The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-21
POTTER INVESTIGATION,
Continuation of Major E.. A BurKe's Tes-
timony.

New York, Aug. go. Now, was
this all you offered to put in Hayes and
Packard out? A. We offered these for
the Nichols government: we did acquiesce
in not opposing the count when we found
that the Republican party we're determined
to 60 on with the count.
O. Did you aud your party friends
agree to stop opposition to the counting in
OF Hayes? A. We certainly did, sir; we
were assured by President Grant that after
the count was completed the troons would
be withdrawn; | said to MIR Matthews
that while we were assured that Pie 'ident
Grants assurance of President Hayes
policy were we'll intended, yet we wanted
these assurances from such men as Gar
field, Morton and others, whom they re-
garded more than Hayes; he said he
could not answer for them and | said :
Then we will place your party in such a
position that they must speak," | meant
thereby that our people would join the FL
ibusters and prevent the States of Louisi-
ana and South Carolina being counted for
Hayes; there were but two phases Of the
negotiations in this thing-Cameron and
Matthews phases; he made the same pro-
position of agreement to Cameron as he
r,
also to Foster and other leading members
of the Republican party.
Q. After the resolution passed on the
18th of February by Congress deciding not
to interfere with the Louisiana count, was
there any hope of Republican Admins
tration? No sir; except some arrange
ment was made with the Democrats in
Louisiana; had a conversation with He.
witt and he said the Democrats were
| determined to put the onus of
| this fraud on the shoulders of
the Republican party; the Republican
party were we'll aware of our determi-
nation to break up this count; witness
| had a conversation with Grant on the Goth
of February; he intimated that he would
not do anything to prejudice the republi
can party and would not act until the
count was declared for Hayes; Grant al.
lowed US virtually to take possession of the
state; we acted on his intimatiou, and he
submitted to them; on the Goth OF Feb
ruarg Ellis asked witness to come and SET
him and showed witness letter from La
mar, in which Lamar stated that Foster
had told friend of his of undoubteC
veracity. that his (Foster's) speech limiting
at Hayes southern policy had been made
after consultation with Mathews, Hayes
brother-in-law; Lamar said Mathew
urged Foster to state squarely that Haye:
would have nothing to do with Packard.
Lamar contended that this was the frs
word that had come directly or indirectly
| from Hayes that seemed worthy of no
tice by southern men; their idea was {,
control seats and tree them from carpet
bag rule; he suggested that Ellis max
some advance to secure local govern
ment and if possible get assurances from
Hayes that he would not recognize Pack
ard.
Witness continued; Ellis proposed an
arranged conference among Mathews
Dennison, Sherman. Foster and witness
: witness showed the guarantees ths
Nichols would make; Sherman ws
anxious regarding the senators, who,
feared must also be democratic il Nichol
was recognized; finally it was agreed
ask Grant to remove the troops, thus di
: embarrassing Hayes; another confereu,
y was held in the evening present, She
man, Garfield. Foster, Dennison. Mathew
0 Ellis, Vivy, Watterson and witness Il
/ whole condition of affairs was discussed.