The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-22
THE CIPHER DISPATCHES.


yesterday. directing the Committee the Investiga
ton of Election Frauds to inquire into the "cpher
dispatches and appropriating $4,000 to defray the
expenses of such inquiry. He yielded. however, for
some preliminary matters. as follows:--
Mr.. Cox, tdem.) of N. ", from the Committee on
the Library reported back the Senate bill to author
ize the Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution to
appoint acting secretary in certain Passed
Mr.. STEPHENS, tdem.) of Ga. from the Committee
Coinage, introduced bill to authorize the coinage
of the goloid metric dollar. SIS and fractions of
dollar. Referred.
Mr. CAUSE. (.lem.) of Ark, from the Committee on
Public Lands. reported back the Senate amendments
to the House bill subjecting the Fort Wayne military
reservation in Arkansas to entry. Concurred ill.,
The House then proceeded to the consideration OF
the cipher dispatches resolution.
SPEECH MI. POTTER.
Mr.. POTTER moved the previous question. which
seconded, and the main question was ordered,
thus leaving hour for the discussion. which was
thereupon opened by Mr.. Potter. who said;--
Mr.. Speaker offered this resolution because
was instructed to offer it. do not propose to dis
it except to say few words in reply to attack
made me by the gentleman from Michigan iAIr.
Conger). was not in the House at the time. and
when the gentleman attention was called to that
fact he stated that had left the House avoid hear
taken. think listen to the sprightly and amable
utterances OF the gentleman from Michigan with
much satisfaction any gentleman in this House. but
it is not possible for to be always in his seat,
and the gentleman ought not to infer from my alb
sence that had any Discrimination to hear him. Had
he informed me that he proposed to refer to tho
cipher dispatches should certainly at whatever in
convenience. have remained, because could then
have better sai i'll regard to this resolution what
ti,.ac Mt day WAa for me- m Twin
that when he rose lie intended to discuss that
subject. The gentleman accused me because had
not permitted an investigation OF these dispatches.
Mr.. Speaker, it is as open to the gentleman from
Michigan and has been ever since this session Of
House. it is to myself. to propose such an nves-
tgation He did not propose it, No one on that side
of the House proposed it.and for reasons
which perhaps it is not difficult to divine
but at any rate tor satisfactory to them
selves. No gentleman on this side of the House had
proposed it, and the gentleman from Michigan said
that had not permitted them to do NJ Speaker,
/ neither had power to prevent them nor had
sought, to prevent them. The only wish had ex-
introduced it might be referred to another COM
mittee than that of which WIS member. But l
neiA,cr sought to influence anybody nor to prevent
any from action in respect to it.
ACTION SESSION.
l simply refused to volunteer to introduce such
resolution myself. and for these reasons At the
last session OF Congress l introduced q. reso-
certain certain alleged and confessed wrongs in
| Florida and Louisiana which had taken place
under color of State law and which were said to have
| been perpetrated under the influence OF federal
visitors and under the protection of federal troops
and which wrongs the Electoral Commission had
decided ii impossible for the States to rsctfy
recall. Such matter was proper subject for Con-
gressiopa legislation For IL Congress could not
rect the wrong which had taken place in the States
themselves it Could at least adopt such legislation as
would afford those States opportunity to correct
and recall the action taken under color OF their law
1t was therefore, proper subject for investigation
and when introduced that resolution declined to
| yield to an amendment which the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Hale desired to offer. proposing in
>quiry into certain cipher dispatches in Oregon,
because insisted that IL was not within the province
of any citizen which it could neither prevent nor
punish, and that at any rate this investigation ought
| not to be oversaughcd by such an inquiry. did
| not then suspect the existence of the dispatches
which have been since published, bat the analogy be-
tween those dispatches and those which the gentle
man from Maine sought TO have inquired into IL per-
feet, and the House having sustained me in my view
OF the question it not for to seek to set
ON foot myself an investigation of the kind nor to
| prevent the completion of the work which had in
| hand by any such inquiry.
PERSONAL REASONS.
Beyond that, Mr.. Speaker. there were private
| personal why / did not think l ought
TO set on foot any such investigation. The
the resolution OF inquiry the leading independent
journal of the country declared that did in pur
suance of bargain between Governor Tilden and
| my self, in which was to have his support. There
| are gentlemen In this chamber now who know that
| when was called upon on the evening previous to
the introduction of that resolution to wait upon the
| Joint committee in democratic caucus, abso-
| lutey ignorant that had been selected for that
| work, and had more reason to suspect that
would be connected with it than any other gentle
man in the House. The truth il that, not only did
have no bargain with Governor Tilden. but had
none with any body else. served on that committee
simply because was invited to serve by the joint
committee OF the democratic and because in
visited Louisiana and had very profound convictions
alike of the danger and of the WRONG of the Returning
| Boards action
served therefore on these accounts. and on these
alone and not only had no understanding or bar
| gain with anybody on the face OF the earth, put
| sought for no promise or assurances, and l had
none. And yet, Mr.. speaker. that conjecture has
gone all over the United States, and ninetenths of
the people who have any opinion ut oil on the SUBJ
| jcct believe that am member of the committee
OF investigation as tne comndaas ana agent o. GOV.
deavored to conduct the investigation with absolute
impartialty and fairness $50 much so that do not
| believe that anybody familiar with the record will
rise TO Claim that such has not been the fact) and
though during all that time have observed the most
absolute rotccnce in respect to the objects and pur-
poses OF tho cpminittee. yet there has been I'M
| worthy and partisan speech that has not
been falsely ,. put into my mouth s and cd NO
| duct of the committee that has not been
attributed to me. Under such circumstances for me
to volunteer an investigation into these cipher de-
spatchcs was to give color to have IL said that
doing In the interest of and for the purpose OF
protecting and whtewashing those whom Il might
affect. Aud beyond that sir. there in my STATE
some persons who believe that or my friends have
volunteered any movement of tho kind, would sscriDe
my antion 10 personal dislike and spite. IL gentlemen
will look the New York Tribune Of Saturday week
they will SEE n declared that the probable cause o.
this resolution is the object of personally injurine
Mr.. Tilden.
For those reasons, sir. did not feel called upon Il
volunteer any action this subject. l have moi
volunteered it, and introduce the resolution which
do because without any wish or request OF mine,
have been instructed ~ do and do 1t for Other
reasons.
In conclusion Mr. Potter went over the items OF
the expense OF tho committee, showing the manner
in which tho $4,000 already appropriated had been
disbursed.
SPEECH DUrI.ER.
Mr.. BUTLER, trepl of Muss obtained the floor
He said IL have sought the OF the House for III,
purpose OF putting before II the that will In
Huence MY vote on this resolution. Let them avail
as much little they will have In this matter
neither friends 10 reward enemies TO pun
ish. ! look upon II question of very
considerable gravity az furnishing precedent here
AFTER The resolution alleges that there certain
cipher dispatches which are supposed to show that
there an attempt by fraud or bribery to nhuenc,