The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-27
Secretary sherman's vindication.

| sA&~s~ASh$SAVAAs
The Democratic papers which have been
indirectly defending the Potter committee
and the infamous methods they have adopted
of carrying out the wicked partizan purpose
evidence of Mrs. jerks, in reference to
what is known as the Sherman let
tiers. Without fact or reason for so doing.
there has been persistent purpose mani
tested TO implicate Secretary Sherman in
some alleged fraud assumed to have been
committed in the Electoral count OF Loui-
siana, and moved by partizan prejudice
the Democratic papers have taken it for
granted the assertion was fact, and drecte d
their mendacious attacks against that gen.
tlemen. 1t mattered not that lifetime de-
voted to the public service, and character
that stands out in bold relief for its moral
/ symmetry. without stain or a blotch, con-
fronted the assertion OF self-confessed
periurer, the political enemies Of the Secre-
tary moulded every falsehood into truth,
and every truth into falsehood, in order to
blacken his name and destroy his reputation.
There has never, in the records of political
debauchery, been such base and coward
ly combination to prostitute pen and tongue
to the defamation OF any one man as the
malicious conspiracy against this eminent
citizen. He has, however, remained com
paratively quiet, contenting himself sim
ply with broad denial of the allegations
against him. and patiently awaiting the
time when his vindication would come from
the very sources which the Democrats looked
to for his overthrow. On Saturday last,
Mrs. jerks, who was declared as possessing
the documents and facts to establish all that
had been charged against Mr. Sherman, was
examined, and in the course of her testimo-
looking to an attack upon the Secretary,
and said, after asking the privilege to make
a statement swell, wish to state in the
presence of this august committee and the
country at large, that 1 distinctly and en-
Jirely exonerate Secretary Sherman from
any completely, direct or indirect, in the
Anderson-Weber agreement. If there is
criminality in the document, or political dis
honor attached to it, [ alone know the AL
pha and Omega of it,; and no one else
knows aught in regard to it, and I do not
think 1 shall tell you anything more. 1t is
sufficient that I exonerate Mr.. Secretary
Sherman and also Mr.. Anderson, and al
though may deem him (Andersonj one of
the most magnificent and sublime scoun-
drels, at least in the matter of the guaran-
tee he has been sincere, and L award him
all due credit. He has always deemed it
genuine, and this may be small ray of
| light admitted into that darkness that sur
rounds him. No one knows about that doc
ument but myself, and do not think am
compelled to tell you any nore.''
This statement under oath covers the
whole case, and ought to put the blush of
shame upon the cheeks of those Democratic
editors who prostituted their columns to the
vile SANDERS which malice had concocted
and cowardice circulated against Mr.. Sher-
man.
1t seems Mrs. jerks wrote what purport-
ed to be an agreement. Anderson wanted
the assurance that he would be cared for
in the event Of General Hayes election, and
wanted to ges such assurance from the visit
ing Republican statesmen in writing: Mrs
jerks, when informed of this desire, thought
it would be entirely improper to comply
with AnGerson's demand, and to satisfy
him, must have written the agreement" her.
self and handed it co Weber to be given to
Anderson. This was done without any one
but herself knowing it, nor did she ever di-
vulge, before, the authorship of the paper
which Anderson has been talking so much |
about, and the Democrats have been comfort
ing into evidence of criminal completely on |
the part O: Mr.. Sherman. Indeed, the fact
that Secretary Sherman would not allow
Mrs. jerks to call on him last winter when
this matter was first preached, and that he
summarily dismissed Anderson's applica
ton for Office, go to show that there was
nothing that he would conceal, and that he
was as free to respect himself and his posi-
ton as any other honest man.
Not only have these Democratic malig
nants sought to disgrace the Secretary of the
Treasury, but they have boosted that the
President would be so mixed up with cor
ruptions charged, that his impeachment
would necessarily follow. Depending upon
the assurances of men who they knew were
better fitted for the Penitentiary than to
testify in matter involving interests so inn
portant and characters so high, they have
recklessly assumed that everything said
by this perjured witness was truth and the
denial of the gentleme Ell assaulted was false,
Notwithstanding they stand unimpeached
and unimpeachable, before the world. 1t is
almost incredible that men holding the high |
position as members of the American Con.
gress could SO far forget their duty to their
country and respect for our institutions as
to allow themselves to become the willing
lupes Of set of graceless scamps and pu-
crescent adventures, who valued neither
virtue nor country, and cared for nothing
but the qualification of revenge for the dis
appointment they experienced in not getting
their arms into the public treasury.
The Democratic party, and especially the
Democratic members of Congress, who voted
for the Potter resolution stand in an unen-
viablc attitude before the American people,
and should be held to a stern accountability
for their revolutionary and reckless action.
The Hunt After Frauds.
About two months ago, Congressman
Grover, chairman of the investigating COM
mittee, which has for its field Of operation
the whole 'boundless continent" so to
speak, and privileged to ransack every pig.
con hole and musty folio in the departments,
addressed letter to the President asking
the suspension from Office Of Messrs. CAST
lear and Sullivan, clerks in the Engraving
Bureau, upon the grounds that they were
guilty of criminal Irregularities. The Pres
ident very promptly complied with the re-
quest, and those TWO gentlemen not only
were deprived of the means of support for
two months, but rested under suspicion of