The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-03-13
THE INVESTIGATIONS.
The Potter Committee.

came OF the Electoral certificate of Louisiana
was withdrawn and suppressed from the records
A communication was read from Rogers. Pri
yate Secretary of the President, stating that tn,
ssd ct Letter from Thee
tain parties connected with the Florida frauds
and inclosing telegram from Bourne that
letter asking for Information in regard to tn,
matter had been received from the President
The committee appeared to consider that tn,
production of the letter which, it is alleged, wa
sent to the President. is of great Importance, anG
they instructed the Chairman to make furthe
A letter from Mr.. Jewett, to the effect tha
after conversation with Mr.. G. 8. Smith he wa,
that gentleman opening the New Orleans Post
office vault for them to get the election return.
was next read and laid ON the table withou,
comment.
MAJORITY REPORT.
On the LIST, Mr.. Potter, the Chairman
submitted his report which was adopted by a vott
of six to three, the affirmative votes being cast By
Democratic members, the negative by Repu3li
can members and Gen. Butler being absent. The
Republican members announced that they would
submit a minority report. The following is 8
brief summary of the majority report:
The report sets forth the difficulties attending
an investigation OF conspiracy which has beer
successfully carried out. and which resulted in
that the confessions of dissatisfied conspiratOrs
are entitled to little credit but points to the fact
that about the essential features of the election
and canvass in Florida and Louisiana there is nc
substantial dispute before the committee, the
Republicans calling no witnesses in Florida and
few In Louisiana 1t dismisses the testi nony OF
Anderson. Mrs. jerks and others, and processes
to deal with the case upon the general and con
trolling facts alone. The report is divided into
three parts indicated by the sub-heads below.
The report cites the law for the appointment
Of Presidential Electors and the canvass of the
votes, and claims that the Tilden Electors, hav-
State, were thereby necessarily entitled to be de-
clared elected, and that the Canvassing Board
by rejecting without warrant of law portion OF
the votes 80 as to sh9T majority for Hayes
then recites the judgment of the Supreme Court,
deciding that the hayes Electors were not elect
ed, nor entitled to cast the vote of the State and
meEt Of the Court in the, action brought by
Drew, the Democratic candidate for Governor,
to OBTAIN q recanvass where the Court di-
vassers in refusing to count the votes cast had
defrauded Drew and unlawfully seated Stearns.
The Legislature of the State thereupon directed
a recanvass OF the Electoral vote in accordance
Judges of which we're Republicans, and the re-
canvass showed the Tilden Electors chosen.
The Governor then issued his certificate to the
Electoral Commission refused to consider the
judgment Of the Court, the action of the Legis-
lature and the certificate gwen by the Governor
could not take notice Of any action BY the State
after the 9Th of December. The repOrt
recommends 2 law providing that when
ors of any State, the judgment of its Court Of
last resort, if certified to Congress before the
meeting OF the two houses of Congress to re-
ceive and count the Electoral vote, shall be con-
and which vote from the State shall Be counted
unless the two houses of Congress shall other
wise agree. The claim of the Republicans that
fesy were entitled to the vote Of the state
contrasts the conduct of the visiting Republican
statesmen with that of Gen. Barlow, whose
fidelity to all his obligations, and integrity in
pecially commends. The report gives q list Of
all persons connected with the election in Florida
who have been appointed to office.
LOUISIANA.
In regard to Louisiana the report discusses at
considerable length the powers and duties of
the Returning Board; the false census of the
colored inha bitants; the assumption that color
numerous instances Of false registration; the
Republican charges of Intimidation; the facts
IN regard to the negro vote as indicated by the
protests; and the outrageous action of the Re-
turning Board in arriving at conclusions so diar
metrically opposed BY facts. The reports states
outraged the people but for their encourage:
ment from visiting statesmen and the support
which they and the troops gave them. 1t refers
briefly to the os aIleged barga'n by which Hayes.
counted in while Packard went out and men,
toned Sherman's offers to prove intimidation
but points out that whenever the committee Of
duced, and they were met by some sham excuse
for not producing it; how they had examined
many of the witnesses that were before the Re
recanted and explained how they came to make
their false afhdavits in the first place, and how
such statements as they made before the Re
&c tSs ie
simply states the facts as they stand, showing
that letter was actually written and largely in
fiuenced political action in Louisiana. whoever
in Il . interest Of Sherman by Mrs. jerks, whose
husband and brother are employees of the Treas
my Department. to induce the committee to pro
nected with the Louisiana election, who have
been appointed to Office, is given.
THE FORGED CERTIFICATE.
Treating Of the forged Louisiana Electoral
Gert . the report tells how the Vice. Presi
cent. having refused the first certificate, the Re
pu6Ilcans secretly manufactured another. ante
dating it. and made it in paper and printing to
resem6ie the one previously made; how, having
get iii TIE Electors s to New orleans e
9egn 1t within that time, it became necessary te
tSSree the sienatures of two abeentees that thus
70 HS S seea
IN small upE6r room in the State building, then
e charge ct Conquest Clark: how the making Of
tins second certificate was concealed until it was
produced before Congress; how, when it was re:
read, but ordered to b printed, and the Electoral
CSommlsslon were served with two printed copies
copy OF the genuine, but the defective Ger
Ghcate; how after the Commission had given
ne decision, the record of the Commission
was changed 90 that the forged certificate
copies Of which were really before Tie
made to show a. if the genuine defective certifi.
cate had been considered and passed upon how
this was not accident but design, and that II moi
only appeared in one Of the published records Of
in both. although made months apart; how the
Ihepubi,can managers were informed by KEEL
l0gg that there was something wrong about
the second certificate, and how ali the
way through there lies the thread of 4
design to impose . forged certificate upon
Oonaress. ard then they suppressed It, % that It
aiscovered. the record might show a. If il bad
eS"isn? cestiac:te the repoft reearda q Part d
0xAM 0& AeeeoNnA 6Qin fha f1lled oSri31 scfsS;