The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-06-06

dental election begun It's examination OF wit |
nesses to-day. There was large attendance OF
newspaper men and Others Me@s. Wilson and
Shellabarger were present as counsel for secreta'
ry Sherman and put on record the fact that their
not taking an active part in the proceedings was
in consequence of the rule adopted by the com
mittee that counsel could only put questions to
witnesses through the chairman or some mem.
ber The sub committee to visit Florida was an
nounced as Messrs. HuntOn Springer and His
cock The committee was in session from ten un'
til five o'clock.
ANDERsoN's TESTIMONY.
The first witness was james c. Anderson, aud in
reply to the usual questions, he testified that he
at the time of the election was supervisor of reg
istraton for East Felicinia and in that capacity
made up his statement and sent, with the returns
of the commissioners Of election, by mail from
Baton Rouge to the Secretary Of the State at New
Orleans. The forms of law were fully complied
with on election day in that parish He says that
some Of the prominent Republicans tried to keep
him from being in his parish on election day, so
that an election could not be legally held Furth
ermore that after the election washeld they tried
to induce him to enter 8 protest strictly accord
ing to facts, and that this protest was changed to
read entirely different after passing out OF his
hands. The following is the statement
New Orleans, May H. 1876.
The undersigned, James e. Anderson, supeGVi-
sor of registration for the parish OF East Feicana,
and D. A. Weber, supervisor for the parish of
West Feliciana, Louisiana, have respectively re.
fused to sign any protest against the counting Of
the vote of our parishes cast at the election held
on the 18th day of November, 1876 for the reason
that the election held on that day was the most
peaceable and orderly one ever witnessed by
either, and the large gain made by the Democrats
being secured by legitimate means, and vas oW,,
ing in great measure TO the disgust and hatred
with which large portion OF the colored people
regard the present State Government. But the
electoral vote of Louisiana being necessary to Sc
cure the election of Hayes and Wheeler, and in
order to secure such vote, 1t being necessary to
throw out the parish Of East Felictana, and
enough Democratic votes in West Felicana to
make the parish Republican, we have for this
reason, and for no other, consented to protest
against the counting Of the vote as cast and we
have done this at the instigation OF 8. b. Pack
ard. candidate on the Republican ticket for Gov.
ernor; ]. R. G. Petkin, United States Marshall VIM.
p Kellogg, now Governor Of the State, and Chas.
E. Nash, member of Congress from the Sixth Dis
trict, and others ,,,
(signed) ID, A. WEBER,
JAS. ANDERSON"
"This was signed in our presence, November
10, 1876
a. - w ILDEts
"sworn before me this fifteenth day of NOvem'
Der, 1876 by the within mentioned James e. An
derson and D. A. Weber wi n..,,,.,
"WM, H. SEYMOUR, Notary Public"
WITNESS CONTINUED.
We swore to it on Wednesday, and on Thursday
first learned or it was first inimated, they had
changed my protest l then went to Marshal Pit
kin's Office and denounced 1t as forgery to
which did not propose to submit. AS they had
called forth the enmity of Governor Kellogg and
other leading politicians, they had reason to be-
lieye they would not be rewarded should they al.
low this work to be miIepresented to the extent
of throwing out the parishes of East and West Fe.
liciaua and unless something definite was prom
ised them Among others whom they called up
on was Secretary sherman, and here is a state
ment OF
WHAT SHERMAN SAID.
o.-state the conversation which took place be-
tween you.
A.-Mr Sherman said: II wanted to see you,
gentlemen, as 1 understood there was some diff
Guilty in reference to your parishes. Now there
is a crisis in which not only Louisiana, but the
whole country Is involved, and 1t is a time when
we expect and want every Republican and true
patriot to stand by that thing" "Well, Mr. sher-
man, =" said Weber, "Mr. Anderson and have al
ready done more than the circumstances Of the
case would warrant us In doing, and have done
a great deal more than safety would warrant me
in doing" Said he: "What do you mean by
that" Weber said: 1.-THE people Of nay parish
are considerably walked up and have made
protest which is perhaps more sweeping than 1t
should have been, and If go back will be un-
doubtedly in danger of my life" "Well," said
Sherman, what necessity is there for you going
hack ?" Weber said "My family Is there, my
wife and children are there, my whole property
is there What have to dor Mr.. Sherman
said: "You can be provided for elsewhere"
"Well" said Weber, "Mr. Anderson and myself
on account of the course we have pursued, have
incurred the enmity Of Mr. Packard and MI.
Kellogg and every Republican leader IN the State
If Packard becomes the Governor OF the State OF
the State of louisiana we have no possibility of
ever getting anything under him, ana II these
men are opposed to us, we have no possibility OF
getting anything under the United States Coy
ernment" Mr.. Sherman interrupted and said
"Gentlemen let me tell you one thing. Mr..
Packard as Governor of the State of Louisiana
will control the State. Mr.. Hayes as President OF
the United States will control the Federal patron
age It does not follow that Mr.. Hayes Will
adopt Mr. Packard's suggestion in everything or
IN ANYTHING. The Republican party has not been
in the habit Of forgetting the men who stood by
1t In the hour Of peril, and will not only uphold
YOU but l then remarked: "Mr. sherman, the
Sentiment of the country may be very good
thing for man to stand on, but 1t Will not prevent
him being prosecuted on a charge of perjury If
they are going to throw utmy parish on a forged
Mr' Sherman raised his left hand, and said
"Mr Anderson this is a subject which you and l
cannot discuss That is q question for your State
authorities. What want to say to you is, that II
you gentlemen, stand firm in this matter, and let
It run along as 1t is you will find no cause to re-
gret It," and then the interview ended.
Not considering Mr. sherman's promises def
mite enough, they wrote him the following
letter:
"sIR-We have carefully considered the argu-
ments advanced by you In our interview. Your
assurance that we shall be taken care Of is scarce
ly specific enough. In case we pursue the course
su,'gested by you we would be obliged to leave
the State, win you, therefore, state in writing
who we shall look to for the fulfllment Of these
promisesf Respectfully,
"JAs. e. ANDERSON.
flames E. Anderson to Hon. John Sherman"
Mr.. McMahon proposed to put in evidence
COPY Of sherman's letter in reply, After long
discussion as to whether the copy Of Mr.. sher
mans letter could be read and put In evidence,
Mr. Butler offered the following resolution which
was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the paper identified by the wit.
ness be received, but not read nor given to the
public until Mr.. Secretary Sherman may be forth.
with called and the paper shown and he asked
ifhe admits it to be a copy Of any letter written
by him.
Thereupon the following telegram was sent by
the Chairman to Secretary Sherman:
"sIR-A letter purporling 10 be copy of let
Ter written by you to D. A, Weber and James Z.
Anderson has been produced before this commit
tee, and the committee has suspended the read
ing of 1t until you can have an opportunity
to come here forthwith, see the paper, and state
whether 1t be copy Of any letter written by you,
If you desire 10 do So"
Secretary Sherman having appeared In re-
sponse TO the telegram sent to him, was sworn,
when the following proceedings took place;
SHERMAN ON THE WITNESS STAND.
The Chairman to Secretary shermGn-James <.
Andarnnn. tho Hikneaa taatifYing befoFe the com.