Year: 1878

However men may differ with Secretary
Sherman in the matter of his financial pol
icy, it must be admitted by all, without re-
gard TO party, that he has the better OF the
argument in his discussion with the Potter
Butler committee in regard to the character
of the testimony to he taken.


1t will be remembered that soon after
the committee commenced its Investigations,
Mr.. Sherman sent a letter to Mr.. Potter, Of
fering to bring evidence before the commit
tee to prove that the Republican voters Of
the "bulldozed" parishes were intim-
idated, and kept away from the
polls by fears of personal. violence. To
this Mr.. Potter replied, in substance, that
he had not made up his mind as yet wheth-
er he should accept such testimony or not,
but rather thought he shouldn't, as he re-
garded it as beyond the province of the
committee. Then came the witness, Web
er, and the committee kept him on the
stand for two or three days 10 show that there
was no intimation. This gave Mr.. Sher-
man another opportunity, and he immedi-
ately indicted another letter to Mr.. Potter,
in which occurred the following paragraph,
as reported by the telegraph yesterday
morning:


1 have TO say that since the date of your
letter, the question seems TO have been set
tied by the committee in favor OF taking such
testimony, as E. l., Weber, n witness, called
by the committee, by his having been exam
ined as to whether there WAS violence and
fraud at the election in East
Felicisna- In his prepared statement
he was not only allowed to testify to the ex-
tent OF the violence and fraud in East and
West Feliciana, but 10 the causes of that vio-
lence and iss effect upon the election, and
the next day was examined by members OF
the committee distinctly upon the causes and
the grqnads for the throwing out Of the vote
OF the Arishes. Surely, when the commit
tee thuS seeks to prove that violence and in
timidation did not prevail in these parishes,
/ cannot be denied the right to prove that
murder, whipping, burning, raiding and all
forms of intimidation did prevail in both of
those parishes; that In East Feliciana these
were Sufficient TO deter every Republican vot-
er from voting, though there had previously
been q recognized majority there of nearly
one thousand Republicans. Whether testi-
mony shall be taken anew by your commit
tee, or that taken by former committees
shall be received, 1 will, with entire defer
ence, await your decision.


1t is hard to see how Mr.. Potter can gel
around thst. If it is proper and allow
able for one side to come in and produce
testimony 70 show that intimidation did not
prevail, by no rule Of Law or justice can the
other side be denied the privilege Of intro
ducing rebutting testimony to show that in
timidation did prevail. AT this distance it
looke as though the Secretary Of the Treas
ury had the Chairman Of the Committee in
. very tight place. Either he must allow
Sherman to produce his testimony or he
must deny him the privilege OF doing so.
If be elects to pursue the former course,
the truth will be brought out in relation to
the reign & terror kept up by Democratic
bulldoaers IN the disputed parishes during
tie campaign of &c, it will be shown that
the Republican voters Of the parishes
were kept away from the polls BY force and
fiolsucs and tbe whole cpd and aim Of the