Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-26
THE POTTER INQUIRY.
Testimony Before the Committee at
Atlantic CITY.

TOttefS investigating committee, at Atlantic
City, closed yesterday
secretary Sherman produced copy of
letter he wrote to Gov. HAYES November q.
1916, IN which he spoke at length of intimida-
ton IN different parishes and closed by say
ing that he believed Hayes would have the
vote of Louisiana by an honest and fair re-
turn, according to the spirit and the law of
Louisiana.
GOV. HAYES LETTER.
To this letter Gov. Hayes responded Noyem-
per =, 1916, saying: You feel, 1 am sure, as
% 90 about this whole business: A fair election
would thd have given US about 40 electoral votes
| at tne SOUTH; at least that many. But we are
not to allow our friends tc defeat one outrage
and fraud by another. There must be nothing
Eacs 6v ON our part Let MI Tden have the
rather than undertake to prevent it by means
that viii not bear the severest scrutiny 1
appreciate app M the work doing by the republicans
OF the acknowledged honorable conduct OF
% those from Ohio: The democrats made mis-
converts are proyerbially bitter and unfair
toward those tney have recently left trnSt
you will soon reach the end of the work and
be able to return in health and SAFETY
SECRETARY SHERMAN CONTRADICTS WEBER
witness denied Weber's testimony in refer
erence to plan to manipulate the vote of
louisiana; never promised Mrs. jerks a re-
ward OF any kind for any purpose.
Chairman Potter asked Secretary Sherman
whether ne was not aware that Louis j. Sauer
tT was APPOINTED one OF the local appraisers in
testified before this committee, and whether
Henry c. Clark, formerly Governor kellogg's
Rrlv@ate @ s; secretary, did not also occupy place
In the Office OF the commissioner OF internal
revenue: The Secretary was also interrogated
about f. l.. Weber and Capt. Thos. H. jerks
in connection with appointment to office. The
retary sherman, having been mentioned with
reference TO the last-named, Judge Shellabar-
ger, by permission of the committee, explained
that having received a note from Mr. Vance
the treasury appointment clerk, he merely
went to the department with Captain jerks
and introduced him to Mr.. Vance and then
GEN. BUTLER QUESTIONS SECRETARY SHERMAN.
General Butler-I think Sauer was appoint
ed on the recommendation OF Senator Kellogg.
Dld not the appointment come down to you
you to him?
The Secretary replied-The papers will show
you that. You trench on delicate ground. l
ought not TO tell you what the President said
TO me- or what l said to the President.
General Bntler-I don't ask you for Cabinet
secrets, but have come to the conclusion that
ment.
The secretary--I will give you the exact facts
when we reach Washington.
as postmaster at New Orleans, and Badger
sSSer was appoihted? Was there any my con- con-
The Secretary declined to answer. when
General Butler said, Il want to prove that
nothlng was said in the cabinet about it,
Secretary Sherman then left the committee
room, and returned to Washington last even
ing.
GENERAL GARFIELD WAS NEXT CALLED,
went to New Orleans in November. 1876. at
the request of President Grant. There was
not Wo"d OF truGh in the statement that the
republican visitors advised the returning
board to stretch their powers.
General Butler asked-Have you any doubts
that, if the state was carried for Hayes, it was
also carried for Packard?
Answer. think Packard was honestly elect
ed, but the final outcome was for Nichols.
MT. Butler then went on to endeavor to
validity of Packard's title. Witness intimated
that Packard>s government sustained itself
for three months. but could not have done so
without the aid of troops.
q. DO you know any act of the troops or of
an 0fGer to maintain that legislature?
NJ. HiScock objected to the question.
Chairman POtter-I will leave the decision
OF this question to my colleague (Mr SDrin-
ger), as all the other members of the com
mittee have expressed their views.
Mr. Springer thought the question peril
nent., He would vote to allow the question to
Gen. Butler.--I recognize the right of Mich
Oils to make bargain in his place as much as
Arnold am after
Mr.. Hiscock.-I must object to such insinua.
tlons IN the line OF charges without evidence
to support them.
The question was then asked, namely:-Do
you know of any act of the troops or any
rIert oraer TO the troops to maintain the Packard
A: have no knowledge except current his
tory open to us all.
G. You Rousst said you believed Packard to have
better purpose to which the troops Should have
been applied than in uphOlding him?
A. believe Packard was honestly and law
legislature had declared for Packard in the
nnal form beyond the right of contest. I do
not understand that Packard had passed be-
peal
The further examination of Gen. Garfield
was postponed till this morning.
Testimony in New Orleans as to the
"Ormley Hotel Conference.
Before the subcommittee at New Orleans
Major f. A. Burke testified that on the 18th of
January 1877, he was sent by Gov. Nichols to
Washington to represent the interests of the
Nichols state government. Witness submitted
several kilograms which passed between him
self and Hon. Il. !. Gibson and Secretary
Cameron, showing the relations between the
LOUISIANA state government and the national
government just before his visit to Washing
Stanley Matthews, dated Wormley's, Februa-
ry II, 1877, Saying:-"I In answer to your note
Of this morning, beg to say that l see no OBJ
Gibson on the subjects discussed between u.s.
Witness then read the following:
W2uQr0'S HOtet WGShI7lgtO7l, February Is,
lST.-TO Hon. Stanley Matthews-My Dear
Sir:-In accordance with your request.f called
several times to submit "mem." of points
which, ii understood, would doubtless aid in
the solution of our state affairs. The notes
enc enclosed represent p the policy and determlna-
tion OF the NichOlps government. AS to the
question heretofore discussed every member
OF the government and our people are pledged
to the faithful carrying out of the same in case
the Nichols government should be acQuieSced
in: Should the only government in the state
which commands the respect and support of
the people be OverthrOWn, of course Gov.
: Nichols power to preserve peace or order
ceases, and the responsibility Of remitting the
state to anarchy and each parish thereof to the
control of local factions must rest elsewhere
Respectfully yours, E. A. BURKE
Witness said he visited the House of Repre-
sentatives, and Mr. Ellis there stated to him
that he had received a letter from Mr.. Lamar
stating that Mr.. Matthews, Mr.. Foster and the
friends of Mr. Hayes had made statement in
regard to what they believed to be Mr. Hayes
views On the southern question and what
would be his course toward Packard He
tEllis) thought it necessary to go to Columbus
Ohio, with view to verify the statement that
had been made. Mr.. Ellis stated that he had
communicated the substance of the statement
to Governor Nichols and had telegraphed +,
Mr.. HAYES asking if he had been fairly repre-
sented by those claiming to be his friends
Witness disagreed with MIR. Ellis and tele-
aroII-