The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-22
The POTTER REsoLUTIONs.
Preserve Them for Future Refer

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ence.
Inumuch as the Potter resolutions,
passed by the. House Of Representatives,
Ia regard to an investigation Of alleged
frauds in the Presidential canvas in Flor
ida and Louisiana, are to be the subject
matter Of a great deal OF discussion in
and out Of print for the next several
weeks, we herewith republi,h them for
the information Of our readers. Itwould
be we'll to preserve them for reference:
"WHEREAs, The State Of Maryland has
by its Legislature formally declared that
due effect was not given 20 the electoral
vote cast by that State on the sixth day
Of December, 1875, by reason OF traudu.
lent returns in the electoral votes from
the States Of Florida and Louisiana, and
WHEREAS, An affidavit by Samuel B.
McLin, Chairman Of the Board OF State
Ganyassers Of the State Of Florida for the
election held in hat State in November,
1875, for the election Of President and
Vice President has been made public, al
leRing force and fraudulent returns In
the votes for such election 10 that State,
whereby the choice Of the people In that
State was annulled and reversed, and thai
the action Of the Board Of State Can
yasserS making such returns was IN:
Huenced by the conduct and promise oil
the Hon. Edward F. Noyes, now Minister
10 the Government Of France; and
WHEREAS, Il Is alleged that a conspira-
cy existed In the State Of Louisiana,
whereby the Republican vote In all the
precincts OF the Parish Of East Feliciana
and in some Of the precincts Of West Fell
%iciana, at the general election on Noyem.
Der rs, 1876, was purposely withheld
from the pollsto afford a pretext for the
exclusion by the Returning Board oil
that State OF the vote cast In these Pre-.
cincts for the electors Of President and
Vice President and that James E Ander-
son, Supervisor OF Registration Of East
Feliciana and D. A. Wells, Supervisor
Of Registration in the Parish oil West Fe.
%liciana, in that State, 10 iurtherance OF
that conspiracy falsely protested that the
election in such precincts had not been
fair and free, and that the Stale Return
ing Board t~hereupon falsely and fraudu.
lentIy excluded the votes Of said pre-.
cincts, and by lean thereof and oil other
false and fraudulent actions by the Re.
turning Board, the choice Of the people
Of that State was annulled and reversed,
and that such action OF said Wells and
Anderson was induced or encouraged by
the assurances OF Hon. John Sherman,
Secretary Of the Treasury Of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The gravity Of these char
ges, the nature OF the evidence upon
which they are reported to be based, and
the official dignity and position Of the
persons named in connection with said
frauds, make it proper that the same
should be inquired into, to the end that
the honor OF the nation may be vindicat-
ed and the truth as 10 such elections
made known; therefore be 1t
Reolted, That a select committee, con.
sisting Of eleven members OF this House
be appointed to inquire into the atore-
said allegations as 10 the conduct OF the
persons in Office aforesaid In respect OF
said election, and into the alleged false
aud fraudulent canvass, and the return OF
the votes by the State, county, parish
and precinct officers in the said States Of
Louisiana and Florida, and into all facts
which in the Judgment Of said committee
are connected with or pertinent thereto,
and that said committee for the purpose
OF executing this resolution, shall have
power TO send for persons and papers; to
administer oaths and 10 take testimony,
and in their discretion to detail sub COM
mittees, with like full authority Of said
committee, in every particular, and with
power TO set in Florida and Louisiana,
which sub committees shall be commit
tees Of this House, aud the Chairman
thereof shall be authorized 10 administer
oaths; that said committee and sub.com-
mittees may employ stenographers aud be
attended each BY a deputy sergeant-at.
arms, and may lit during the sessions oil
this House and during vacation, and that
said committee proceed in this inquiry
and have leave TO report at any time"