to
the steady progress Of tho Democrats
III Congress, under his lead. in bring
ing down appropriations to reason.
able 6gurc, and gradually working tho
old ship Of State around to her ancient
Democratic muoriugat Whatever per.
sonal preferences nny bc, tho inherent
love Of justice aud fair play that has
always characterized tho great mass Of
tho JciEersonian Democracy, will lead