New-York tribune., 1878-07-27
GENERAL BUFFERS TACTICS.

OF the visit OF the Presidents commission.
GENERAL BUTLERs TACTICS.
Ex-coNGREssMAN sYPHER AND THE SHERMAN LETT
TKR-THE VOTES IN LOUISIANA ron PACKARD
AND HAYEs-THR WORK OF THE PRESIDENTS
COMMISSION.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEl
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., July 2G.--1be beach and
surf were 80 tempting this morning that the Potter
Committee was little tardy In Its meeting Half
Gn-hour late, the MEMBERS their attendants and
witnesses began TO drop into the ocean parlor Of
she United States Hotel, where the meetings are
beld, and they found there larger audience than
has been present at any previous session Of the COM
mttee at Atlantic City.
General Garfield. whose examination was sus-
pended at the hour of adjournment last evening did
not appear; and ex-Congressman j. Hale Sypher re-
turned to the stand apparently for the purpose %
stihenIng up the testimony gave IN regard 10 the
alleged Sherman letter. J. II. Sypher. Of Phila-
delphia the brother of the witness, has appeared
throughout the counsel Of James +. Anderson,
though common rumOr has 1t that his fees are paid
by some one who hoped TO gain personal advan-
tage from the investigation.
The TACT that no such document az the alleged
Sherman letter existed having been completely
demonstrated, and the Anderson-Sypher case being
therefore about to collapse General j. Hale Syphor
was introduced to fire the parting shot as a sort OF
forlorn hope When he was first EXAM
ined, Wednesday evening, IN the pres-
ence of Secretary Sherman, he testified TO bav-
ing been shown a letter by ID. A. Webber,
which purported to have been written by Mr.. Sher-
man, but when he pressed TO swear that the
paper in question written by Mr. Sherman or
not he refused to do In fact after having been
shown a letter admittedly written by the Secretary
of the Treasury General Sypher said that he would
10 fbab ham %
to his when it was two years old. After sleeping
on it for two nights the witness patched up his
statement a little but did not improve il much.
Testimony as to the handwriting of a document
which is not produced and has not been seen for
two years. and even when seen not carefully
examined is not worth much at best. Mr.. Potter
and Mr.. Springer attempted also TO show by the tes-
timony of General Sypher that any falling OF in
the Republican majority in the State Of Louisiana
due to differences of opinion in the Republican
State Convention in regard TO nominations and the
dissatisfaction of Mr.. Pinckback and his friends.
General Sypher explained at length the causes
of difference, and expressed the opinion that the
Republicans lost thereby; but his testimony on this
point destroyed by his own admission that the
Republicans gained in nearly every parish where in
timidation was not alleged. There were some sharp
passages between Mr.. Hisoock and General Sypher.
but his testimony on the whole will not form very
important portion OF the inquiry.
Ex-Gongressman Morey, of Louisiana. who was
counsel for the Republicans before the Returning
Board, having especial charge of the Ouacta Par
ish case, made very favorable appearance before
the committee, though his direct testimony-gven
with great apparent frankness and freedom-wss
not very important. He testified on several topics,
among them the divisions In the Republican party
of Louisiana intimidation in several parishes eto,
After Messrs Potter and Springer were done with
the witness, General Butler took him in hand and
by long series of questions attempted to show two
things: first, that it necessary for the Retun-
ing Board TO throw out of the count of the vote 06
Louisiana, 800 more votes, in order to elect Govs
ernor Hayes than to elect Governor Packard. This
was due the fact that the Of some Of tho Re,
publican candidates on the electoral ticket were
omitted. General Buffers theory was that when
this mistake was discovered new afidayits and new
testimony were taken in order to enable the Re@
turning Board to throw out sufficient votes 20 elect
Hayes. On this point, Mr.. Morey's testimony was
not positive and of the effect of it every reader
must judge for himself
General Buffers second line of questions were
framed for the purpose of sustaining the testimony
of f. l.. Webber, which had been contradicted by
every one OF the visiting statesmen who have been
put upon the stand Webber said that the 27th
of November, 1879. an examination Of the vote had
as it was proposed to make them mp did not elect
President Hayes, while they would elect Governor
Packard. webber added that, when this was dis
covered there was great trouble and anxiety, and
that then the count gone over again by the vs-
iting statesmen the Returning Board and the local
politicians; more votes were thrown out, and the
Presidency saved. Every of the visiting
statesmen denied this story in toto and all agreed
that they never knew how the State had gone until
after the result had been promulgated.
Mr.. Morey said that il was true that there was o
difference of about 1900 between the votes Of
Hayes and Packard, and that this was the subject
of much discussion among the people with whom he
associated. Tables were made up showing how
the votes would stand if the votes of certain
parishes or precincts thrown out. and how il
part of them counted. These tables were
shown and talked about, and he had supposed the
visiting statesmen saw them until he heard them
testify otherwise. General Butler evidently supp
posed he made an important point In securing this
testimony. Passing then to the visit Of the Mae
Yeagh Commission to New-Orleans, General Butter
gathered up all the gossip that current in New
Orleans at the time in regard to the means that
were resorted to TO settle the Louisiana question,
and to put the Nichols government in undisputed
control of the State. General Buffers object was
patent one; it was to throw discredit upon the
work of the Presidents Commission, and to get his
opinion of il into the record of the Potter Com
mittee What that opinion is he has taken no pains
to conceal.
Before General Buffers examination of Mr..
Morey was completed the committee adjourned un-
til tomorrow at 10 o'clock. 1t has been Mr. Potters
purpose to complete the work Of the committee
here tomorrow but it is probable that the sess
sions will continue into next week. When the ses-
sions here closed, the committee viii break up
for while and then, after the testimony taken ip
New-Oreans has been examined, Mr.. Potter wiz
probably call the next meeting in New-York where