The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-08-29
TIE PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGA-
TION.

TIE PRESIDENTIAL INVEST1GA-
...a TION.
Maj. E. A. Burke, of New Orleans,
testified before the committee on the Goth.
He said: II was charged with the registra-
ton and election matters in 1876, in New Or
leans, as Chairman of the Central Committee
and Registration Bureau. The highest Tilden
electoral vote was $3.50, and the lowest
Hayes elector received 1920, difference of
8,619. The witness could not give the vote for
Nichols exactly, but he had a majority of 1000
votes The Returning Board threw out some
10000 votes to count in the Hayes
electors" Witness said he relgiously and sin
cerely believed that Hayes and Packard were
defeated, and Tilden and Nichols elected. He
went to Washington as the agent for Nichols
to secure non-intervention by the Government
troops with the State Government. Said he
knew there was no possibility of counting in
Hayes except under some arrangement with the
Democrats of Louisiana. While in Washing
ton he held conferences with John Sherman,
Charles Foster, Stanley Matthews, and other
prominent Republicans, the substantial facts
of which are generally known. He also held
interviews with President Grant. The latter
int mated that he would do nothing to preju-
dice the Republican party, and would not act
until the count was declared for Hayes. John
Sherman participated in the negotiations, but
hesitated about the unconditional recognition
of the Nichols Government, because it would
insure the election of two Democratic Senators
from louisiana
The examination of Maj. E. A. Burke
was continued on the 21st. Touching the a.
legged Hayes-Nicholls bargain, the witness said
that "by mutual agreement the friends Of
Hayes were to visit Gen. Grant, with view of
ascertaining what his views were on the ques-
ton of the establishment of the Nichols Gov
eminent, but there was nothing said, as far
as I am aware, about any commission.
was assured by Mr.. Hayes and others that
all troops would be withdrawn" The wit
ness read from some papers which he had
in his possession the statement that there
was letter from Mr.. Hayes to Mr.. Foster, I'M
der date of Feb. %, containing the basis Of a
guarantee and assurances and verbal guaran-
tees given to Messrs. Sherman, Matthews, Eos
ter, Dennison, and Garfield, both at the inter-
view which was held in the committeeman of
ter embraced all the guarantees and assurances
we had, said the witness. II never stated that
received any letter of guarantees or assur-
ances from Mr.. Sherman or Others" At the
conference, Maj. Burke said that to his knowl-
edge there was no note or memorandum in
writing.
The committee concluded the exam
nation of Maj. E. A. Burke on the 22d. Wit
ness had an interview with James E. Anderson
in New Orleans, on the 18th of November,
1876. Anderson told him the Returning Board
were going to throw out number of parishes
He said he could secure the parish of East
Feliciana for the Democrats if they would pay
him $4,000. ellis proposition" said the wit
ness, "was considered and accepted, as we
didn't think there was any wrong in procuring
evidence to show Republican frauds and ras-
cality. His proposition would have been car
ried but for the fact that we had no money
here" Burke testified that, while negotiating
for Nichols in Washington, he had an interview
with Secretary of War Cameron on louisiana
matters and as to how the Nichols Govern
ment might be allowed to maintain itself. He
understood from Secretary Cameron that two
Republican United States Senators would be
exacted from Louisiana provided The Nichols
Government was recognized, yet there
was no special pledge made, and the matter
was deferred, and Columbus Delano went to
Columbus, Ohio, in reference to the matter.
Witness believed Mr.. Sherman wss acting with
Mr.. Cameron in the matter of the United
States Scholarships. Burke related that about
this time (February, 1870 Cameron went
to the telegraph Office and stopped an or
der issued by President Grant withdrawing
the troops. He (Cameron) said he was Sec
Rotary of War, and would be - if he
would let the order go; that he was Secretary OF
War. and the order should have gone through
lawyer, was called before the committee and
mterrogated as to the contents of certain COM
munications that passed between him
and Gov. Young, of Ohio, in February,
1877. The witness fell back on his pro-
fessional prerogatiye, and declined to
communicate information gained while
acting in the capacity Of legal adviser
Mr.. Hiscock suggested that witness had had a
conference with Gen. Butler and fixed up this
programme of availing himself of his legal
prerogative. Gen. Butler vehemently denied
the soft impeachment. Mr.. Potter suggested
that MIR. Hiscock telegraph Gov. Young and
see il he would release the witness from his
professional obligations of secrecy toward him,
and it was agreed to do so.
Maj E. A. Burke was recalled before
the Potter committee on Aug. %, and ques-
toned at length by Gen. Butler, with view of
gaining further information in regard to the