The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
THE POTTER COMMITTEE.
The Committee Ready 90 Present Its
Report In Few Days.

IN. Y. Herald1
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26-Mr. Potter has his
report nearly ready and will, it is believed,
present 1t to the House on Friday or Satur-
day. He has been engaged for q considera-
bic time In making thorough digest Of the
testimony, and 1t Is understood that his re-
port will take the ground that the evidence
taken shows beyond possibility of contradic-
ton that Florida and Louisiana were right
fully carried by the Democrats, and that the
electoral votes of these two States were cast
for the Republican ticket wrongfully, illegally
and fraudulently; that the course of the Lou
isiana Returning Board and the manner In
which 1t conducted the scrutiny OF the re-
turns was in most important matters in vio-
lation of the law Of the State under which 1t
existed and acted; that it's fraudulent and
illegal acts were open, palpable and undenia-
BILE; that the manner in which protests were
manufactured and returns altered and manip-
ulated was all in defiance OF the laws, and
that every stage of the proceedings In Lou
isiana bears the mark of fraud. forgery and
| illegality.
Further, that these offenses were In some
cases furthered and In others silently ap-
proved by the Republican visiting statesmen,
| and that the testimony establishes that in
| both the States OF Florida and Louisiana, IL
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 1t was only by the
| laws, and the most unblushing frauds and
| forgeries, that the purpose of the people and
| the result OF the election was defeated. Fur
| ther, that the testimony proves concusively
| the low and debased character of the men
who were the chosen agents Of the Republic
| cans In Louisiana, as supervisors and election
| officers, to manipulate the election; that
almost every one OF these who had been called
| before the committee stands self-convicted OF
perjury and various villany, and that while
| the selection of such men by the Republicans
| to conduct the election shows premeditated
| fraud, and the course OF the Returning Board
shows continued violation OF the plainest pro-
| visions Of law, as well as fraud and corrup-
| ton. The fact that all who have on
this investigation been shown to have
| been concerned In this corrupt and
| lawless stealing OF the vote of the
State have been rewarded with Federal offices
| of varying Importance by the administration,
can be regarded only as confession OF secret
and undue influence exercised by these worth
| less persons over members of the administra-
| ton In securing pay out OF the public treas
ury for their illegal and corrupt work; that
| this is especially fair inference when it Is
| remembered that the administration has con-
stantly made professions of devotion to q
| reform Of the civil service, and has repeatedly
asserted that only persons OF established
character and fitness ought to be appointed to
public Office but has conspcuously and un-
| failingly violated all Its promises and pledges
| on this subject In its appointments In Lou
| islana that the New Orleans Custom House
and the other Federal offices in Louisiana
have been made by the administration places
OF refuge for the party as well as the promi-
| merit agents In the election and Returning
Board frauds, and that list OF names OF
prominent and obscure Office holders
will show that in no instance, 80 far as is
known, has the claim of a person who was
concerned In this move been unrecognized by
the beneficiaries Of 1t in the administration