Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-03-03
PROBING THE FRAUD.
REPORT OF CHAIRMAN POTTER.
The Frauds in Florida and Louisiana
and Who Were Pryy Thereto
The Sherman Letter.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-On Saturday
Mr.. Potter, chairman of the invegtigat-
ing committee, submitted report which
he had prepared to the committee, and
it was adopted by vote OF six Demo-
Gratis to three Republicans, Gen. Butler
being absent. The three Republicans,
Hiscock, Cox and Reed, will prepare a
minority report. Mr.. Stenger, the
| Democratic member of the committee
who was chairman OF the Sub
Committee in Louisiana, has
also prepared report. Mr.. Potter's
report is necessarily long, as it deals
with all the points that have been be-
fore the committee except the cipher
dispatches, which will be made the sub
ject of separate report and will he pre-
sented To the committee tomorrow.
Mr.. Potter's report is regarded by the
Democrats who have pcrused il as
singularly impartial and judicial. 1t is
entirely devoid both of rhetorical orna
mentations and vituperative de-
nunciations and derives its force solely
from its close logical deduction OF facts
presented 10 the committee. Some Of
the Democrats regard il as wanting in
color or not strongly expressed as facts
warrant, and il is not unlikely that some
members of the committee belonging 10
the party will present an additional ex-
preston of their views. The report OF
Mr.. Potter in opening To set forth what
it was proper for Congress to investi-
gate, and what not, and the difficulty
Of conducting an investigation
into cOnspiraries, which have
been successfully carried out,
when the successful party remsi1s in
power. 1t admits the confessions of
conspirators who have become dissats-
fled, is worth little, but points to the fact
not generally understood, that about the
essential features Of the election and
canvas in Florida and Louisiana there
is no substantial dispute before the
Committee, the Republicans having
called no witnesses in Florida and lew
in Louisiana, except as Ia the conduct
OF the visiting statesmen and
incidentally about intimida-
ton. II dismisscs entirely
testimony oi Anderson, jerks, Mrs
jerks. WcbbCr, and that class of wit
nesses, and deals with the case upon
general and controlling facts alone. The
report is divided into three parts, first
OF which refers To Florida; the second
10 Louisiana, and the third Ia forged
electoral certificates. Beginning with
Florida. il cites the law directing the
presidential clcCtor to be appointed by
votes east. and the Canyassing board tu
canvass the votes east and the claims
that the Tildcn electors having received
Il majority OF the votes east III this state,
were thereby necessarily entitled to he
declared elected, AMI the canvaSsing
board, by rejecting without warrant Of
law, portion Of the votes 80 AZ to show
a majority ior Hayes, unlawfully coun-
ted 1'ilden out. II states that the can
vasscrs delayed thcirannOunccment un-
I'll the morning of the day the electors
were To meet and vote, 50 that, although
action WAS instantly taken Ia Oust the
HAYES electors, no decision could be- hal
until the Hayes electors had met that
same day at noon and voted.
The report then rcCites the Judgment
ui the Supreme Court, which subse.
qucntly decided that the Hayes electors
we're not elected nor entitled 10 cast the
vote of the State, and that the TildCn
electors were, and also the judgment OF
the Court in the action brought by
Drew, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, Ia obtain a rcCanyaSs, where
the Court directed rcCanvass and de-
cidcd that the canvassers in re-
fusing 10 count the votes cast, had
dciraudei Drew and uulawfully
seated Stearns The Legislature Of the
State thereupon directed rccanvass OF
the electoral vote, in accordance with
this decision Of the Supreme Court, the
Judges ot which were Republicans. and
a rrcanyass showed TiIden's electors
chosen. The Governor then issued his
certificate 10 Tilden's electors a the true
electors, but the Electoral Commission
refused tu consider the judgment Of the
court, the action of the Legislature,
and the certificate given by the
Governor in favor oi TIldcn's
electors, and held that il could not take
notice Of any action by the State after
the 9th Of December. The report
draws attention 81 the fact thai
such wrongs might be- repeated in
any State al any Presidential
election hv cnyasSers withholdine
the announcement Of the result Of the
election until the day fixed TOR the meet
ing oi the Electoral COLLEGE.
II then refers to the sherman letter
i'm regard 10 which IL simply states the
facts A. they stand, showing
that q letter was actually written
and largely influenced political action
ia louisiana vino ever signed IL, and
drawing attention 10 the attempt IN the
interest oi sherman by Mrs. jerks,
whose husband and brothers arr EN-
ployes of tho Treasury Department, to
induce the committee 10 produce a
forged letter.
II concludes with finding that the full
effect was not given 20 the electoral
votes of Florida AMI Louisiana; that
Moves. sherman and others encnurged
This rr-ul. and that the second certificate
from louisiana Was forged, a.
Wa al-o two oi ~ names,
kellogg CLARK and others being privy
70 il. That nlden and Hendricks re-
c.iyed a true majority Of electoral votes
aud were the real choice OF the people Of
the United states At the lAst election.