Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1878 — THE TOTTER INVESTIGATION. [ARTICLE]

THE TOTTER INVESTIGATION.

Before the Committee, on the 19th, John A. Leet and his apparent insanity were discussed. A dispatch was received Jrom Gov. Kellogg denying several of Leet's' statements, and stating that, for several months, he had been an importunate offioe-lieggar. Mr. Kelloggsaid that any statement that Packard and himself, or leading Republicans, ever took into their party councils, would l>e received with derision in LonixiAlHL Gen. Butler called attention to his request made daring the preceding week, regarding the failure and refusal of Senator Stanley Matthews to appear before the Committee. He now moved that the fact of his service with a subpoena and his failure to come before the Committee Im- entered on the minutes, and that this Committee report him to the Honan for their action. Mr. Potter said that he had lost sight of Butler's motion, but remembered it, and would sustain it now. He put the resolution to the Committee, and it was unanimously carried to report Senator Matthews to the House as being in contempt. - Maj. E. A. Burke appeared before the Committee, on the 211th, and stated that the highest Tilden Electoral vote was 88.869, and the lowest Hayes Elector received 75.240, a difference of 8.619. The witness con Id not give the vote for Nicholls exactly, but he had a majority of 2,000 votes. The Returning Board threw out some 10,000 votes to count in the Hayes Electors. "In the campaign of 1874,” said the witness. “we were cheated out of the election results by this same Returning Board of 1876. There was no change in their actions or principles. They

were as arbitrary and unjust in 1876 as ni 1874. Our apprehensions were increased by telegrams passing from leading Republicans all over the country to these leaders in l.odisiana, and showed us that they would sustain their men in any action that they took. The Ixmisiana men got desismdent after toe election, and about gave it up. but when these telegrams commenced and the visiting statesmen arrived, their spirits aroused, and they never seemed to falter from that out. The inauguration of Gov. Nicholls tisik place before some 50,000 persons, and the Senate and Assembly were at once organized. They took possession of everything except some small space filled and occupied by Packard." Witness went to Washington on the 15th of January as Nicholls" agent to secure non-intervention by the Federal troops, and got an order to that effect, from Gen. Grant, on the 2d of March. He did not know that that order was the result of a conference between Grant and Hayes. The people of Louisiana were not in favor of the Electoral Commission, lietause they thought if Hayes was recognized, it would logically follow that Packard was also elected. The witness f urther said: “When the hope of seating Tilden, whom we knew to be elected, passed away, on the 16th of February, we were ready to confer with Hayes and see what he meant doing for Louisiana. Among some of the promises made to Senator Matthews were the suppression of crime, the education of the blacks and whites, the promotion of friendly relations between both, and equal civil and political rights. The education question of black and white together was not discussed between Matthews and myself. Nothing was said between Matthews and myself about the Returning Beard. We offered these guarantees for the Nicholls Government.” He and his party friends agreed to stop opposition to counting in Hayes. They were assured by PresidentGrantthat after the count was completed the tusips would be withdrawn. He said to Matthews that while he was assured tiiat President Grant’s assurances of President Hayes’ policy were well intended, vet he wanted these assurances from such men as Garfield, Morton ana others, whom he regarded more than Hayes. Matthews said he i-ould not answer for them, and witness said. “Then we will place your party in such a position that they must speak.” Witness meant thereby that his people wuyld join the filibusters and prevent Louisiana and South Carolina being counted for Hayes. Witness further said there were but two phases of the negotiations hr this thing, Cameron’s and Matthews' phases; that he made the same proposition of agreement to Cameron as he did to Matthews on the 18th of February, also to Foster and other leading members of the Republican party. After the j resolution by Congress deciding not to interfere with the Louisiana count, there was no hope for a Republican administration, except some arrangement was made with the Democrats of Louisiana. Witness had a conversation with Hewitt, and he said the Democrats were determined to put the odium of the fraud on> the shoulders of the Republican i>arty. The Republican party were well aware of their determ inatiou to break up the count. Witness- had talked with the President on the 26th of February, and was informed that he would not do anything to, prejudice the RepuMiuan party. and would not act until the count wav-de-clared f>r Hayes. “ Grant allowed us virtually to take possession of the State. We acted on tun intimations and he submitted to them.” Mx. Ellis, of Louisana, received a letterfrom Senatoo f Lamar conveying to him (Ellis) information ' which he (Lamar) deemed authentic, that Hayes ' had promised to recognize the Nicholls Government on certain conditions, and witness was informed of the contents of the letter, a copy of which witness furnished the Committee. The witness continued: “ Mr. Ellis proposed a conference in the room of the Finance Committee of the Senate, and there were present at it Matthews, Dennison. Sherman, Foster and myself. I showed them the guarantees which the Nicholls Government were willing to make. Sherman expressed anxiety about the Senate, and remarked that if the Nicholls Government were at once recognized, two Democratic Senators Would also have to be recognized. It was finally agreed to call on Grant and urge him to remove the troops, as such request would do away with his expressed fears of doing anything to embarrass his successor's policy. As I was in the minority in that conference, it being four to one, I suggested a conference in the evening, wires other parties, representing the Democratic side; could" be present. It was 1 who suggested tbr conference. It was held in Evarts room, buthe was not present. There were present Sherman, Gait field, Foster, Dennison. Matthews, Ellis, Watterson and myself. We discussed the whole sons dition of affairs.” At this point the Committee adjourned.

