The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-01
The Potter Committee.

WASHINGTON, June 29.-Samuel P. But
Ter, correspondent OF the Baltimore Gazette,
was examined in relation to an interview
in that paper under the head, " The Miss
ing Link
The witness testified that Mrs. jerks
stated in said interview that she came to
Washington in behalf Of Governor Packard
in securing the New Orleans collectorship !;
besides. she spoke OF having called on Sec
rotary Sherman in relation thereto, but did
not meet with very warm reception; that
Secretary Sherman had given her assurances
while in New Orleans that her influence
would go quite far in the appointment OF
those of her choosing. She further stated
that she had heard it said that Judge Camp
bell had forged the jurat to Anderson's pro-
test. Mrs. jerks also stated during the in
tervieW, in speaking of the so-called Sher-
man letter, that that document was safe IN
New Orleans.
Mr.. Chandler resumed tie stand and pro-
duced the kilograms (already publsbed)
sent by him from the Fifth-Avenue Hotel
early on the morning OF November Sth-
although dated November 7th-to Packard,
Gorham, and others, stating that Hayes and
Wheeler were elected il certain States were
carried, and counselled Republicans to be
watchful against possible Democratic
frauds. Although the telegram from q. S.
Grant hoping that the witness would re-
main in Florida until the vote Of the State
was decided, witness did not know Of any
frauds in Florida, and believed there never
was fairer result obtained by fairer means
than the result in Florida. In answer to a
question by General Butler witness men
toned the following presidential appoint
ments which had been made on his recon-
mendation subsequent to the Florida cleo
ton: Major F. c. Humphreys, collector at
Pensacola, Fla. "Gorernor" Stearns,
member OF the Hot, Springs Commission;
Judge McLin, associate Justice Of the Ter
rtory OF New Mexico; George III. De
Leon, secretary to Governor Stearns,
to clerksllip in the Treasury De-
partment; young man named Phelps,
local Republican in Florida, appointed
in the Treasury Department, and now gone
to Paris with Governor Mccormick; Joseph
Bowes, inspector OF election at the poll near
Tallahassee, where there was alleged fraud
of seventy-four votes, to clerkship in the
Treasury Department.; James Bell, county
Judge in Florida, to clerkShip in the Land
Office; Captain Dennis, recommended for
auditor in the Treasury, but not appointed;
L. W. Maxwell, in the detective service Of
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, who visited Florida
in that capacity during the count, was APP
pointed lieutenant in the regular army );
Black and Vance, election officers at the
Archer precinct, Box No. 2, were appointed,
the former in the custom-house at Philadel.
phia and the latter as messenger in the
Sixth Auditors office, post-otfice building,
WaShington-both OF these are coiored !;
/ j. W. Howell, deputy clerk OF But
Ter county, was appointed collector Of
| customs at Fernandna, Florida. The
| first reliable information that the Pack
ard government had been broken UP was
received from Matthews ten days before the
4th of March. Witness mentioned an in
terview between Matthews and himself, in
which witness said that he desired Hayes,
when he reached Washington, should not
stop at private residence, but hotel, to
avoid iealousies; whereupon Matthews re-
marked that since he (witness) took so much
interest in the new Administration be
wished lie would use his influence with
President Grant toward having him recog-
nize the Nichols government, and that
recognition would include the Hampton
government. The witness stated to Mat
thews that he did not see how President
Grant could recognize the Nichols govern
eminent, as the Packard government had
been elected by the same vote that Hayes
was; whereupon Matthews said he had
looked into that matter, and there was no
difficulty in that direction, as one had been
declared elected by the Electoral College
and the other by the Legislature.
Mr.. Morrison has prepared letter, at the
request Of Chairman Potter, replying to
SheIman's request to have subpenaed from
Louisiana one hundred witnesses to testify
touching the freedom of election, murder,
Intimidation, &c. After calling attention
to the records Of Congress in relation to the
| testimony Of these witnesses, and their con-
tradctlon by witnesses as numerous, Mr..
Morrison says: cit is needless to ask that
| should these one hundred witnesses again
repeat their former testimony, five hundred
other witnesses ut least as creditable, as
they would be ready again to contradict
| them" He concludes by saying that the
accusations under which the committee is
acting rest upon the statement that to in
| fiuence and control Weber and Anderson
| in their official capacity the Secretary made
them promises, and wrote q letter to them
giving them assurances and promises OF re-
ward; that the committee understands, lie
declares, the allegations and testimony OF
these witnesses are not material to prove
or disprove the acts alleged, and there
fore declines TO summon the wit
nesses. Mr.. Sherman replies, and
says: "The resolution under which
your committee is acting accuses me OF in.