San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-07-27
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.

Proceedings of the Potter Committee.
Secretary Sherman, on the 9th, addressed
another letter to Chairman Potter in refer
ence to his (Sherman's) offer to furnish evil
dence as to intimidation, etc., in East Felici-
ana, and in reply to the letter of Mr.. Potter,
heretofore published, announcing the deter
mination of the Committee not to go over
the ground traversed by former Congress
sional committees. Mr.. Sherman cites the
fact that the Potter Committee have already
admitted evidence tending to disprove that
fraud and violence existed in the parish, and
complains that he denied the privilege OF in.
Producing g, idence in rebuttal. He also
states that he is now prepared, at the con-
venience of the Committee, to submit testi-
mony to repel the charges made against him
personally, and has given his counsel, Mr..
Shellabarger, a list Of witnesses whom he
asks to be subpDnaed.
Ex-Gov. Kellogg, of Louisiana, was ex-
amined before the Potter Committee on the
18th. In answer to inquiries propounded by
Gen. Butler, he expressed his opinion that
Packard was legally elected Governor, to.
gether with a majority of Republican men,
bers in both houses of the Legislature. On
the face OF the returns the Democrats had
majority, but the Returning Board threw out
enough parishes, on account of alleged in.
timidatiou, to change the result in favor of
the Republicans. Gen. Butler produced ia
bles compiled from Returning Board figures,
which showed that, after the Board mad
thrown out sufficient Democratic parishes to
elect the General Assembly, it was found
there were still two Hayes Electors defeat
ed, whereupon the Returning Board threw
out parishes and precincts until they had
succeeded in securing majority of Hayes
Electors. Witness stated, assuming the
figures to be correct, the finding of the Re-
turning Board left the General Assembly
Republican in both branches. and still left
two Hayes Electors in the minority, while
Packard's majority for Governor was 40l
Gen. Butler question d witness regarding the
appointment by President Hayes of King as
Collector, and asked him If he did not think
the Presidents motive in doing so was to
break up the quorum of the Supreme Court,
of which King was member, in order that
Packard could not carry his case before it.
Witness admitted the effect of Kings ap-
pointment, but was unable to determine by
what motive the President was actuated.
The examination of Ex-Governor Kellogg
was further continued on the 18th. He con-
sidered Packard elected as fairly as the
Hayes Electors, so far as Louisiana was con-
cerned. Gen. Grant had telegraphed the wit
ness day or two before he went out of
office. stating that he had hesitated recog-
nizing Gov. Packard in consequence of there
having been commission appointed to in.
vestigate the result of the Louisiana election
referring to McVeighs Commission). The
witness heard last fal that the Sner-
man letter had been found among
cured possession of it through her Intimacy
with the Weber family. Mrs. jerks had cali
ed on him in New Orleans and spoken of the
sherman letter. While explaining the con-
tents If the document Mrs. jerks sat on a
sofa and pretended to be reading him the
substance of the letter from paper she held
in her hand. Being very busy, aud not car
ing to be connected with the affair, he ad-
yised Mrs. jerks to call on Mr.. Packard,
which he believed she did, but he
was unable to relate what occurred further
than that Packard bad said he did not attach
any importance TO her conversation. The
witness, being questioned by Mr.. Hiscock,
stated that the testimony of r. l.. Weber with
one or two exceptions, in so far as il relates
to him (kellogg) was entirely without fpun-
dafion. He had never been informed by
Weber and Anderson that the elections in
their parishes were peaceable. and that they
could not make protest. on that account
Two letters from ID. A. Weber TO Gov. Rel
logg were introduced. in which the writer
says that the colored voters in the country
are prevented BY picket- from reaching town,
and that an attempt has been made 10 assas-
sinate him (Weberl. 2. DO you know Of any
case where there was a false forged or un-
fair protest, OF any other unfair election pa
Per. that Nas used before the Returning
Board Of ls7ss A. do not Q. i there any
letter which vAs written by you in regard 20 /
the canvass OF action If the Returning BOARD
that you do not wish made publies A No, /
sir; on the contrary, II any one has any let
tiers written BY NE beAr1ng On the election,