The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-06-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
MAY 90. 1878

to recognize the Importance Of the in
quiry proposed by Mr.. Potter's reso-
luton. The secretary has written a
letter to the Chairman Of the Potter
Committee, asserting his own limo
cence Of any wrong, asking to be rep
resented before the committee by
counsel, and offering to prove that
there was violence in some of the
Louisiana Parishes in the election OF
1876. In short, the Secretary has
suggested programme for the Re
publican members of the committee,
and we may expect them to attempt
to prove in mitigation of unquestion-
ed frauds in the action of the Louis
lana Returning Board, intimidation
of colored voters at and prior to the
election.
Any one who is acquainted, as the
writer of this letter is, with the mate
rial Of which the colored voting pop
ulation is made up, and knows the
tendency of q considerable portion of
it, increasing steadily since the war,
to vote with the whites, knows that
nothing but ntimidation-the intim-
idation of blacks by blacks-has kept
the voters of the race substantially
unanimous in favor of Republican
candidates. More than five years ago,
and again at his old home in Mary
land a year ago, Fred Douglass rec
ognized and commented on the tend
ency Of the former slave to vote with
'his old MASTER" 1t is intimidation
that has prevented what Douglass
thought inevitable. This is the real,
ehectual intimidation that has CON
trolled the politics of the South for
years. In proving, if they can, few
acts of violence on the part of conser-
yative white men in Louisiana, at or
before the election of 1876, the Re
publicans will call attention to q
slight symptom of disease on the sur
face of the southern political body
The greater trouble was not 80 APP
parent, but was much more danger
Gus. In the matter of intimidation
the committee should adopt the Sec
retary's suggestion if they consider
the subject at all, and be thorough.
No plan of investigation has been
decided upon by the committee. 1t
is believed, though that five of its
members will remain here, three 90
to Louisiana and three to Florida
A report is hoped for early in July.
Mr.. Hayes was in consultation on the
subject with Secretary Evarts, Sec
rotary Sherman and Representative
Foster, at the house of the last nan :
ed, the other evening.
Senator Bayard yesterday in an
eloquent speech, told a great deal of
truth about this District, and about
the responsibility of it's present finan-
cial condition, and the duty of the
General Government connected there
with. This Senator has habit of
speaking his convictions, whether
they lead to popularity or not. In
this matter | have no doubt that in
| the near future all will concede that
the Senator was entirely just in plac-
ing the responsibility for much of
our District debt upon the Federal
Government, because incurred by its
officers and for it's benefit. But too
many Senators and Representatives
lack the courage of Senator Bayard.
Gen'l B. F. Butler commenced, the
other night, speech which was ev;
UTILITY lllCdub W uttNC CllCSt III khdSNst-
chusetts and other Eastern States.
Before finishing, his hour expired,
and objection was made to his con
tinuing- He will finish the speech at
another time, and send immense num-
bers of it to New England. 1t treats
of labor, finance, and other topics
which are believed by some to have
more interest than any otfe- qucs-
ton to an increasing portion of the
people. Butler is prepared to take
advantage of any defections from the
two great parties, and is supposed
to have vanity enough to permit him
to expect the highest honors.
The tenor of debate in the House
seems to show than any considerable
reduction of the army will be impos
sible at this session. But its expense
will be lessened. REX.