San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-10
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.
Proceedings of the Potter Committee.

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Proceedings Of the Potter Committee.
The Committee reassembled, pursuant to
adjournment, at Atlantic City, N. j., on the
sd. Present. Represe natives Potter, Butler,
Hiscock and Springer, and Mr.. shellabarger
OF counsel, -. Representative Danford tes-
tined ne was q member Of the Morrison Com
mittee that visited New Orleans, and there
met Jas. y. Anderson, who told him good
many bulldozing stories about HIS parish
(East Feliciana). Anderson also told him he
had circulated the report that his parish was
going Democratic. the colored vote being
largely on that side. his purpose being to get
the Democrats TO Offer him. money as q bride,
so that he might expose them. '--I- -f
| Representative Kelley, Of Pennsylvania,
testified on the sith that he went to New Or.
leans to witness the counting of the vote at
the request of President Grant. Never heard
any suggestion to manipulate the returns,
nor that the Returning Board was Influenced
by the visiting statesmen to open the returns;
and others as to intimidation; believed there
were frauds on both sides, but that there was
an honest majority for Hayes. .Cort.
H aaa T. PsTssr OF New Jersey also
President Grant. His evidence agreed
with that of Mr.. Kelley..... Representative
Hale, of Maine, also went at the request of
Senator Sherman nearly every day, and did
not believe he ever wrote the letter attributed
to him by Anderson. He believed both Pack
ard and Hayes were elected. -. Eek. Con-
tfifed that D.. A.lWeber consulted him re- re.
garding certain promises which had been
made him, as he said. by some Of the visiting
snS t %spap
handed him a letter, which he read,
purporting to be signed by John Sherman;
he could not remember the text Of the letter
,Npa mi lev 1,kha n A.,
published letter offered in evidence; did not
know that 1t was Sherman's handwriting, but
had no reason to suppose it to be forgery;
the letter was written on note paper.
Secretary Sherman was examined at
length before the Committee on the 25th. He
gave detailed account of the visit of the
Northern Republicans to New Orleans to wit.
ness the proceedings of the Returning Board,
which he testified were fairly conducted, so
far as he was able to determine, and without
the slightest collision on the part of the Re-
publican visitors. In regard to Anderson's
testimony as to interviews between Sherman,
Weber and himself (Anderson), witness said
he had an indistinct recollection of Anderson
and Weber coming into O restaurant where
he sat at table with Mr.. Stonghton and
conversation, which he affirmed was in no
respect such as stated by Anderson in his
testimony; did not think he ever saw either
of them before, and was positive he never
had any such conversation as was imputed to
him by Anderson. Being shown the letter al
legged to have been written by him to Ander-
son and Weber, witness most emphatically
previously stated on several occasions, there
were some things in the letter that he would
have written had he been requested to do SO,
Republicans in Louisiana who stood by their
guns deserved credit. Witness further en-
tered q general and explicit denial as to all
the evidence given by X. l.. Weber, Captain |
Tar,ly md Two Ta,,ly inv,
ed him as being cognizant of any scheme to
manipulate the vote of Louisiana or to re-
ward others for doing. SO. Gen. Butler ques-
ents to oes 81
Clark, and Badger, Postmaster at New Or |
leans, his intention being, as he said, to
show that these men were adherents |
ed upon his RECOMMENDATION. Mr..
Sherman refused to relate any conversations |
which had occurred between him and the |
President regarding, these appointments, but
committee returned to Washington. letter
from Senator Sherman to Gov. Hayes was
submitted. 1t is dated New Orleans, Nov.
pr Of the CANVASS Of the Vote
speaks of the serious biunder of omit
ting the names of all but. two
Electors from the Republican tickets in two
in one district so close as to render it proba-
BILE that one or more of the Tilden Electors
will have majority. The letter says: eve
are now collecting testimony as to the bull.
of hell than of civilized and Christian COM
munities. That you would have re-
ceived at a fair election large majority in
Louisiana no honest man can question. That
you did not receive majority is equal
Iy clear; but that intimidation of every kind
and nature provided against by the Louisi-
at more election polls than would change the
result and give you the vote, believe as
firmly as that I write this. The difficulty
of gathering the testimony and putting it in
1t has been fully met. The whole case rests
upon the action of the Returning Board. I
have carefully observed and have formed
high opinion n OF Coy; , Wells and Col
They are personally familiar
with the nature and degree ofintimidation in
It's, mot wishing the return in your favor unless
It is clear that it ought to be so, and not will
ing to be cheated out of it or be bulldozed or
The truth is palpable that you
ought to have the vote of Louisiana, and we
believe that you will have it by an honest and
air return, according to the letter and
spirit of the law of Louisiana" The letter
n evidence. In it he says: "a fair election
would have given us about 40 Electoral votes
1t the South-at least that many; but we are
lot to allow our friends to defeat one outrage
ng crooked on our part. Let Mr.. Tilden have
he place by violence, intimidation and frasd
ather than undertake to prevent it by means
hat will not bear the severest scrutiny" I
1t the conclusion of his testimony Secretary (
sherman delivered notice that the sub Com
nittee at New Orleans had determined to adj {
ourn on the same day that he received no.
ice that the committee would permit him to
witnesses to prove intimidation of {
republican voters in Louisiana. He intends i
IN the first opportunity to avail himself of I
he privilege. .....Gen. John A. Garfield '
vas next examined. He also went $
o New Orleans at the personal re- {
uest of President Grant. He said {
here was not a word of truth in the state
nent that visiting Republicans advised the
Board TO stretch their powers to
he utmost extent, with a view of throwing S
nut Democratic votes. $50 far as this relates ,
o me it is lie, and is a lie also so far as it |
elates to any body else. IL was the purpose r
4 the visitors on both sides not to NEEDLE
-. ....on.iI,,.. hnfnro tho Rnnrd their | q