Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 August 1878 — “The Bargain Fully Proved.” [ARTICLE]

“The Bargain Fully Proved.”

[Time, yesterday; place, bank room in CiutomHouae; dramatis ntrsome, Potter-Butlcr-Hick*-Andemon Committee and Col. Roberta, witnew.] Butler—Who are you. anyhow I Roberts—l was a Confederate soldier and afterward a Confederate editor in New Orleans. Potter (sub voce)—Hah! Now. we shall have the facts. Butler —Well, what did your party in Louisiana want in 1876! Roberts—We wanted the Democratic candidates put into the State offices, whether we .Inaugurated Tilden or not. Potter (rubbing his hands) —This is danining evidence against Hayes! Butler —What did you dot Roberts—] was instructed to feel of Hayes, and see how he felt Potter—Hah! Aha! Hallehiilah! Thisthis is turpitude! Butler—Col. Roberts, were you invited by Gov. Hayes to visit him? [At this point breathless silence prevails; it is so still that Congressman Stenger can.be heard picking bis teeth wlth-a quill; Potter, so anxious that he really suffers, raises ills pen toward Heaven ready to record the answer, and manages to gasp, “ Speak! On your sacred oath, did Hayes send for you?”! Roberts (calmly)—Ho did not. Hewitt (aloud in the audience) —This is damning evidence against Hayes. The meshes of fate close around the usurper! (Cheers.) Butler—l understand you to say that Hayes did not send for you. You went to see him voluntarily. Roberts —I did. Butler (aside to Potter)—l don’t see how Hayes is going to get out of that. Butler (to witness)—Had you any reason to suppose that Hayes wanted to see you ? Roberts—No; but I wanted to sec him. Hewitt (aside) —If this don’t show that Hayes is a usurper, what does it show ! Butler—Did Hayes consent to receive you? Roberts—He did. Butler—How long did he talk with you,' Roberts—l stuck to him all the afternoon. Whenever he made a move to go, 1 got between him and the door. Butler—Who did the talking? Roberts—l, mostly. He spoke three or four times.

Butler —What did you say ? Roberts—l asked him, In ease you are President of the United States, what do you propose to do respecting the State Government of Louisiana? Butler—Well, what did he say? Roberts—He wanted to close the interview, but I stuck to him. He finally said— Butler (interrupting vehemently)—Well, said what? said what? Hewitt—What did he say'? This is a terrible exposure of"official corruption—terrible! Roberts—Why, Hayes said, then, if I remember right, and lam sure I do —I swear it"! —he sidled around and remarked that- very nearly bis words —that— Potter (slamming on his desk with his cane and upsetting an inkstand on Butler’s white pants)—Ob! you infernal ass! WHAT did ho Roberts—He said he meant to be “fair and just.” Butler—He said that, did he? Potter—ls it possible that he could have made such an infamous pledge ? Butler—What else did he say? Roberts—He said he didn’t want the Presidency unless he could get it honestly. ..Hewitt—Horrible! Horrible! Such proofs of fraud and usurpation! Potter—l didn’t think it was as bad as this. *«*♦ ■ « * * .Butler (to these promises of Hayes to be honest and fair you understood him as pledging himself to drive the Republicans out of office and install Democrats, without regard to the popular vote ? Roberts—We so understood it. Potter—Tlie solemn and dreadful revelations of this day are too important to be marred by the intrusion of any other witness. The committee will now adjourn for meditation. [Adjourned. After which Butler retired to another room and sent a colored man for a pair of pantaloons, meantime anathematizing Potter as a “blankety-blank awkward old clumsy head.”] — N. Y. (Jra/ihic.