Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-30

New YORK, July 29.-The Potter committee
organized in this city to-day, and Ex-Gov.
Palmer, of Illinois, was called and testified.
He said on the 18th of November, 1876, he went
to New Orleans and was chairman of the visit
ing committee after their organization. BE
called on Governor Kellogg. He also called on
Governor Wells and held full and free con-
versation with him. He urged the necessity
for filling the vacancy in the returning board.
He talked to Governor Wells and General An
derson, and impressed upon them that civil
war might follow this matter of the Presiden-
tial election. Gov. Wells professed to feel a
great dislike for local Louisiana politicians OF
che Democratic party, and expressed unwilling
ness to I'LL the vacancy in the returning hoard.
Anderson always expressed his desire to ell the
vacancy, but that he was unable to agree with
other members to who should be selected.
His belief was that negroes were disregarded
in the politics of Louisiana.
Witness found from the statements of some
colored men that many of the parishes had
oeea good deal disturbed, their school money
had been used up, and Democratic politicians
had mace promises to them to vote the Demo
cratic ticket. The Democrats had made extra
ordinary efforts to capture the colored vote.
Governor Nichols had obtained the respect of
colored people down there more than any other
Governor he knew of, and more than Governor
Packard.
Witness had conferences with Gen. Garfield
in which he urged the coalition of the two del
egatlons so SO as to lay the facts before the
country The plan of the board was to lay
aside all disputed returns and take up undis-
puted ones. On the 28th of November witness
asked the board when returns from any parish
were filled that he be given the result, but they
would not do SO until they were compiled.
Witness asked permission from Gov. Wells
to enter the compiling room. Witness thought
some Republicans had access to that room.
He thought he saw Mr.. Hale coming out of
there. He saw Eliza Pinkston when she was
brought into the room by two men, and her
condition certainly was horrible. 1t was about
the seventh of December when witness left
Louisiana. He had heard Mr.. Ascher say that
Judge Levisee stated the election was fraud,
and if he could have 100000 he would give
his vote to Tilden.
Ii witness was asked if the election in Lou
isiana was fair. he would say no. The sense of
the people there was that Tilden and Nichols
were elected. He had heard of no prosecution
against parties charged with committing the
Plnkston outrage. He said to Gov. Wells and
Gen. Anderson that the Tilden electors were
chosen, but that they might fair consider
alton OF the question come to different con-
cluslon, but that this conclusion should be ar
rived at on evidence that could be clearly put
before the public.
Witness satisfied himself as to the perpetra-
ton of the Pinkston outrage by inquiries, and
he supposed that the political parties, then, by
taking the same means of inquiry that he did,
could have also satisfied themselves as to its
perpetrators. He told Governor Kellogg if
these things happened in Illinois he would
bring the parties to punishment or he would
leave the State. He believed that the people
would have been satisfied with the Packard
government if they thought he had been fairly
elected.
After few unimportant questions, Gov.
Pa!mers testimony was closed and the com
mittee adjourned till the 18th of August, un-
less sooner called together.