Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-31

The InvestigatiOn.
The Potter Investigation committee have
not yet begun active operations, and the i'm
preston is daily gaining ground that the COM
mittee find themselves at loss TO know how
or where to begin. Secretary Sherman's let
ter was evidently a telling and unexpected
blow at the outset, which the proprietors Of
the investigation scheme will find it hard to
recover from. The following extract from a
Washington dispatch dated Monday evening
gives every thing of interest in connection
with the proceedings of the committee for the
past week:
To-day Potter had the first formal meet
ing. There was a two-hours' talk over the
scope of the inquiry, but 10 decision was
reached, and the republicans could not divine
the real intentions Of the democrats. 1t was.
however, quite apparent that unexpected diff
ficulties had arisen among them. Potter hav-
ing been compelled to write a letter declaring
that he did not contemplate revolution. 1t
was necessary to conform the talk in the COM
mittee to this letter so the democrats de-
scribe the whole debate as very conservative.
Those who have helped work the investga-
ton through, have been much disturbed dur
ing the day. They explain the delay by say
ing that certain portions of their evidence are
not quite ready Some of them arescyen in
favor of having no investigation here at pres
ent but to send strong subcommittee South
and so give an excuse of not having members
enough to carry on the inquiry here. The
scrutiny of the republican press is regarded
as a very serious obstacle to an open inquiry
here, or for that matter to secret one either.
After their two hours session, the committee
adjourned without having accomplished any
thing and fixed the next meeting for the day
after tomorrow. This is another indication
that the democrats find themselves entirely
unprepared to go on. The feeling among
the democracy that the whole thing is to fail
| is increasing.
AN interview between Secretary Sherman
and Anderson, supervisor of the East Felici-
ana (La.) parish, as telegraphed to various
newspapers last night, turns out to be a fair
specimen of the material the Potter commit
tee is expected to do business on. The claim
| that Sherman had induced Anderson to come
here for the purpose of an interview is false
| Anderson came to seek an audience with the
secretary and it was only after the advice of
Judge Shellabarger had been given to admit
him that Sherman consented to see him at all
| The interview was unsatisfactory to him, and
he soon left, giving as reason that what he
said was being taken down in shorthand, but
!
statements were true. He made one import
ant admission, which was that the only time
he ever met the secretary previous to the in
auguration was for about five minutes in a
restaurant in New Orleans in the presence Of
both democrats and republicans, and that the
conversation was of the most general charac-
ter, and yet democrats here who denouuce
this man in private and who know that he
was utterly discredited by their own Louisiana
a.. 81 c..
Sherman would write to a person whom he
had never met except at a public restaurant
and make corrupt propositions to him over
his own signature. Some Of the democrats
here are already very sick Of Anderson. He
has appeared in public places drunk and be
haved in such "A manner in regard to the
whole matter US TO break the force with many
of everything the democrats expect TO prove
by him"
The letter referred to above ms having been
written by Clarkson N. Potter, the chairman
of the investigating committee is of great
length, and processes to have been written tC
a New York friend, an unknown clergyman
upon its face it attempts to deny that the in
vestigation contemplates revolution, but, un
fortunately, it on the contrary confirms thu
popular impression that the investigation doe
contemplate possible revolution, and that j
even looks to vacancy in the Presidential
office. The vanity of Mr.. Potter is shown il
the first paragraph, in which lie declares tina
he is one of those who think that the coun
try is governed too much. He also regard
as depraved that public opinion which per
mits the press to declare in its headlines tina
the venerable Stephens was ''Hooted Dow
by Potter's Mob The letter plainly indi
: Gates that il is Potters intention not to inves
tigate in any States except Florida and Lou
isiana, and in language which cannot be mis-
, taken, it claims that the decision whether o
not revolution shall be attempted, depend
. upon the result Of the investigation. Potte
only protests that if a revolution is neccssar
a il shall be n peaceabe one. lie does not dis
avow his intention to disturb the Presidents
I title. On the contrary he says IF now
should appear that there was fraud whic
!, palpably affects the electoral vote and whic
y the Commission did not notice, if the leg
y remedy exists for correcting the error yo
e cannot believe that such u proceeding undo
the law could lead to disturbance" He the
I, adds that if no law now exists, and a qua irdl
II ydatO or some enabling law should be passed
the operations under it need not create vi,
lence or disturbance In the course of h
letter, abiding to the Electoral .Commissio
is and to the fears of civil war then Potter
n clares that there could have been no civil wa
st because the officers of the army, with the e
% ception of Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
c. would have sustained the House of Represe
D. tatives in recognizing Tilden, and he insul
t. the loyalty of the army by declaring that Il
re secret correspondence of the War DEPARTING
Of will show this.