The Portland daily press., 1878-08-02
Hartford Courantl
How Democratic Evidence Was OBJ
taiHed.

New Orleans correspondent of the Cir
cinnati Gazette tells the story of the manner in
which evidence was manufactured for the Pot
ter sub-com mittee. The persons who were bull
dozed and inundated in 1876 were chiefly
negroes, ex-slaves, whose interests are all in the
state. and who most of all things desire peace
and quiet. While there was Republican
party and the presence of United States troops
gave them some show of protection, and while
also they were indignant at the fresh recollec-
ton of the outrages they had endured, they
were willing to come forward and give their
evidence against their prosecutors. But the
Republican party no longer exists, and the
power of the general govern nent is no longer
in their eyes to be counted of any avail. They
are left in the hands of the Southern Demo-
crats, and their only hope for the future is in
making the best possible terms with their old
masters. Those who gave testimony before the
returning board after the farce of an election
in 1876 have been ever since under ban.
Hardly one of them is now found in the place
where he then lived. Their testimony made
them exiles To return to their old homes was
to become targets for the bulldozers against
whom they had testified. They have been
marked, and if they would have any peace
they must make themselves right with their
former prosecutors. They have been given to
understand that now is the accepted time.
They are told that the State is hopelessly in the
hands of the Democrats, and that at the next
national election the same men will control the
nation. They are brought forward and con-
fronted with their former truthful testimony.
II they saw any hope for the future there is no
question but they would stand by the truth and
repeat their former sad stories They are
given cruel alternative. To stand by the
truth is to make themselves outcasts; TO lose
the opportunity to work for living; to stand
the chance Of being again whipped and shot at
On the other hand, if they will perjure them
selves they are offered peace and friendship,
and, more than this, are paid literally with
money in hand. The correspondent says there
is no possibility of denying this charge of open
and unblushi1g corruption; Intimidation on
one hand and bribery on the other. "One of
the witnesses but yesterday in my hearing, be-
ing reproached because of his perjury gave the
whole of the situation in a very few words.
What would you do said he, if man came
at you with knife in one hand and roll of
greenbacks in the otber?' His coiored Repub-
lican friends understanding the position. could
have nothing further to say. He admitted
very frankly, in the connection, that he had
got $500 from ear ar pile His case. as given,
is the case with ALL
They are taken in hand and thoroughly
drilled in their lesson. One of them informed
the correspondent that the points to which be
was required to swear were written out, and he
was drilled in them for three days in advance
One honest witness, Dula, took a portion of his
bride, was put through the preliminary drill,
and then went before the committee and ex-
posed the game He was to swear to CONVEX
sation with Secretary Sherman, and was fur
nished with a description of the secretary,
whom he had never seen in his life. The men
who endeayored to corrupt him were under
stood to be agents of Mr.. Tilden, sent for the
express purpose of securing such evidence. 1t
was not surprising that Mr.. Sherman's counsel
considered it uHadvisable to call any more of
such witnesses at New Orleans. If they are re-
examined it will be at Washington, and after
the evidences of bribery have been .unearthed
more fully