The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-21
Major Burke Gives the His
tory OF the Count.
GENERAL BUTLER ON THE BARGAIN.
"Mathematical Difficulties In the Way
of lis Completion.
THE WORMLEY CONFERENCE

The Potter Investigating Committee met yesterday
morning the fourth floor of the Post once Build
Ing Mr. Potter, Mr.. Stengsr and Mr.. Hscock arrived
soon after eleven O'Clock, but the other members OF
The committee were very tardy In making their ap
psarance The crowd was larger than on previous
days Major Z. A. Burke was tho only witness exam
ned and he retod tho history OF the electoral counts
showing how the state government was secured Tor
the democrats after they had gwen up the nope VI
having the vote of The State counted Tor Tiiden.
raE PRocEgDiNds
al think will go on without waiting longer ior
General Butler. " said Mr. Potter at twenty minutes
20 twelve but hardly the words cut OF his mouth
when the General appeared the examination was
then proceeded with, Major 4. A. Burke being the
Arst witness slsd Having been already sworn before
the subcommittee IN New Orieaus he was not
again required TO take oath, the examination
being considered merely q continuation OF the pre-
v,ous one He 1 = very slight built, nervous man,
wi,h clear blue eyes, dark hair and a thick, busny
mustache, which he frequently strokcd His hands
we're rather small and thin, and ne frequently beat
ihe fist OF hand with the open palm Of the other
or tapped nervous!y The table in restiveness at
Eeneral Buffers sweeping and incisve questions me
latter ala all the questioning and was evidently oound
TO have his way in the matter, for whenever
brother committee would suggest something dill
tsrent he was at once talked down BY the General,
who, after having subdued his adversary would re-
sumo MS questions In MS own way. General Butter
nrst asked the what position he occupied In
ls76
Witness replied that he charged with the cleo
ton matters in 1879, In Now Orleans chairman OF
the Central Committee ana Registration Bureau.
O. when did you know what we're the results Of the
election for President and Vice PRESIDENT A.
think knew the result OF the election in Louisiana
about the 10th OF November the returns were ell In
ha pariQh of
Two thousand votes.
O. What was the majority OF the highest Tilden
s,ss,or over the lowest Hayes eIeciors A The high
est riden electors vote was So 1853, and the lowest
Hayes eector received u.s. 24o-a difference OF S6l9
O Now give US the vote Tor Methodist A. cannot
DO so exactly.
O. Well, which was the higher maJorityG A. Mich
oils had 1000 votes more than Tildep.
q SO that If this problem was before tho Returning
board they would have to absorb 1000 Of Packard's
votss and then throw out several thousand more
votes in the hayes electoral A. They threw
BOT some ten thousand votes; In the campaign OF
1874 no were cheated out of the election results by
THIS same Returning Board Of 1876 there Was no
change their actions or principles.
O they were the arbitrary unjust men that
Mr. Wheeler had reported them to be III 1874 they wore
thc aro,trsry and uuust men IN 1875 unless they
had repentedp A. We bad evide.cc of Is; they
we're an arbitrary and unjust in i6 as in IA our ap-
peneusons wore Increased by kilograms passing from
hading Republicans all over The country 10 those
leaders LOUISIANA, and showed US that they could
Iustaln those men IN any action they took; the
Loulsi.pa men got respondent alter election and
ABOUT gave II up; but when those kilograms COM
pcuccd, ana the visiting statesmen arrived their
pirls aroused and they never seemed to iai'sr from
that out.
