American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-07-20
THE ELECTORAL INVESTIGATION.

Proceedings of the Potter Committee.
Secretary Sherman, on the 9th, addressed
| another letter to Chairman Potter in refer
ence to his (Sherman's) offer to furnish evil
dence as to intimidation, etc., in East Felici-
ana, and in reply to the letter of Mr.. Potter,
| heretofore published. announcing the deter
minatfon of the Committee not to go over
the ground traversed by former Congress
| sional committees. Mr.. Sherman cites the
| fact that the Potter Committee have already
admitted evidence tending to disprove that
| fraud and violence existed in the parish and
complains that he denied the privilege of in
| troducin. e. idence in rebuttaI He also
states that he is now prepared, at the con-
| venience of the Committee, to submit testi-
mony to repel the charges made against him
personally, and has given his counsel, Mr..
Shelabarger, n list of witnesses whom he
asks to be subpRnaed-
EX-Gov. Kellogg, of Louisiana, was ex-
amined before the Potter Committee on the
18th. In answer to inquiries propounded by
Gen. Butler. he expressed his opinion that
Packard was legally elected Governor, to-
gether with n majority of Republican mem
the face of the returns the Democrats had a
majority, but the Returning Board threw out
enough parishes, on account of alleged in
timidation, to change the result in favor of
the Republicans. Gen. Butler produced ia
| which showed that, after the Board mad
thrown out sufficient Democratic parishes to
elect the General Assembly. it was found
there were still two Hayes Electors defeat
ed, whereupon the Returning Board threw
out parishes and precincts until they had
| Electors. Witness stated, assuming the
figures to be correct, the finding. of the Re
Republican in both branches, and still left
two Hayes Electors in the minority, while
Packards majority for Governor was 40l.
Gen. Butler question witness regarding the
appointment by President Hayes of King
Collector, and asked him if he did not think
the Presidents motive in doing so was to
break up the quorum of the Supreme Court.
of which King was a member, in order that
Packard could not carry his case before it.
Witness admitted the effect of Kings ap
po1ntment. but was unable to determine by
what motive the President was actuated.
The examination of Ex-Governor Kellogg
! was further continued on the 18th. He
| sidered Packard elected fairly as the
| Hayes Electors, so far as Louisiana was con-
cerned. Gen. Grant had telegraphed the wit
ofice stating that he had hesitated recog-
| nizing Gov. Packard in consequence of there
| vestigate the result of the Louisiana election
| (referring to Mcvcigh's Commission). The
m Mm'SS le asata had been found n among
| Weber's papers, and that Mrs. jerks had pro-
with the Weber family. Mrs. jerks had cali
| ed on him in New Orleans and spoken of the
sherman letter: While explaining the CON
sofa and pretended to be reading him the
substance of the letter from paper she held
in her hand Being very busy, and not car
ing to be connected with the affair, he ad-
vised Mrs. jerks to call on Mr.. Packard.
was waI unable to relate what occurred further
| than that Packard had said he did not attach
wiinessi being Questioned BY MI; Miseoek,
| stated that the testimony of f. L. Weber,w with
one or two exceptions, in so far as it relates
| to him (kellogg) was entirely without foun-
| datiOn. He had never been informed by
Weber and Anderson that the elections in
their parishes were peaceable. and that they
| could not make protests on that account
logg were introduced, in which the writer
! says that the colored voters in the country
are prevented by pickets from reaching town.
| md "a n aff mt has aan lie tn "a SSaS
sinate him (Weber). Q. Do you know of any
case where there was a false, forged or un-
| fair protest, or any other unfair election pa
per, that was used before the Returning
Board of 1876? A. do not. O. Is there any
the canvass or action of the Returning Board
| that you do not wish made public! A. No.
ses wri tie bX m Amy o the ,ection
| hope they will not delay in publishing the
| same The sooner the better
The examination of eX-Gov. Kellogg was
further continued on the 18th. He had no
knowledge of intimidation in the Feliciana
parishes, other that what he had heard from
| various sources; Mrs. jerks did not visit
Washington in his behalf, and he had no cor
respondence either with Mr.. Mrs. jerks
prior to 1871; had no recollection
ing in the 'i progress s't OF the Electoral count
Witness. in response to questions. stated nm-
out OF by
1876. and said he would furnish the
sons killed, hanged and whipped for pc.
litical reasons, if they SO desired. He refused
to reply to the question, whether or not, as
Governor. he had any knowledge that no
protests had been made from East or West
| + lciana. other than to say that the
| records would show. Gen. Butler asked wit
ness it it was fact that all the members OF
| the visiting Commission, with one
exception, all the members of the Re
turning Board, all the supervi.ors C.xeept
Weber, who killed., and Mr.. aid Mrs.
! jerks had been rewarded with Fed
eral offices for their part in the
election or other causcs. Witness replied
that. with the exception of James L. Ander-
son, he believed all the pau ties designated
had been appointed TO Office that he be-
iievcd them to be competent persons and
good Republicans, and there We're still others
who ought to be appointed. The Commit