Maj. E. A. Burke was recalled, on the 21st, and stated that by mutual agreement the friends of Hayes were to visit Grant to learn his views on the question of establishing the Nicholls] Government, bat nothiag was said about any Commission. Mr. Hayes and others had told witness that the troop* would be withdrawn. The Foster letter of Feb. 23. containing the basis of a guarantee, was the only written memorandum between the conferees. Witness denied that he had told anyone that Mr. Hayes in person had authorized guarantees or assurances. The remainder of Maj. Burke’s testimony was mainly an elalxiration of that produced before the Sun-Committee at New Orleanp. The testimony of Maj. Burke was continued, on the 22d. Witness stated that the census of 1875, for New Orleans, was fraudulent, and the negro population increased by 25,000, in the interest of the Republican party. The State was carried by Nicholls, by a majority of 9,000, and for Tilden by about 8,000 majority. The intimidation of voters, if anything of the kind occurred, was the work of Republicans. Witness further stated that the rulings of the Returning Board were unfair and partial, and uniformly against the Democrate. Witness saw Anderson, Sherman and Stoughton in a restaurant, in New Orleans, but did not see them talking together. In an interview with Anderson, the latter had offered witness to furnish him with the documenta to prove that there was a Republican conspiracy to throw out the five bull-dozed parishes, provided the Democrats would give him 84.900 cash m hand, and 81,000 after the count was declared. Witness accepted the offer, and the documenta would have passed, only that the money waa not forthcoming. Witness then derailed at length the circumstances attending the Wonnley conference, his testimony being substantially as given before the Bub-Committee at New Orleans. The Republican parties to that conference were willing to abandon Packard if they could strengthen their waning power in the Senate.

W. E. Home, of Texas, on being asked if he sent a dispatch to Gov. Young, of Ohio, on the 26th of February, in relation to the President's action in respect to Louisiana affairs, and received a reply thereto, declined to answer, as he acted in the capacity of legal adviser. Readmitted receiving a dispatch from Gov. Young, stating that Hayes would soon be in Washington, etc. He declined to say whether he called upon Hayes on his arrival. W. E. Horne was recalled on the 23d, and announced his readiness to lay his telegrams and letters before the Committee as soon as he could get them. Maj. Burke was recalled, and testified further as to his connection with Louisiana affairs. He considered, he said, all the acts of the Returning Board illegal, and the Board itself an illegallyconstituted body. None of the' Packard Legislature were allowed to beqome members of the Nicholls Legislature who were elected by minority votes. He declared the report of the visiting statesmen to theßenate that the Nicholls Government was founded on bloodshed and riot to be emphatically untrue. Witness presented a telegram from W. E. Home, saying that “ Hayen was firm,” etc. An aminyinousletter purporting to give an account of'dissensions in the Cabinet over the Louisiana troubles and indicating the course of the President was presented. Witness refused to name the setter. He stated that Senator Matthews bad repeatedly told him that Senator Morton would sustain the President's policy and would make a tp»ech on the subject Witness said that fre and, hi* friends construed the Presidept'* policy—the withdrawal of the troop*—to mean the ot the Packard ‘' i<r “' ■ -

Government, ana anyone with a particle of sense would reach the same conclusion. 'Die friends of the Nicholls Government did not make any secret of their intentions in respect to the Packard Government. Many qneettons were pmftounded by Gem Butler to the witness rah a view of hading oat why South Carolina whs demanded, as well as Ismiaianh, and What was guaranteiii in return by Bouth Carolina for overturning the Chamberlain Government For answer to these questions, w itness referred the Committee to Mr. Watterso*, and added, parenthetically, that no sane man ever doubted the election «f Hamilton. A dispatch was read from Gov. Young, of Ohio, authorizing Mr. Horne to testify to all he know* of his (Young’s) connection witbihe master under inrratigatfon. and also one from Geo. Gibson, denying the allegation of Maj. Burke that he liad consulted with Gen. Bhernian in relation to Ixmisiana affaire.