Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-27
TIE POTTER INTESTIGITION
Testimony as 10 the Downfall OF
the Pac n ard Government in Lou.
iSiana,

1S1ana.
After our report of the proceedings before
the Potter committee at Atlantic City closed
yesterday. the testimony of ex- congressman
Morey was continued.
General Butler obtained from the witness
an a; serlion of his opinion that the Harlan
MacVeagh commission bargained With the
ernment of Packard. Mr.. Morey recounted
the old story of the SecessiOns of members OF
the Packard legislature to the Nichols legis-
lature, and said there were rumOrS of bribery
being used, and the commission was supposed
to mean to OVerturn the Packard government.
q. Was it rumored thai while the democrats
were engaged in bribing republican members
OF the Packard legislature they were egging
on the commissioners who were paid in Office
for their services: A. don't know anything
what special part they took, but 1t was the
general understanding, and was felt by those
who believed that Packard was elected, that
their mission particularly was to destroy the
Nichols; that the troops were to be withdrawn
as part of the scheme, after the Packard
and court buildings, police and state arms.
The White League was sworn in as Nichols
militia; The republicans were displrited, and
labored in every honorable way to have the
validity of the Packard government examined
by the commissioners, and to provide means
for the subsistence of the adherents of the
They remained with it longer than could be
reasonably expected under the circumstances,
and as long. if not longer, than white men
would do III any state of the Union under
similar circumstances and in the face of the
same degree OF temptation from the opposite
party
General Butler.-I wish you distinctly to
understand it is not them blame. / blame
the t5npter, not the tempted. Do you believe
general goyeTnment shd such moral support
as would enable him to retake from the mob
the court house and state arms it could have
have maintained itself in Louisiana? A. Ny
own belief is 1t would have been maintained
after the Electoral Commission countC | the
vote OF Florida for Hayes, Ii was considered
certain in New Orleans as a settled matter til 1t
the vote of Louisiana would also be counted
i iGI Hayes, lay s. and there was not the least doubt
that the Packard government would be main
tanned This was the view of democrats as
we'll as of republicans.
MOre of Major Burke's Testimony
Before the subcommittee.
The Associated Press, in dispatch from
New Orleans gives additional particulars of
the testimony of Major E; A: Burke. The fol-
lowing kilograms were submitted:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. q, l677-T0 F. T:
Nichols, Nelc Orleans: Confined subject of
telegram last night to legislative caucus. For
will probably lose both Senator'S. Present
arrangement brought about by organized
movement to defeat the count or save Louis
lana and South Carolina, and cannot be held
together longer than to-day. We thus left the
question above barter and trade, and the
honor and dignity of the state is not compro-
missed Telegraph quick your own views. as
"WAsH1NGToN February q, l377-T0 +. T.
Nichols. NeU Orleans: Louisiana delegation
deemed it unwise to introduce Nichols and
Hampton resolution at this time. Our party
friends are generally agreed with us that per-
sons seeking to defeat Hayes and to make
Conkling or Morton President, and have a
new election in November, precipItatcd the
resolution to break up the arrangements for
peace and security of your government for the
national purposes Of max king us again a foot
ball for the national panty. Our arrangements
secure you by other methods. Once intro
duced, our party supported, and republicans
1av0rlng nor interference would not SuppOlr ..
because bearing on the national issue.
e A BURKE"
Witness sent copies of his dispatch to Men
oils of the 26th of February to Mr. Matthews
and associates of the Wormev's hotel confer
ence, and Gov. Nicho,lss ratification of the
guarantees contained ii it. He then produced
the following:
WASHINGTON, February q, 1S77.-TO Cor. f.
T. NichONS: We are just Informed by a very
prominent republican that the PreSipent said
thls morning as soon as the electoral count is
finished he will instruct Gen Augur that all
orders heretofore issued in regard to preServ-
ing the Stdtu quo are rescinded and modified,
except SO 1ar as required for the preservation
OF the public peace. He reiterated his former
declaration as to the prOpriety of your govern
ment prevailing in Louisiana, and authorized
the gentleman to communicate this informa
tlOh 10 U.s. LEVY, ELLIS BURKE.
They subsequently telegraphed Gov. Mich
oils that Stanley Matthews was their inform
ant: Major Burke produced another dispatch
TO GOV Nichols, stating that the fillibuStering
movement was originated by the Louisiana
party independent Of the original opponents
OF the count, after the parry caucus had failed
to make a movement, and was hOpeleSsly de-
moralized. Their leaders had no definite pol
ICY except the prospect OF anarchy. Witness
sad that after the interview with Stanley
Matthews Oh the 9th day OF February, the sub
stance was given to the Associated Press.
There was no bargain. Major Burke read sew
eral other dispatches to Gov. Nichols stating
that Fre Sident Grant had assured him that al
ter the completion of the electoral count the
military would be withdrawn from any inter
terence with the political affairs Of Louisiana.
Also that Mr.. Hayes had approved of the guar
anteeS given by Matthews and others at the
WorYley hotel conference. Witness then pro.
duCtd dispatch 10 Stanley Matthews, dated
Washington, March 2. 1877. stating that trOu-
bic and violence was being organiz ed in New
Orleans by Packard Us a last desperate effort
to secure recognition. He then read kilograms
to Nichols giving history of the action in
Washington on the part of the President and
others Which resulted in the withdrawal of
The troops and the firm establishment Of the
Nichols government, all OF which has already
been fully published.
In reply to MIR. Blackburn the witness said
That the democratic caucus had agreed to ac-
GuieSce III the electoral count, or in other
words that the count should go on to peace
ful determination. Witness, after this caucus
caieQ upon MI hewitt and asked him why
the democratic party had abandoned Louisi-
ana. MIR. Hewitt said there was no occasion
for charge OF that kind, and it was then too
late TO discuss the question.
Witness said the democrats of Louisiana
were forced either to trade or fight for their
state government, and there was danger of
plunging the country into revolution.
MIR. Hewitt replied that the democratic party
could not take the responsibility of plunging
the country into anarchy and strife and upset
ting values and disturbing trade. They had
determined to put the responsibility # this
great fraud fairly and Squarely on the
shoulders OF the republican party and 60 before
the people four years hence.
Witness replied that was all very we'll for
him he might endure it four years, but the
people Of Louisiana could not, and he desired
MIR. Hewitt and his associates to understand
that If they thought they could have peace and
quiet IN the country with Louisiana and South
Carolina under carpet-bag rule they made a
great mistake. The people of Louisiana were
as loyal as any other, but they were determ-
med TO submit no longer to carpet bag rule
and would defend their state government at
all hazards.
He wanted Mr.. Hewitt to 20 to his associates
and say 10 them, with the same consistency
that they voted for the electoral bill, to save
the country from anarchy, they would make a
condition that the baYOnetS he taken away
from Louisiana and South Carolina else the
anarchy and strife which they sought to avoid
would surely follow. Mr.. Hewitt assured him