Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-06-11

parish Now than there werc them" (Scc pin
ted Journal, p. 27.)
Mr. PhiGp Toca corroboratcs this. (Sec
printed Journal, p. IL
IL Is well known that at the last Gubcma-
tonai election and the election for Repre-
sentative to Congress for the lst Congrcssion-
al district OF this State in Julv. 1911, there
were great eXcrtionS made nv both political
partl =: and yet we find that
MIR. Thomas NJ Wadsworth. beino dulv
sworn, dcposcth that hi, domicil i, in the
parish OF Plaquemincs has been acquainted
with the parish since 1892 has never known
: vote except the last tn exceed 400 or there.
about" (Scc printed journal u. 37.)
Anu MIR. DeScotauX SauCicr. being duly
sworn, dcposcth that Inc was born i'm Plaque
mines and lived there % years was sheriff
oil that parish Ii years and Z months resign
ed his Office of sheriff in 1881 and left the
parish two years aud one month ago: while
he resided there the number of votes received
. never exceeded 800 and odd" (Scc printed
journal, p. 80
Comment upon this testimony is unneces
sarv.
The committee will now proceed 10 exam
me the testimony as to the ldwlcss and irrcg-
ular manner in which the election has been
conducted.
The 18th section. article 9th. Constitution
Louisiana, declares; The privilege of free
suffrage shall be supported by lars rcgrId
: ting elections, and prohibiting under adequate
penalties, all undue influences from power.
bribery tulnult, or other improper practises. =
Aud the General Assembly of the State
have passed laws to punish every person who
shall Use or practise any intimidation, threat.
or violence, with design TO influence mduly
any election, or to restrain the freedom of
shn (g..n Roll II.
ii, sec D y and To punish any officer conduct.
ing an election, who shall attempt to influence
the votes of the electors in any manner what.
ever; Qbld. II, sec. & y or who shall receive
any vote without having evidence that the vo
ter is entitled to the right of suffrage Qbid
1893, ID, sec. p
To enable the House more readily to apply
and comprehend the testimony about TO be adj.
duccd, the committee deem il necessary sim
ply to state, that Charles OUTLET was the
sheriff OF Plaquemints and John Morris his
deputy; and that there Were different election
polls on the three days of election, held at
separate and distinct places.
1t would be too tedious Ia divide and sepa-
rate the various proofs of violation of the laws
just quoted.
The committee will therefore consider them
together. Unfortunately they are too strong
too clear. too numerous To- require eX planation.
Mr.. VIM. McGarlty, respectable citizen
oi New Orleans. was the first witness eXamin-
ed. lie testified that he event down on the
Swiitsure with a number of friends for the pur-
pose OF watching persons from New Orleans.
and preventing them if possible from voting
at the polls i'll Plaquemines. Reached the
landing at half past seven about The polls
were opened at about half past nine; witness
knows this, because, after remaining there
about hall an hour, he inquired the time. and
was toldIt was ten minutes past ten When
The boat landed the sheriff told them that if
they did not leave he would cut them adrift.
as the landing was wanted for his boat that
was coming with voters. The Planter then
came with a crowd OF persons, and the Agnes
arrived soon after. They followed the sheriff
into room, he brought in the ballot-box
waived II over his head, and three cheers for
the bailot-bOX were given 10y the persons from
the Agnes and Planter: the commissioners OF
the election then took their seats. Judge Lc-
onard stood alongside and called out 10 the
voters by the Agnes To come close to- him. As
they came up he called out their names, took
from each his ticket, gave the name To the
clerk who wrote il down and then handed the
vote TO the judge To be put into the box. Each
ticket was open. When folded ticket was
presented Leonard invariably opened it, decla-
ceiyed there. John T.. Larue was there on
the Planter: he appeared to be commander; he
ordered that none should 90 on shore till he
gave command. Tie then sent for the sheriff,
stating that he wanted to see him in private
on particular business. Witness did not see
laTuc at the polls: he gave the people on the
Planter To the charge of the sheriff. and the
sheriff led them to the polls.
1.-TWO gentemen-one of them was DR..
Wilkinson-objected to- a voter as a foreigner,
and wanted to read the law. The clerk then
took up the Bible TO administer the oath to
the voter, when the sheriff snatChed it out of
his hands, and said that no voter should be
sworn there. The gentleman was reading a
law To prove that no person could vote who
had not resided six months i'll the parish; and
asked Judge Leonard whether such was not
the law? Judge Leonard made no answer: and
the sheriff then told the crowd TO CRY out Polk
and Dallas to prevent the gentleman from be-
ing heard. The shout of Polk and Dallas was
then raised till the reading was stopped. The
reading was resumed when the shouts ceased
but they were instantly recommended, and the
gentleman then left, saying there was neither
law nor order there. Witness saw the engi-
'Ieer of the Planter offer a folded vote to one
Of the judges of the election whilst Leonard
ed the vote, saw il was for Clay, and refused
IT. The sheriff repeatedly picked witness out
of the crowd of bystandeTs, and ordered him
out OF the room. Not a folded ticket was nut
i'll the box. Every folded ticket, when offered .
was opened and read. No questions were
asked, no oath administered TO any voter
There was no tax-list there, the sheriff saying
he had left itat home, but the open tickets were
received as fast as il was possible 10 push them
into the ballOt-b box. Leonard had sometimes
several votes in his hand at once, and called
out the names to- the clerk and then handed
the votes TO the judge, who could not posi-
bly, tell from what person each vote came. The
Judge and sheriff were very much excited and
swore great deal. See printed journal, y.
3 and ~
Being further examined. he said: ole was
personally acquainted with only two or three
Of those who voted there bat knew a great
many OF them by sight Saw several persons
he had seen in the city vote and no questions
were asked. MIR wilkinson asked ono of ,Io