The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-28
POTTER'S INQUIRY.
PITKIN ON HAYES-WHAT HE KNOWS
ABOUT THE LOUISIANA
HIGH JOINTS.
Butler Now Getting Even with McVeigh-
Packard Wanted to Prove a Few
Facts-The jerks Tale About To BE
UnfOIded-What Wm. Il. Chandler

Facts-The jerks Tale About TO BE
UnfOIded-What Wm. Il. Chandler
Knows About Florida.
WASHINGTON, June 27.-The Potter com
mittee met at II o'clock this morning. Mar
shal Pitkin was called He stated In reply to
the chairman that If the Anderson protest had
been In his possession when the latter called
for it, he should have returned 1t to him, be-
cause he considered it his property, to do with
as he pleased. The reason he did not give
Anderson any satisfaction as to what diSpoSi-
tion had been made Of it was because OF An
derson's offensive manner on that occasion.
He was subsequently informed by messen-
ger that Anderson was in the outer hall
THREATENING TO SHOOT
witness, and some other Jealous friends came
to witness and asked whether they should
take Anderson in hand. One Of these was a
man named James Casey, a large, brawny fell
low, who asked witness whether he wanted
him to mash Anderson. Witness responded
that this was unnecessary, as he was able to
take care of himself.
Witness then stated, In reply to Gen. But
Ter, that he had never any doubt OF the legal
ity Of the Packard Legislature.
MIR. Hiscock objected to going into this
question because he had no doubt that every
Republican in Louisiana would swear that
the Packard Legislature was right and legal
II every Democrat would swear that 1t was
an outrage.
Mr.. Butler-Pardon me; | dissent from
YOU. l. QOn Z QlIIoT from my COll6hRu6 aS 10
the first portion OF his assertion, and want
to End out why it was that when every Re-
publican in Louisiana believed that the Legis-
islature was legal, one Republican in Wash
ingtOn sent a commission down there to break
itup.
The witness then stated that the White
League element, which had been sustaining
the Nichols government, consisted largely Of
clerks and other business men, who were anx-
iOuS to have the trouble between Nichols and
Packard ended. He furthermore understood
that prominent League officer declared his
readiness, In case Packard was recognized by
the administration, to turn his force over to
Packard. There was also an
ITALIAN MILITARY COMPANY
ready to support Packard.
There was quorum in both houses of
Packard's Legislature. 1t was a matter of
current history that before the change occur
red there were offers Of money to members of
that Legislature to abandon it and go over to
the Nichols body. George A. j. Swazey told
witness upon the street that he was accosted
byGen McMillen, member of fPackard's Leg
islature, now the United States Pension
Agent at New Orleans, who informed Swazey
OF desire on the part of the McVeigh COM
mission to hold conference with the mem
bers of the Packard Legislature. That body,
which had resolved itself into a caucus, sent a
delegation of twelve men. McVeigh was very
urgent In his desire that the Packard men
should join the Nichols Legislature, and in
longer maintain itself; so one OF the commits
Sioners said, witness thinks.
Gov. Warmoth insisted that three Demo-
Gratis who then held seats in the Nichols
Legislature, but who had been declared not
elected by the Democrats, should be unseated.
NcVeigh jumped to his feet and petulantly
exclaimed, ''The Democrats refuse to con-
cede these three men, and that's the end of
then spoke of the removal Of the troops, say
ing that it would make it very uncomfortable
for the Republicans. McVeigh replied, cts
no use to hope for troops. II you think you
can make fight, try it. The Democrats
HAVE ALL THE COURTS,
and they will hang every one Of you to
lamp post. The troops will be withdrawn
next Tuesday"
The delegation withdrew very much dis
heartened. On the next morning there were
not more than seven members of Packards
Legislature at the State-House Mr.. Pitkin
read extracts from the New Orleans DEMO
Graf and Gazette German). in which the
charges are made that the government OF
Packard's Legislature was broken up byibrib-
cry; that the money did not come from the
commission, but was used with their knOwl-
edge and consent; that the commission acted
the part of pimp and procuress, and the
Democrats themselves who acted as agents
In this business, were disgusted at the dis
graceful conduct of the men who had sold
themselves for the commission and the man
who had sent them.
He also stated he received three kilograms
from the New York Times, asking for the
Butler letter, and after a conference with
Gov. Packard witness telegraphed the letter
TO the paper.
was IN New York, and Times reporter
called upon me to get a copy Of that which /
refused to give him, they got 1t in this way.
believe that is what Is called in this country
newspaper enterprise, and in any other Ian
ka On nd fhnff
Witness continued-Mr. Swazey told me
that Gen. Harlan exhibited great reluctance
during the conference referred to, and said
the commission had been down there about
as long as they wanted to stay, and this
thing must be fixed.
Gen Butler at this point requested that a
be issued for Gov Packard, by whom
he proposed to prove the facts allNded to in
protracted discussion as to the scope of the
investigation, and the determination of the
question was left for executive session.
Mr.. Pitkin then stated that he and Gov.
Hahn called upon Gen. Harlan, and the latter
said, "As soon as return to Washington ]
shall see the President and shall recommend
to him that all Republicans who have borne
the brunt of this fight
BE TAKEN CARE OFF,
In response to some objection by Mr.. Hun
ton, Gen Butler said he proposed to prove
thatt the Returning Board were kept up to their
harmed, and that theyEshould be taken care Of.
At D. M the committee took a recess for
one hour.
The committee reassembled at 22O p. m.
and Roger G. Blascock was called to the stand
and testified that during last winter Mrs
jerks boarded at his restaurant on Ninth
street in this city, and he had a conversation
with her, when she told him that she had had
a conversation with Mr.. Sherman; that
SHERMAN HAD INsUITED HER,
and If he did not look out she would make it
hot for him yet. Some days later she showed
witness a reply to an article in the New YORK
Times, written by her. She told him that she
knew Of the whereabouts and had the control
lof q letter from Mr.. Sherman to Weber, which
she received from Mrs Weber. She then said
That she wanted to go to New Orleans and get
The document, and asked witness to lend her
money as she had not enough to get home.
She did CO. and witness knows nothing fur
,ther about the matter.
The committee then passed on to the
Florida ease, and Hon. VIM. E. Chandler was
sworn. He stated, in reply to Mr.. Springer,
hat when in Florida, shortly after the pres
1s--4.of oIooAinn no met Gov Moves AT, Talla-