Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-01
Che Daily 9ress aud gatotaiaa
Monday Evening, July !, 1873
MOVES, TESTIMONY.
Our Mi"istcr 10 Franco Before the Potter
Committee.

Our Minister 10 Franco Before the Potter
Committee.
Washington, June 28.-Edward F. Moves.
United States minister to France, testified
lie was in attendance upon the canvassing
board in Florida during the presidential
election: Did not 80 at the request or
knowledge Of Gov. Hayes, and while there
did not receive either letters, kilograms or
communication of any sort from Gov. Hayes.
He took legal part in the proceedings of
the canvass, arguing cases before the board
Of canvassers, etc. He undertook to find out
the facts relating to the alleged fraud in Al
achua county, Archer presinct No. 2, and
owing to parties swearing one way and i'm.
mediately thereafter directly the opposite
he lost all confidence in them, but finally.
BY diligent inquiry and the testimony Of
$50 republicans that they had voted the re.
publican ticket, he reached the honest con-
viction that the count as returned was
correct.
He had asked Dennis to be a witness. He
(Dennis) had proved the correctness of the
vote in question to the satisfaction of witness.
He did not doubt Dennis word thathe in
tended to impress upon his (Noyes) mind
that it would not be safe to go on the stand
for the republicans owing to his knowledge
of fraud, but that he (witness) could now
solemnly swear that no such impression was
conveyed by the remarks Of Dennis, and
Gen Wallace, who was present at the time,
was now in the committee room and would
corroberate his (Noyes) statement.
Noyes said the way he came to go south
was this: At meeting of prominent re-
publicans of the southern district of Ohio.
Richard Smith Of the Cincinnati Gazette
stated that he had kilograms to the effect that
northern democratic politicians were assem-
bling in Florida for the purpose of taking
from Hayes state justly his, and it was
thought best to send some prominent north.
ern republican. His name was suggested as
one visitor and that very night, without
communicating with Hayes or anybody else,
he started. They did nothing while there
except to arrange the preliminaries with the
democrats. and after two or three days went
back: Subsequently, Hale urged Kassor
and Gen. Wallace to go aud avert the in
pending danger Of fraud in Florida, and a,
they agreed to go if witness would. he start
ed back with them to Tallahassee.
He continued regarding Archer precinct
| desired, in preparing the case, to know
from the electors themselves how many O
them had actually voted the repuplica
ticket. We sent down to get evidence. an
my remembrance is of the 399 republica
votes counted and returned there we're prov
ed at least $40 or $50, and I was told tha
they could not get the rest because the pari
les had scattered in various directionl
But We came SO near to it as to make it tho
roughly impossible that 219 votes had bee,
added. This satisfied me, and seemed I,
satisfy the canvassing board. wish to "a,
that no mortal man ever told me or intima
ted to me while in Florida that there wa,
anything fraudulent about the return, excep
what was sworn to before the canvassine
board and was made public. mean had
no private information, derived from an,
source whatever. honestly and conscien-
tiously eblieve the return made and argued
by me was right and can say that we made
a case that would satisfy any unpreiudiced
court in christendom.
1 said to Cowgirl and McLin that all
wanted of them was to do their dutv honest.
ly and fairly. said to them if the state
had honestly cast it's vote for Tilden it was
their duty SO to declare, but if it had gone
nothing of them except what honest men
could do. I never made one of them a
promise, Eor intimated promise, nor held
OuS AAAuSVuCht " udtc LuSIu U6ClaTe
that the state had gone for Hayes. Before
the final decision had been rendered after
the vote in Florida had been cast, McLin
came to me greatly depressed and said he did
not know what would become Of him; tha,
he had so excited the hostility of the demo-
Gratis that he could not longer live in Florida
in peace; that he was poor and sick and
almost in despair. said you have done
your duty honestly and fairly, as l think,
and 1 shall take great pleasure in saying 90
to Gov. Hayes if he shall be declared presi.
dent of the United States. and 1 will take
pleasure also in recommending you for some
position where you can take care of yourself
and family.
About the time was going away also
said to Cowgirl that had been greatly i'm.
pressed with his honesty of purpose and man.
ly bearing during the canvass, and if I could
ever be Of any use to him he could command
me freely.
will add that did more than some pol.
iticians do. | kept my word and I did
recommend both these gentlemen to the
president and am sorry they we're not ap
pointed. never had a minu' e's private