Daily globe., 1878-07-01
SHERMAN'S SQUIRM.
THE PIRATE IN THE ROLE OF Il
PETTIFOGGER.
Morrison to Sherman.

WASHINGTON, June 29.-The following is a
draft of the letter prepared by Mr.. Morrison, of
the Potter committee, in answer to Secretary
Sherman requesting to have subp9naed from
Louisiana one hundred witnesses expected to
give material testimony touching the freedom
of election, and the murder and intimidation
of voters in all of East and parts of West Fe-
icana parishes. MIR. Morrison says, in the
course of the reply: The records of Congress
to which you REFER and other records of Con-
gress with which you are doubtless familiar,
authorize the statement that the testimony
of said witnesses is contradicted by
witnesses as numerous, as intelligent,
and whose testimony is at least we'll enti-
tied to belief. 1t is needless to add that should
these one hundred witnesses again repeat their
former testimony five hundred other witnesses
at least us credible as they will be ready again
to contradict them. Seven committees or SUBJ
committees Of Congress, have investigated this
question of intimidation in Louisiana, and
have heard the testimony of twenty times one
hundred witnesses, but no committee has ever
| agreed as to the fact of the existence nom
existence of such intimidation. You and your
political associates of the visiting committee,
witnessed certain proceedings of the returning
| board where based on alleged intimidation, and
by which proceedings said returning board re-
versed the decision of the people made by
| their ballots actually cast, and then you, with
| all your associates, maze naSUe 10 DeaF WlLueSS
to the justice of its conclusions.
| The gentlemen, most Of them until recently
your political associates, with whom you
| fused to join in effort to fair
count, but who were permitted to witness pre-
sumably all of the proceedings of the return
ing board Witnessed by you, were as prompt to
declare it's proceedings partial and unfair, and
its conclusions entitled to no respect whatever.
| In view of this disagreement and uncertainty
as to the actual fact, this committee will not
| feel itself justified in condenning or accusing
any election officer who had, in good faith.
under the laws OF Louisiana, done any act
based ON intimidation by such officer
believed to exist, even though the committee
a:ay believe such act did wrongfully and un-
| lawfully annul AID reverse the legally ex-
pressed will of the people of that State and Of
all the States. Neither will this committee, in
| view of all the facts, enter again upon any in
uuiry as to the existence non-existence of
| intimidation in any of said parishes. to be in
terposed because of the false and fraudulent
canvass, and return of votes by State, county,
parish, or precinct officers, or in excuse OF any
person who may have in any way contributed
to the results of such false and fraudulent can
vass and return of votes.
Before the contamination of the acts alleged
to be fraudulent, you and your political asso-
ciates met at New Orleans, among others, Hon.
Lyman Trumbull, John l.. Palmer, George w.
julien, until recently your political associates,
y
them in the exercise of such influence as you
together might possess In behalf of such can
vass of votes Of that State. by its fairness
should command the respect and acquiesence
of the people of all parties. This you refused
, to do, because, as you alleged, being strangers
in that State, you had no rig, to control u
influence any Of it's officers as to the manne
! in which they should perform the duties i'm
posed upon them by it's laws, and because by
q attempting SO to influence them. you thel
further alleged, you would be condemned b,
! the people OF every State in the Union.
! In view of sush .efusal to join in the exer
= else of any influence over the officers of Louis
lana to secure fair count of votes legally cast
= and If your alleged reasons therefor, it is tt
9 this committee matter of regret that the rep
q etition of the former testimony of these wit
a | nesses, or any inquiry as to intimidation Q
a voters, or other inquiry involving wrongful act
,, Of others, is deemed by you necessary to vindi
:. cate you from the accusation of being inter
- fered with, or exercised any influence cor
= troll over the officers Of that State, for which
- | by your own statement you should be cor
~ ~ demned by the people of every State in th
:. Union.
4 The reply concludes thus: ''Whatever c
= accusation is made against you in the resolt
- - tions of the House Of Representatives unde
+ which this committee is acting rests, SO far q
:. any testimony yet heard shows upon the stat'
:. ment and allegation taat to
T INFLUENCE AND CONTROL
d d. A. Weber and James E. Anderson in the
d official acts you made them verbal promise
v and wrote letter to them giving then, assn
i, ances and promises of reward. If the commi
I tee correctly understood your statement befol
le it you denied writing such a letter and NAL
20 ing such promises. However material the ev
IS dence of the witnesses you asked to have sun
1t moned may be to show the fact that a numb
S of persons were killed, threatened, drive
K from office, or otherwise intimidated. as yc
II assure the committee, it can in no way affe
IS you personally. If the committee has correct
II understood you to deny the allegation that ye
e. wrote the letter and gave these promises ar
in assurances, such allegation will be neither e
4, tablished or disployed by evidence OF the nur
Sc Der of men killed in the Feliciana parishe
's whether killed because they had stolen tt
property of others, or because others sought
as steal their votes. The committee are thereto
at constrained for the present to respectfully d
Is cline compliance with your request to ha
I'd subpoenaed as witnesses the several perso