The Pivot Man

Like fígaro in tlie opera, John Bher maü appears to havo been in every pari of the Louisiana conspiracy. He was recognized by the chiefs and their subordinates of all dcgrccs au the master spirit and director of the work to be dono by them ; as the responsible agent of Hayes. and as the man of all others who knew the situation best, and was ready to meet its demands, of whatever sind they might be. Henee he was lookud up to by Wells, Anderson, Kellogg, and tho rest of that crew, ag the pivot iipon whioh the wholc machine turnedi Pro ai the higliest to the lowrhf,, they all knew him, and his word was law to their acts and movements. That he was entirely familiar with every part of tho operations of the Betnwiag Board, when in secret session, and sometimes singly, as when Wells ordered the original return of Vernon parish to be destroyed, they falsified figures, forged returns, inserted manufactured protests, and rojected whole parishes upon affidavits fabricated by the cart-load at ihe Custom House, is no longer doubtful. In the part he played then ignorance was impossible, snd the part he lias played stince that time makes it certain, when taken in connectie n with the proofs that have been produced in a yariety of forms, that he must have had intímate knowledge of every phase of the conspiracy, as he certainly had acqnaintance with the actors who appeared on the stage, and the machinists who shifted th scents bebind it. No detail was too small for his attention, and, from the day he entered New Orleans as a visiting statesman until the uour when the great fraud was consummated, ho was the head and front of the conspiracy to steal the Presidency. When it was achieved, he got the reward which he chose to ask, and nas utilized it, as he did the Chairmanship of Finance in the Senate. After Torn Anderson returned to New Orleans in December, 1876, with 1ie irregular and illegal certifícate of Louisiana, which he carried there as a messenger appointed ior that purpose, it was necessary, without delay, to get up another in due form. That was done, as has been proven, in the case of Levissee, by forging the names of sorne of the electors who were not present and eould not be reached within the time allowed by law. Charles Hill, a bagger from New Jersey, and an officeholder of course, was detailed to take the forged certificates to Washington, though he had no legal appointment to that effect. Hill was examined by the sub-committee in New Orleans on the lst of Tuly, and he was required to relate his experience in delivering the forged certifioates to the President pro tempore of the Senate. After stating that he had seen Zach Ohandler, to whom he bore a letter from Kellogg, he testified : I went at onco to Mr. Ferry, who was in his office at the Capítol. His secretary was there; Mr. Moses, I think, was his name. No one else was in the room. I to'.d him I had brought the returns from Loniriana. Mr. Ferry asked me if I had any ono to witness the dolivery of the documenta to him. I told him I knew Mr. Shermau, for I had met him there. In a few minutes Mr. Forry. after stepping out, carne in with Mr. Sherman. I then delivered the documenta. This delivery was witnessed by Mr. Sherman. He then went to the room of the Financo Commiltee and thore wrote me a letter to Gov. Kellogg, acknowledginp: that the retiu-ns lad been delivored to tue Vice President. The letter waB a private letter, and I don'l know what the contonts were. Q.- How was it Mr. Sherman was handy to witness the receipt of the returns when you gave them to Mr. Ferry? A. - Idon't knowexcept that he was in the Senate chamber or room adjoining. Q. - How often did you see Mr. Sherman when he was here with the viBiting statesmen ? A. - I saw Mr. Hherman some flve or six times here, Q. - Did Mr. Sherman eay any thing else to you in Washington? A. - Wheu I was coming away I cailed on him to bid him good by, anii he gave me to understand that tho party would stand by us. Q. - ij-d you infovm Mr. Sherman or any one elso of the fact that the second returns or certificates yon had carried ou had cured the defects of the old ones? A. - I did not indícate to either Mr. Sherman, Mr. Hale, or Mr. Fryo anything about curing the defects of the first. Mr. Sherman knew that better than I did. Q.- How did he know that? A. - He must have known. Q. - Have you got any ground for BUpposing it? A.(Hesitating)- I've not got any ground for supposing it. Hill was undoubtedly right. Sherman knew better than he did what his agents had been doing ia Louisiana; for no move was mr.de and no act of importance was done without his knowledge or adviee. From the beginning tothe end he was the mainstay of the conspiracy; and it is now made clear that but for his presence in New Orleans, and the support given to the Keturning Board after their flrst false count, which left out two of the Hayes electors, the iniquity would never have been compleied. J5y promises of reward aud of proteotion the second count was made. - New York Sun,