The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1879-02-26

The Fight against the Federal Elec-
ton. Ldcs-Iheir Repeal Voted in
the House-The Potter Investigation
Summary Of the Chdirmdn's Forth-
coming Report.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1879.
Mr.. Potter has his report nearly ready
and will, it is believed, present it to the
House on Friday or Saturday. He has
been engaged for a considerable time in
making thorough digest of the testl-
mony and 1t is understood that his re
port will take the ground that the evil
dence taken shows beyond possibility of
contradiction that Florida and Louisiana
were righttully carried by the democra 5,
and that the electoral votes OF these two
States were cast for the republican ticket
wrongtully, illegally and iraudulently ::
that the course Of the Louisiana Return
ing Board and the manner in which il
con]ucted the scrutiny of the returns was
in most importan. matters in violation
OF the law of the State under which il
existed and acted that It's fraudulent
and illegal acts were open, palpable and
undeniable; that the manner in which
protests were manufactured aud returns
altered and manipulated was all in def
ance OF the laws, and that every stage OF
the proceeding in Louisiana bears the
mark of fraud, forgery and illegally.
Further, that these offences we've in
some cases furthered and in others silent.
ly approved by the republican visiting
statesmen, and that the testimony estab-
fishes that in both the States of Florid.
and Louisiana, if the Returning Board
had strictly observed the laws which
were intended to rule their conduct, the
electoral votes of those States must have
been cast for the democratic candidates.
and that it was only by the clearest and
grossest violations of specific laws, and
the mostunblushing frauds and torgeries
that the purpose ofthe people and the re.
suit of the election was defeated.
Further, that the testimony proves con.
clusively the low and debased character
OF the men who were the chosen agents
/ OF the republicans in Louisiana, astsuper.
vlsors and election officers, to manpu.
late the election that almost every one
OF those that had been called before tht
committee stands self-couvicted pre-
jury and various vIllany, and that Will,
the selection of such men by the repub
licaDs to conduct the election shows pre-.
meditated fraud, and the course of the
7 Returning Board shows continued viola
ton OF the plainest provisions of law. a.
well as fraud and corruption. The fact
that all who have on this ibvestipatio,
been shown to have been concerned in
this corrupt and lawless stealing of tn,
: votes of the State have been rewarde,
with federal offices of varying impoftanc,
by the administration, can be regarded
only as confession of secret and undue
: influence exercised by these WORTHLESS
. persons over members of the.admihistl
ton in securing pay out of the publi
treasury for their illegal and corrupt wo,
that this is especially fair inierepc,
e when 1t is RENE inferred that the admins
f traton has cons antly made profession
OF devotion TO reform OF the civil ser
vice, and has repeatedly asserted tina
y only persons of established character an,
= fitness ought to be appointed to publi
5 Office, but has conspicuously and unfail
, ih9Iy violated all its promises and pledges
on This subject in lis appointments il
Louisiana; That the New Orleans Custom
e liou'c and the other federal Offices il
f Louisiana have been made by the ad
, hilnlstra'ion places If refuge for the petit,
as well as the prominent agents in til,
0 election and Returning Boards frauds
S ana That list Of names of prominen
and obscure Office holders will show tba
10 no instance, 60 far as is known, ha
the claim OF person who was concerned
IN TINS meVe been unrecognized by thu
/ beneficl aries OF 1t in the administration.
| DOR kkNI.-SeveralS Sd STORY ros,us n
Z the Gazette building.