The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-17
pnIttftal.
THE MATTHEWS AND ANDERSON
LETTERS.

THH mAIIhhWS AMI
LETTERS.
One af the most disgraCeful chapters
in the hi tory of the Great Fraud is that.
containing the correspondence between
Sanlev Mathews and James E. Ander-
son, and showing how their intimacy
came about. To understand the matter
properly, it is necessary to recall facts OF
Importance. James Z Anderson was
Kellogp's Supervisor Of Registration for
East Fsiciana Parish in 1875. and Don
A, Weber filled the same Office in West
Fsliciana. The Democrats carried both
pari hes fairly. After the election, and
long after the limit fixed by law for any
protest, a forged protest in the name of
Anderson was made at the Custom
House in New Orleans, Aa exaggerated
protest from Weber was also prepared at
that mandatory of false papers;
Anderson and Weber discovered that
they were used for the profit of others,
and patriotically resolved TO have share
in the spoils. They therefore drew up
the following joint statement, regularly
attested before notary:
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. ID. 1878.
"The undersigned, James A. Anderson, Super
yisor Of Registration for the parsh OF East FelCl'
ana, Louisiana, and D. A. Weber, supervisor Ior
the parish Of West Feicisna, have respectively re-
fused to sign any protes. against the counting ot
the vote of our parishes cast at the election held
ON the 9TH of November, 1875, for the reason that
the election held on that day was the most peace
able and orderly one ever witnessed by either,
and the large gain made by the Democrats being
secured by legitimate means, and was owing IN q
great measure to the disgust and hatred with
which large proportion Of the colored people re.
gar led the present State Government but the
electoral vote Of Louisiana being necessary to se-
cure the election OF Hayes and Wheeler, and, in
order to secure such votes, II being necessary to
throw out the parish of East Feliciana, and
enough Democratic votes In West Felicians to
make the parish Republican, we have for this rea.
son, and no other conSented to protest against the
counting of the vote as cast and we have done
this at the inshgltion and request Of s. B Packard
candidate on the Republican ticket for Governor
J.R.G. Pitkin, United States Marshal, W P Kel'
loRR, now Governor Of the State, and Charles E..
Nash member Of Congress from the Sixth District,
and others,
Jas. E. Anderson
This affidavit was made on the eve Of
the arrival of the visiting Statesmen.
Anderson notified Pitkin, the United
States Marshal, that he would not sub
nit to the use of the protest forged in
his name. John Sh 9rman was Informed
of this threatened trouble, and requested
to see these supervisors. That desire led
to the memorable meeting between
them, and to the letter subioined, the
authenticity of which Sherman did not
dare to deny under oath, but which he
subsequently tried to dispute by the pur'
chased testimony of rasCals now hold.
ing office und9r him:
New ORLEANS Now, 20, 1876
"GENTLEMEN: Your note Of even date has just
been received Neither Mr.. Hayes, myself, the
gentlemen who accompany me, or the world at
large can ever forget the obligation under which
YOU have placed us should You stand firm in the
position yor have taken, From a long and init
mate acquaintance with Gov. Hayes, am justi
fea in assuming responsibility for promises made
and will guarantee that you will be provided for
as seen after the 4th Of March as may be pracu'
cable and in such manner as will enable you
both to leave Louisiana, should you deem 1t nec'
essary. Very truly, yours, John Sherman.
"Messss, D. A. Weber and Jas. E. Anderson"
Even with this docum ent in their
hands, Weber was not quite satisfied
with the promised bribe. Anderson
went to the Custom House and there
met G. E. Nash, member of Congress
from the district Of which East FeliCiana
is a part. Nash told him that the Re.
turning Board was about to throw him
out, although Republican, because Kel-
logg was his personal enemy. Anderson
saw Kellogg and threatened him with
exposure Of the forgery. At this Kellogg
surrendered, and then Anderson and
Nash entered into an agreement of their
own, as follows:
"By an arrangement entered into this day be-
tween James E. Anderson, Supervisor for Regis
traton for the parish Of East Felicians, Louisiana
and Charles E. Nash, member Of Congress from
the Sixth District Of Louisiana, II is agreed that
the said Anderson shall suppress evidence show.
ing that the said parish Of East Feliciana was
fairly carried by the Democratic party al the cleo,
uon held Nov. T. 1876, thereby electing the entire
Democratic State ticket and Congressman. In
consideration of which the said Nash agrees to &c.
cure for said Anderson the position Of Naval OF.
hcer at the port Of New Orleans
James E. Anderson.
Charles E. Nash"
Hayes was counted in by iniqlitious
bargains like this, and Anderson went
to the inauguration to get his reward. He
wanted an Important Consulate. Sher
man, to whom he applied for aid, at.
tempted to put him off. Then he risd
Hayes, upon the strength of private
letter from an Ohio editor, who intimat.
ed that Anderson was dangerous. Hayes
wrote:
"Please appoint this gentleman to q Consulship
IN warm climate; this is special case,
R.B.H"
There was delay, and Anderson started
for New Orleans to get the original of the
Sherman letter as lever to raise him.
self iltothe Office he wanted.
Ga his way South, Anderson stopped
to see Stanley Mathews at Cincinnati,
told him the whole story OF the fraud 10
Louisiana and of his own relation to
them, and subsequently gave him copies
or originals of all the forged papers.
Soon afterwards, the Harlan. Macy sagh
Commission was sent to Louisiana by
HaVAa tn nnnnnkl p ankarA mhr hnd rn