The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-21
The Potter Committee.

NEW DIRK, August 2U.-Ma1Or BuTke, OF
Now Orleans, was before the Potter COM
mittee to-day. He was questioned alto
gether ,by Mr.. Butler. Witness said the
highest Tilden electors vote was $3.50,
and the lowest Hayes eector received 49,
240. Witness religiously believed that Til
den and Nichols were both elected.
Witness spoke of his visit to Washington
ON the 18th OF January, rs agent for Gov
ernor Nichols, to secure non-interfercnce
by Government troops with the State gov
eminent. II armed attacks had been made
on Nlcholls's government they would have
been repealed. Witness submitted the fol-
lowing letter from Senator Lamar to Repre-
sentative Ellis:
Washington, February 90, 1S77.-My
Dear Ellis have Just learned from un-
questionable authority, which [ will give If
you wish it, that Foster said to q gentle
NANNY informant-that the speech he
made to-day which so Significantly but in
directly hints at Hayes'S southern policy,
that he made it after consultation with
Mr.. Matthews (Mr. Hayes's brother-in-
law), and Mr.. Matthews told him and
urged him to say squareiy that Mr..
HAYES would have nothing to do or say
to Packard. Foster said he would,
but said he was afraid to take too. much
upon himself to say that; but Mr.. Mat
thews rcIterates his desire that Foster
should say so plumply, and further said:
eff I were to speak I should say it because
it is truth" Foster further said be did not
see the mode by which Hayes could accom-
plsh the practical recognition OF Nichols
as Governor, to which my informant re-
Piled: "Let him ask Nichols il 1 withdraw
the army and gunboats will you assure me
octo1,1ich
by blrodshed and bloody retaliation, and if
Nichols makes the pledge let him with
draw them" Now, Ellis, this is the first
thing I have ever heard as coming from
Hayes, directly or Indirectly, that is worth
acting upon by any southern man. We do
not want offices, but we do want to get
our States and our people free from
carpet-bag government. Ought You not,
If an available opportunity offers, to
serve your people, 10 spring forward at
once and see il you can't free your State ?
I think you should at once see Mr. Stanley
Matthews, and ask him il Governor Hayes
will give you some assurance that he will
not maintain Packard in his dominion OF
your people. Your friend,
L. @. c. LAMAR.
Hon. John Ellis, Representative OF Lou
isiana.
Witness continued: Mr.. Ellis proposed a
conference in the room OF the Finance Com
mittee of the Senate, and there were pres
sent Messrs. Matthews, Dennison, Sherman,
Foster, and myself. / showed them the
guarantees which the Nichols government
were willing to make. Sherman expressed
! anxiety about the United States Senate, and
remarked that if the Nichols government
were at once recognized two Democratic
| senators would also have to be recognized.
1t was finally agreed to call on Grant
and urge him to remove the troops,
as such request would do away with bis ex-
pressed fears Of doing anything to embar-
rass bis successors policy. AS 1 was in the
minority in that conference, it being four
to one, suggested a conference in
the evening, when the other parties,
representing the Democratic side could
| be present. 1t was held in Mr..
Evarts's room, but he was not present.
| There were present at it Messrs. Sherman,
| Garfield. Foster, Dennison, Matthews, Ellis,
Levy, Watterson, and myself. We dis
cussed the whole condition Of affairs.
At this stage OF the proceedings an adj
iournment was taken until tomorrow.