Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-06-07


Louisiana, 10 inquire into the frauds perpetrated II
that State at the late Presidential Election.
REPORT
of the Special Committee of the House of Repre-
sentaffues on Election Frauds.
The Special Conupttee appointed by this House to exam
inc and inquire the election frauds perpetaed at the lat
Presidential election in this State respectfully submit the FOL
owing report:
The committee have given to the subject referred them the
consideration and attention which its importance demands
They assembled on the 18th January, in conformity with
The resolution Of the House and after being duly organized
elected clerk and proceeded forthwith to take the necessary
steps procure the testimony in relation 10 the matter conf
ded charge From that time to the present they have
been actively engaged in procuring the attendance OF wit
nesses taking their testimony, and having that testimony
printed.
The regret say that lhey have not yet been
able extend their investigation parishes except those
Of Paquemnes and East Baton Rouge and that regards
Paquemne many witnesses of the utmost importance have
not Some Of those witnesses have been sum
and have neglected appear; others have srreed
themselves kept of the reach of the officers OF this
House. Some have for the plea OF sickness
some believed to be board the steamer Agnes and the
residence Of few others could not be ascertained
Notwithstanding all this the testimony already received by
the committee establishes beyond doubt that the election
Paquemnes electors of President of the United States
November last, conducted in awiess and irregular
manner that it accompanied with turbulence disorder,
threats and violence the part Of the public officers and
others with intent intmidae and influence voters; and
that it was franght with illegal votes with fraud and coup
ton and with fatal disregard Of the laws of the land of
morality, and of religion
The testimony submitted to the House in the printed
journal of the committee accompanying this report.
The committee feel it due themselves and the good
people of the State of Louisiana in submitting the testimony
reported by Them notice and somewhat in
detail upon the extraordinary facts developed by that testimony
The of Judge LEoSAnp having been by public rumor
associated with the election in Paquemnes the committee,
through their chairman invited Judge Leonard to attend their
sttngs He has awaited himself of the opportunity thus a
foded him has attended nearly every sitting of the commit
has with leave of the committee examined the
Witnesses and his request has been allowed to have wit
summoned and examined in his behalf
It appears from the testimony of Mr. John Claiborne and of
Mr. John c. Larue that Monday the 4th November last
meeting Of the Central State Committee of the Democratic
party, Mr.. John Claiborne
proposed that should be offered such Democratic
voters Of the parish Of Orleans had been excluded by
TO other point within the county Of Orleans stating his
entire beiea they had right do under the Constitu
Mr John Slde and other gentlemen addressed
ing and the question discussed legally and morally state
Democrats had been
precluded under various pretexts from the rights Of voting
was finally agreed that effort should be made get such
had been excluded from voting here together and
offer them conveyance Pointeaaache, in the parish of
Paquemnes and within the county of Orleans for the pur
pose Of exercising the right Of suffrage" see printed Journal
pages and 9.
Mr. John Claiborne stated that he had ascerane that not
more han $50 persons Pome-a la Hache of whom
100 there voted.
Mr. John c. Larue stated that he went in the steamer
Planter Ponte-a Hache from New Orleans at the time
air
$50 l60 persons board about 20 80 of whom
not entitled To vote. (See printed JOURNAL H.
He continued
when the boat landed seeing on the bank some Wing rem
emen OF the city, he requested the persons board walk in
procession for the purpose Of keeping them separate from
Wings for fear q any collision the political excitement be-
lug high, such Thing might be unprecedented After they had
Left the boat, witness shore and the inspectors oil
election told them those had there that
about $50 Of ther entitled the city, but had not
voted and asked their opinion Of the law whether those
had right in the parish Of Plaquemnes, within the
county of Orleans expressing the time bis
Of their right the inspectors Of the election &ncided
him in opinion and he found in The
where the polls open tSee printed Journal p r.
And he concluded his testimony by stating in reply
question by of the committee About onerd of the
persons who on board the Planter Americans the
resi- naturazed citizens" (see printed Journal p
Other witnesses that The great body Of them appeared
be foreigners.
And Mr. John Sde p,ember Of the late Congress of the
United States and Representative elect Of the Compression
Al district Of Louisiana 70 serve in the next Congress Of the
the poll at Poine-a la Hache
"Mr DEaR Sra The steamboat Planter will convey 10
Poinea number Of legally qualified New
Orleans who have been deprived Of the opportunity voting
New Orleans that being residents OF the
their votes will be received by The Wing
collecting their be despatched for the same pur
pose TO some point Of which ignorant.
"Nery respectfully, your obedent servant,
"JoHN sLIDEII-
To MessrS- DEBoUcaEL, REGIssE, and WILTz
g Tuesday, ST., Noyember-Ponte-A-la-IIac
tsee printed Journal appendix, p 39.)
IL IS due TO truth and justice say that this has
received evidence which any manner iuses the state
meni of Mr. Slde in his letter the Wing committee
appears from the official made the Secretary Of
State Of Louisiana that O4 poed in the parish
Of Paquemnes at the election Of Presidential electors in No
vembcr last.
Mr. Joseph B. Wilkinson says that emore than 400 votes
poed election in the whole parish previous
10 the last election" (See printed journal, D. 1917
Mr. Robert A. wilkinson iesties that he has lived in the
parish twenty-five years, canvassed when his father
candidate six eight years ago, used his greatest exeons
and could not find than $50 400 believes
there in the parish than there
then" (See printed journal, p ~
Mr.. Philip Toca corroboraes this. (Sce printed jour
nal, p. I'D
1t is well known that the last Gubeatoria election and
The election for Representative Congress for the Con-
grsona district Of this State July, 1914 there were great
exertons made by both political parties and yet find
that
''Mr. Thomas NJ wadsworth, being duly sworn deposcth
that his domic in the parish Of Plaquemnes has been ac
except the last TO exceed 400 hereabour (See printed
journal p. 81
And 'Mr. Descoaux Saucer, being duly sworn deposcth
he born Piaouemines and yeJ there "a