alongY A. They did. str; they seemed to nave new
Lie Unused mo them; there were Two coiorsd men
ON the Returning Board; thoy had received the
report of the speech imputed 70 Mr. Hayes IN which
he was reported 10 have SAID that ho not Tor
hmss but he sorrowed Tor the safety oil the coiored
o. they had this additional Inducement 10 look
,iter Mr.. HAYES and tako care OF him aud not leave
pim in this sorrow, had they NOR A. witness smi-
AFTER PACKARD WAS COUNTED
Witness continued in answer TO me questions OIL
. General Butter. ana stated that when Packard had
been counted In by the Returning Board the members
OF the 81 nate and Assembly who had actually been
elected met and organizea; thon they inaogurated
governor Nichols; The ceremonies took place La
tayetle square OF 40 900 or 1000 peo-
ul.: a militia was organized at ouce; there mignt
have been 80 700 40 00o enlisted, but there was
aever tnan 2, 900 or 5000 on duty
y Now, suppose that you most fully and rsils.
pusly believe that Packard had been defeated and
EcnolIs electcdf A. have always believed so, SIR.
After Nioholis' inauguration, witness sad, he was
sent 10 represent the Nichols govern
ment s'Oar first object" he said, ''was TO secure
noninterven,ion and then. # possible recognition
OF the troops from intervention the Affairs OF our
State; we SIMPLY asked to be let alone; wo ieit
that II had been necessary VIC would have ON
pIoyed II TO sustain government but we had the
moral material support OF the people OF Louisi.
such extent that vc oould nave estaoiisheu
10 without that"
o. Dld you ever contemplate armed resistance be-
tween your orcss and the forces OF the United states
We never the slightest desire Tor sucn COLI
non: We were willing TO have made almost any
sacriacs to avoid ~ bat must say frankly that We
had determined to protect our state government
against armed Intervention IRON any source what
ever and n an armed attack were made on tbs
Nichols government IL would have been repelicd
We aad become sick and ured oil The state Of things
eusated out OF ooctIons aud pundered We deter
mtneu not 10 stand u longer ana would have ioreed
lifurv NV
Things; General Grant modified MS ideas after my
o. what aid ne aoY We don't want To know what
his ideas were what action was taken by him and
made known to the pubiicf A. was IN washington
tor the purpose getting the troops not 10 Interfere
ana got that ELECT on the afternoon OF the
ID OF March, AT two O'Clock
sra Granls expired at twelve O'Clock that nigDt
now, did you not know that Hayes called on Ca AM
shat same DAY nj eleven O'Clock 10 tho morningf A.
No, sir, did not hear OF IT,
u rneu you got IRON Grant alter that visit ol
Hayes than you ever 20. before
ence between Hayes ana Grant, aud that they had
been assured OF General Grants action days previ-
pusy that the troops would be Withdrawn when tho
count com pictcd.
WHAT PRESIDENT GRANT DIE.
Mr. Hiscock wished 10 know what was dexired from
she witness, and General Butler said that President
Grant IN Europe and could not bc exam ned he
wanted witness to tell what President Grant did
wneu threatened win "a rebellion by the people OF
Louisiana and resistance to Tho troops OF the United
States
the witness was tod on March 1 that President
orant would order the withdrawal oil tho troops and
witness autographed the tact 10 Governor Nichols on
that day fbs was before the reported interview be-
tween President Grant aud President-elcct Hayes.
The witness then read the telegram TO Packard scnt
by order OF President Grant, VA vhtch he SAID that he
would not interfere with the governments LOUISIANA
Except 10 protect the people against mob violence
wnen the State authorities iailed.
q wcro you often told that " the state was given
for Hayes by tine south the same Returning Board
which counted In Packard would give you your gov
srnmsDtf A. Wo had the gravest apprenensions
spon that subject but cant say tnst We lott ut that
lime absolutely tnst the state government would be
pg even ~ Mr. Hsyes became President
q I suppos, these spprenepslons came from the
tinlcuy Mr hayes would be undcr In rejecting the
ount as lar a. Packard cerned aud acceptn g
as tar 40 he vas concerned? A. iruc, our apprc-
tensions came mathcmat diflcultiss you
suggest, and principally IRON apprehension oil the
sct.on OF the republican, party leaders.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
Tho peot s OF Louisiana, said the witness, were not
talisfed with the Electoral Commission but dd not
dp elected IL