New-York tribune., 1879-01-31
Is THE CIPHER BARREL NOW EMPTY
4 QUESTION WHICH THE DEMOCRATS HAVE not YET
IBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNEl

ANSWERED TO IHFIB Own ENTIRE COMFORT.
IBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUSE.l
WAsHINGTOy, JAM 3O.-Mr. PottcI's Committee
now has all the cipher dispatches used by TIE
! TRIBUNE, both originals and copies, and all that
General Butler has had and If the Democratic
majority perfectly sure that another bundle
did not exist containing the Geographic pond
ence between New-Orloans and No. - GramcrCy
Park during the months of November and Decem-
Der, 1876, they would be in happier frame Of mind
than they to-day.
There have been ugly rumOIs current in Wash
ington ever since the committee vcntured 10 begin
the investigation Of the cipher telegram conspiracy
that somebody has, "caTefully laid away the
Louisiana dispatches and that NJ some convenient
time, when the publication Of them will DO
most good, TO use an expression contributed
! by the late Oahes Amcs they will be
brought ont, translated and given to the
world. 1t has been utterly impossible to follow
this rumor to its source; but it is very apparent
from the cautious manner in which tic Potter Com
mittee is proceeding that the members of that
tribunal have heard the story and are anxiou, to
satisfy themselves rs TO its trath before getting too
deeply into this business.
The rumOr TO which reference is here made is, it
must he SAID, a very credible one. There four
states which in 1876 were hOtly contested by the
rival parties after the last Presidential election
Oregon, Florida, South Carolina and Louisiana.
Disputes had arisen in Louisiana after the elections
of 1872 and 1874 and the Returning Board Of that
State had acquired a National reputation. To Lou
isana, therefore. were sent many Of the most pron-
ncnt members of both parties, and TO that State
more than to either of the Others pubic atten-
ton turned When the telegraphic correspondence
of the Democrats from the other three States is
anned it is discovered that a Democratic plot eX-
istcd in each one Of them to purchase electors or
members of the Returning Board. and traces of
money payment are moro than darldy visible 10
the readers Of every series of dispatches. i 1t not
fair 10 suspect that the methods resortcd TO in Ore
gon, Florida and South Carolina were also adopted
in Louisiana, where the Returning Board was de-
nounced in advance by Democrats as dishonest
and easily to be purChasedf Is it at all
probable that Louisiana was neglected when the
other States were so carefully looked aiterg
And is it strange that, after the discovery OF the
plot IN the other three States has been made, the
Democrats should now be III mortal fear lest some
other Republican should have the Louisiana mes
sages carefully preserved for future usei The COM
mittec will probably take more testimony on tins
Important subject.
Mr. Wbltelaw Reid in his testimony to-day was
careful not to say that the originals and copies
which he produced, and which had been published
III The TRIBUNE, were all the Democratic dispatches
that were sent. but simply all that he had had
This fact came cut much more prominently III
private conversation between Mr.. Reid and MEM
hers of the committee and other Congressman after
the committee adjourned.