The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-26
Thc Potter. Committee.

Der 18th the visiting Republicans called on
the Returning Board to pay their respects.
The visiting Democrats paid similar visit
the ,iay before the Republicans. lie stated
he went to New Orleans at the request OF
President Grant and Of political organiZa-
tiops to witness the count, not to interfere
with the duties OF the Board, and hoped the
proceedings would be conducted openly.
The Republicans thought the Democrats
| were moreI active than they were, mingllng
with the Board and examining papers: In
other respects the conduct OF both parties
was the same. rs a' t....
Sherman denied that he or any Of his as
sociates met privately with any member OF
the Returning Board. He did not remem-
Der meeting James E. Anderson except In
casual way. Witness denied the truth OF
Anderson's statement alleging converse
ton between Sherman, Weber, and Ander-
son, in which it was represented that Sher-
man said that there was no necessity for
Weber going back to his parish, that he
could be provided for elsewhere. Sherman
was shown the letter alleged TO have been
written him by Weber and Anderson, dated
November 90, 1876, and said that he never
heard Of such letter until it was published.
He furthermore said that the letter was in
sulting, as = was suggestive of falsehood,
as they say .swe have carefully considered
the argument advanced by you in our In
teryieW," and asking him to state in writing
who they should look to for the f;;lfIment
OF certain alleged promises.
| Sherman said that Re never suggested to
these men any employment or promises OF
reward for any service that they might rem
der in connection with the Returning
Board, or any other way. The witness en-
| phaticaliv denied that he wrote the alleged
reply to the letter from Weber and AndeF-
son. at the same time, however, there
were things in it that he could have written
these or any other men who were engaged
| in the performances Of what he believed to
| be their duty had he been asked. .....r
The witness said that il he had been
citizen of Louisiana he would probably have
been killed, for he should have resisted the
rifle clubs, who, in addition to their other
crimes, drove negroes from their homes to
the swampS. He said he could not think OF
the scenes o. violence and intimidation in
Louisiana in 1876 without feelings OF re-
sentiment and anger.
Witness never asked Mrs. jerks to sup
press any letter written by him !; never had
a conversation with Der except in the pres
ence of others. a-N'
Secretary Sherman will leave for Wash
ington this evening", to be further examined
| In that city. ~.
General Garfield testified that lie did not
know that any Of the visitors suggested
rules to the Returning Board for counting
the votes, and denounced as "a lie - the
| statement that the Returning Board was adj
vised to stretch its powers. ....,,
In the course Of Sherman's testimony he
said, with reference to Weber's testimony,
that he had never heard OF any plan to ma
nipulate the vote of Louisiana, nor was he
at any time writing at desk at the custom
house. Weber must have seen somebody
else. The testimony OF that witness about
caucus at which he was present is false
and made out OF whole cloth. 1t was aston.
ishine that so many Republicans stood up
for fight amid so much intimidation
and so many threats. On the part
OF the Democrats he denied that the
exhibition and statements concerning
Eliza Pinkston were part of plot gotten
up for political purposes. Referring to the
appointment OF Soner as one OF the local
appraisers at New Orleans, Butler asked
Sherman il the appointment did not come
down from the White House instead OF
going from Sherman to the President.
Sherman replied: "The papers will show
that. You trench on delicate ground. l
ought. not to tell you what the President
said to me or what said to the President"
Mr.. Butler: /" I didn't ask you for Cabi-
net secrets, but have come to the conciu-
sion that there ought to be no secrets in 4
| free government"
Sherman: "I will give you the exact
facts when we reach Washington"
Mr.. Butler: s'But tue papers will not
help the case nor answer my question. Was
not Parker removed as postmaster at New
Orleans and Badger appointed in his place
on the same day that Soner was appointed?
Was there any consideration about it? 2"
Sherman declined to answer, when But
Ter said: II want to prove that nothing
was said in the Cabinet about it." -s@.
Garfield, in his testimony, said that he
was more indebted to the late D. A. Weber,
supervisor OF election in West Feliciana,
for information relative to that parish than
to any one else. Weber says that the whole
trouble there was founded on the sugges-
ton of the Democratic State Committee,
| who advised the formation Of rifle clubs
for the purpose OF intimidating Republic
cans, and to show that there was physical rs
we'll as moral force in the movement. We
| Der said that he could not then return to
West Feliciana without running the risk
OF being killed, although it might be safe
for him to return after the excitement was
over. Garfield said. among other things,
that The air OF New Orleans was full of sto-
ries, that the colored members of the Re-
turning Board might be tempered with, but
confidence was expressed in The white
members.
General Butler: Witness, have you any
doubts that II the State was carried for
Hayes it was also carried for Packard? An
swer: I think Packard was honestly elect
ed, but the final outcome was for Nichols.
Butler: thought the Legislature declared
for Packard and put him in as Governor
until the struggle which put him out. An
swer: I don't so understand it. Butler,
continuing the question on this. score,
said Did yous not understand that the
Legislature did make q declaration that
Packard was elected Governor, and inau-
.urated him, and that he remained Gov
ernor until he was unseated by another
power? This same Legislature elected Kel-
losg as senator, and the United States Sem
ate recognized him as legally elected? An
swer: But I do not understand that the
party opposed to Packard lost the power to
! contest. Question After a man, has been
declared elected by the Returning Board
and been inaugurated as Governor, do you
understand that, the Legislature can turn
him out2 DO you understand that
that can be done2 Answer: That
depends ontfe statute. i know. that it can
be done in case OF q contest. Question:
! Do gouknow Of such contest in that LIE.
gislature? Answer: am not particularly
familiar with the proceeding. Question
| Did not the Legislature and Governor