The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-07-04
The Potter Com mm:ttce.

| WASHINGTON, June 81. - The Potter
Committee questioned eN-Marshal Pitkin
upon the method of employing deputy
marshals in Louisiana.
Pitkin said he always believed in the le
gslity of the Packard Legislature, and was
of the opinion that the Packard government
could have sustained itself within three
weeks after recognition by the administers
tion, without the aid OF Federal troops.
The witness narrated the statement made
| to him by Goo. J. Swazey of the conference,
OF a member of the Packard Legislature.
and members Of the McNeagh Commission,
Immediately preceding the withdrawal oi
the troops and the recognition of the Mich
oils Government
Pitkin gave detailed story OF this eau
Gus. which he had received from a member
Of the Packard legislature at the confer
ence. After good deal OF discussion,
McVeagh said: III you want to fight, you
can do it, but on next Tuesday the troops
will be withdrawn, and, as the courts are
in the hands of the Democrats, you will all
be hung up to the lamp posts" Next
morning the Packard legislature was vir-
tually disbahded. The witness was prepar-
ed with papers, newspaper clippings ard
the like. Butler himself had a scrap book
in his hand, which cantained number of
clippings from newspapers relating to the
McNeagh Commission and its work In New
Orleans. One of these was a statement by
Mr.. Duprez, manager of the New Orleans
Democrat" to the effect that three men,
bers of the Packard legislature who had
gone over to the Nichols body in order to
make quorum, had been heavily bribed
by lottery company in the interests of the
Democratic party. The witness said that
Swazey told him that General Harlan also
exhibited great petulence during the con-
ference, and said the Commission had been
down there about as long as they wanted to
stay and this thing must be fixed up.
The examination continued at length
upon all Of the McVeagh Commission.
General Butler requested that Packard
be subpenaed to appear before leaving the
country.
Messrs. Hiscock and Cox said that the
minority of the committee were disposed to
accept the testimony of Kilker as regards
the affairs in Louisiana, and suggested ad-
ditional witnesses would only accumulate
evidence and delay the progress OF the in
vestigation.
During the discussion Mr.. Butler re-
marked that he wanted the great fraud
probed to the bottom, and Mr.. McMahon said
the question of going into the investigation
of the McVeagh Commission had been de-
cided in secret session, as he voted for il
upon that ground.
General Butler informed the committee
that an agreement had been entered into,
whereby Louisiana had been made etiec-
tual and that he could prove it.
1t was finally decided to secrete the mat
ter in secret session.
Gen. Butler To wi,ness-I desire to ak
YOU il Won had any conversation with eitiI-
er Howley or Harlan before they returned
to Washington, after the recognition OF the
Nichols Government?
A.-Ies, Sir, | had.
Q-What was said about providing for
those who had lent the administration their
services
A-They said that when they arrived in
Washington, they would see Mr.. Have-
and arrange to have all the leading ke-
publicaus who had borne tie brunt OF the
work in Louisiana taken care Of.
Odd that include Anderson? A.
AndsrsOn's name was no; mentioned.
By Potter-Could the Kellogg Govern-
ment have maintained itself without aid of
the federal troops? A-Ies Sir. There
were no federal troops in New Orleans be-
fore 1874.
After a short executive session the com
mittee took recess.