Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-14
Senator Matthews Asks for an Investiga.
tion.

In the Senate, on the 5th, Senator
Matthews said:
| Mr.. President 1 rise to personal explana
| tion and question of privilege. feel that
owe duty to myself as well as to the Senate
which, however unpleasant, cannot In justice
~l4I,.- F.,rthar f,Sott,ouv Va unit. Ro,,-spa-
pers published here and elsewhere contain re-
| ports of statements made under oath in an
other place in reference to myself, which are
calculated to reflect on my character and
standing member of this honorable body.
These statements appear to be designed to es-
tablish: First that | was in some way con-
nected, by participation or encouragement, in
the preparation of alleged frauds in the Pres
idential election in 1876 in Louisiana, at or
about the time of canvass and return thereof ;
second, that was party or privy to prom
ises of protection and reward to oftic ers
charged with duties in connection with that
election, and the returns thereof made in con-
sideration of frauds and perjury committed
by them in reference thereto; third, that hay
ing subsequent knowledge OF such frauds and
of such promises, for the purpose of conceal
ing the former by assisting the execution of
the latter, | used my personal and official in
fence to procure for James E. Anderson Off
cial employment in the Executive Department
of the Government. To each of these accusa-
tions, whether expressed or implied, ! reply
by an emphatic denial. deny that was con-
nected in any way, by participation or encour-
with any frauds, real or pretended in the
Louisiana election. l deny that was party
or privy to any promises of protection or re-
ward to anyone in consideration of commits
sion by them of frauds, real or pretended, in
that connection. Ideny that made efforts to
procure the official appointment for Anderson
with the knowledge or belief on my part that
he or anyone else had been guilty of any fraud
in connection with that election, or in the ful-
tillment of any promise of reward that had
of Nhnas
alton whatever. On the contrary, assert on
my honor as Senator, which am prepared
to maintain on my oath, that do not know
nor never have believed that any such frauds
were ever, in fact, committed; that l do
not, know that any promise was ever
in consideration of the fraudulent serv-
ice in connection with the Presidential cleo
tion. Anderson, in my little intercourse with
him, all of which has taken place since March
4, 1877, never asserted, expressly or by any in
nuendO, that Sherman or anyone else had ever
promised him office or anything else, either
for doing wrong or right. He never asked
anything from me or through me by virtue of
any such promise. On the contrary Ander-
son expressly and passionately appealed TO me
on the sole ground that he had rendered hon
est, honorable, lawful and efficient service to
the Republican cause in Louisiana, at the sac
ritice of time and money and peril to his life,
and that he had for that cause incurred odium
and hostility from pOlltcal opponents. Inc
only wrong | understood or believed him to be
guilty of previously, he untruly pretended he
had been guilty of things he now again pre-
tends TO confess. That wrong | had no in
formation of till after his appeal to me for aid
! had Deen Responded TO by an aot of my good
will in his behalf. His disclosure Of II, with
the delivery Of false documents which consti-
tuted IT, supposed was intended by him, and
was regarded by me, as atonement for and un-
doing of itupon that footing; only received
! them 1t never for a moment occurring To me
! that the possession of them by me could be
miscOnstrued into an oifense, and believing
| that the only use which their publication
could serve would be TO propagate mischiey'
GUS and scandalOus falsehOOds. The only err
ror, If there be one, of which | am conscious
| is having recommended to Office aperson who
had meditated and prepared wrong, but had,
as It appeared to me, withdrawn from per
forming H. But as there seems TO be an at
tempt to magnify it into one link In what If
alleged 10 have constituted conspiracy
against important public rights, and as the
colOring thus sought 10 be given to my con
duct affects my standing and character in thit
| honorable body, | consider II a matter OF priv
ilege that the Senate inquire into the subject
as affecting it not less than myself.