The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-09-16

To Gen. w. s. ROSecrans, Minister to Next
co, White Sulphur Springs, Virginia.
Expulsion Of Senator Jewell.
No fair-minded man can read the evi.
dence upon which the Senate Committee
on Contested Elections recommended the
rejection Ex-senator Jewell, and the giving
of his seat 10 his Observation-Disclosures
without being satisfied Of the injustice Of
the decision of the committee. No fact
going to show the unfairness Of the cleo
ton was testified to by. witnesses whose
partisanship does not expose them to the
suspicion OF having been prejpliced against
Mr.. Jewell. There are assertions of dou-
bic Democratic ballots, with the names
thereon of jSambola and Jewell having been
received by the Commissioners at certain
poll in the city, and assertions Of the bal
lots for the Republican candidates running
against them haying been rejected, but this
testimony was rebitted BY evidence giveu
by other witnesses cognizafft' of the facts,
Of the fairness with which the election was
conducted at the polls referred to. and
positive denials Of the counting of any bal
lot which should not have been feceIted, or
the rejection Of the BALLOT of any legal vo-
ter. The testimony Of one of these wit
nesses, q colored man named Hall, who as
serted that to his knowledge the votes Of
thirty orforty colored men for the Kepab
lican candidates were refused at the same
poll, their registration certificates taken
from them and themselves arrested, was
completely rebutted by mors Trustworthy
evidence, that this man Hall had himself
attempted to vote twice, and had been ar
rested on an affidavit to that effect.
The principle testimony however upon
which the decision Of the committee seems
to have been made, is that of one A. lie
feyre one Of the commissioners Of election.
This witness alleges that one Of tho COM
missioners of Poll No. 2. stuffed the
ballot box on the day of the election and
while the same was going on. Lefevre's
evidence is met with a pointed denial on
the part of Captain Laurent, one Of his CO.
commissioners, whom Lefevre had called
to sastain him in his assertions. Captain
Laurent testi6es there was no improper
tampering with ballots but by Lefevre him
self, who is proved by two witnesses to
have testified to positive falsehood with
respect TO MS own vote.
But it is Unnecessary to show by the testi-
m0ny of others that Iefevre was unworthy
of belief. lie himself has confessed under
oath that the evidence given by him be-
fore the committee Of the Senate in the
case Of Pinchback VS.. Jewell, was "false
from beginning to end; that he had been
induced by prominent members of the
Radical party to testify as he did, by the
premise OF c reward, and that he now made
this declarations Influenced by the dictates
of q troubled conscience, and trusting that
the wrong he had caused might thus be
remedied.'' b. ~
This affidavit was sworn to before JUS
tice Montamat on the Goth day Of August
last. 1t reads thus:
STATE OF LOUISIANA, PAr1sH OF OR1EANs, !
August &c, 1868. I
In Justice TO mystlf and those who may
be affected by my evidence, beg leave to
make the following declaration and with
draw the testimony given by me before the
Senate Committee in the case of Pinch
back vs.. Jewell; and do now declare
said evidence and testimony given by me
as false and untrue from beginning to end.
| had been influenced and induced by GER
tain prominent members Of the Radical
party to testify in the manner l did. /
had been instructed to give that testimony
and was promised reward. was told
what to say. M
/ make the above declaration Of my own
free will and accord. knowing that 1 was
wrong, and being now Influenced by the
dictates OF my troubled conscience, i make
this confession, trusting that the wrong
have caused can be thus remedied.
Al. LRFEvRE.
Witnesses
Charles L. Martin, L. v. Coiron. !.
Sworn to and subscribed this Goth of
August, 1868, before me, John Montamat,
Third Justice of the Peace for tile Parish
of Orleans.
The testimony relied upon to Gust Mr..
Jewell, thus completely brooks down, but
the decision had been determined Upon in
advance. This gentleman had been too
great thorn in the side of the Radical
bold and fearless denunciator
Of their mis-deeds, for them to hesitate in
getting him, ort Of the way, 1t was be-
cause Mr.. Jewell could not be ndY aged,
that the Radicals determined to get rid
Of him., We suppose Mr.. Jewell does not
regret that he has no. longer The distiD-
guished honor? of seat. IL such o body,
and that he is NOW free from the contami-
nation of that assembly. He IL probably
satisfied that it would have been better
had he meyer entered it. !. He could not,
from the first moment, have expected any
9th result, while he. continued SO uncom-
promisingly to oppose and dehotnce the
+ ~ l. ~. 81