The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-08-17

The testimony Of Col. Vim. q Roberts,
editor Of the Nes0 Orleans Times, and
Democrat, is among the most important
yet elected by the Potter Committee II
is proof presumptive, if not positive, Of a
bargain, or a perfect understanding be-
tween Mr. Hayes and certain of his Repub-
liean friends, and certain Louisiana Demo
Gratis, in relation to the Presidency and the
Presidential policy towards the South on
ono side, and the contamination of fraud
on the other. We have not room for the
details Of this testimony as published at
length By the New York papers, but we
give place to the following summary of it
which is given in the NJ T. Sun:
The Importance Of the testimony given be-
fore the Potter Committee on Tuesday by
Col. Vim. IL. Roberts, of New Orleans, can
not easily be oyerstated II fully establishes
the fact, already proved beyond reasonable
doubt, that Hayes owes his possession of the
Presidential Office to bargain struck by him
with representative Southern Democrats after
the election and before the fraudulent count.
Col. Roberts is 4 competent and unimpeach-
able witness as to this bargain, because he is
the man who saw Hayes. His story of how
he came to see him, and of what passed at the
interview, is Of absorbing interest. Briefly,
It was thought OF great consequence by the
leading Democrats of Louisiana to ascertain
definitely what Hayes would do, if he became
President, IN the matter of their State Gov
ernment. Col. Roberts was selected 10 visit
Hayes because, being newspaper man, not
prominent in politics, his going to Columbus
would be less likely to attract notice; also, as
he implies, because he understood English
and could hold his tongue. He thinks Hayes
was notified IN advance of his coming and his
errand. Stanley Matthews and Job Steven
son gave him letters of introduction to Hayes.
Arriving in Cincinnati, he had conversation
with Murat Halstead, to whom he said or in
timated, in substance, that the Louisiana
Democrats were ready to let Tilden 20 BY the
board, provided they could thereby save Mich
oils and the State Government. He also told
Mr.. Haistead what his errand was. ~ will
fix that, said Mr.. Halstead, and gave him
letter 10 Hayes-inadvertently sealing it.
When the Colonel reached Columbus, he
was met BY another Of Hayes bosom friends,
Gen. Comfy, at whose suggestion he did not
call on Hayes, but waited for Hayes to come
10 him. Hayes came, read the letters, and
asked Col. Roberts, "What do you want to
know The Colonel told him that the Dem
ocrass had carried Louisiana by $4,000 ma
jority, but that the Returning Board would
probably count the State the other way; they
wanted to know what, If he became President,
he meat 10 do about the State Government
After Pecksniliism about not wanting the
Presidency If he had not been elected, Hayes
replied to the queslion:-ssI cannot sag much
about this matter, he said Ny letter Of ac-
ceptaace sras no empty form. beliere the
intelligence Of q country ought 10 run Il. 7"
Col. Roberts went away satisfied. He
had obtained the pledge for which he had
come North. Hayes's manner, his language,
his nse Of the phrase about intelligence
which was one the commonplace of South
ern Democrtic argument, left no doubt in the
Colonel S mind that it was bargain. He so
reported 10 his friends in Louisiana, and
TO the Southern Democrats in Congress
Subsequent talks with Matthews, Foster, and
Evarts confirmed himself in this belief Il
was upon the strength of these assurances
and because of them, the witness says, that
Southern Democratic congressman puta stop
20 the iilibustering IN the House, forced the
completion Of the fraudulent count, and thus
put Hayes in the White House.
us it not pretty much your idea Of bar
gain ~ asked Gen. Butler. The answer Of
the country to this question is not doubtful.