The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-05-05
CARD.
Bayou BEUFF, La, !
April Goth, 1869. {

Bayou BEUFF, La, !
April goth, 1869. {
Mr.. EDIrOR:--
While in Alexandria on yesterday, l
was round to see friend of mine, who
furnished me with pamphlet contain
ing several affidavits iii relation to
Judge Ryan, and found one with my
signature. I, as matter of course.
feel it duty which not only owe to
Judge Ryan alone, but to the people of
this Parish and myself, to make an ex-
PLANTATION of the whole, and especially
since the officer before whom this AFT
davit of mine was made, has misrepre-
sented me. st
The facts are these: While was in
the City of New Orleans, during the
month of March, was very unexpect-
eddy summoned to appear in the Office
of the officer before whom this affidavit
was made, without ever having the
most distant idea as to who had me
summoned, or for what the object was.
Upon entering the room, I found Col
houn and three or four other parties
present, Colhoun being the only one
in the room that knew. He, at the
time, appeared to be making an affida-
Wit against Judge Ryan, to prevent
him if possible from taking his seat. as
he remarked when he was getting
ready to leave the room, that Ryan
should not take his seat as a member
of Congress if he could prevent it.
This officer then commenced to ques-
ton me in relation to Judge Ryan.
When asked him if he wonld be kind
enough to inform me who the parties
were that had me summoned, he in
formed me that they were two men
from the same Parish as myself, and
had stated to him that I knew all
about Judge Ryan that would he worth
knowing, and from that resumed his
questions to me in relation to Judge
Ryan, one after the other, for some
time, when he read me the affidavit
which Colhoun had just made against
Judge Ryan, and requested me to state
to him what portion of this knew to
be true. l informed him that did not
know single word to be true, on the
contrary was very strongly impressed
with the belief that it was altogether
false from beginning to end, as I had
been acquainted with Judge Ryan just
as long as Colloun had, and that had
no recollection whatever of anything
which Colhoun had stated against
Judge Ryan. He then asked me to be
sworn and state to him what l did
know in relation to Judge Ryan, and l
gave him the following statement:
"I reside in the Parish of Rapides in
this State, where I have lived for Ok o.
years. I am planter. lam acquaint-
ed with Michael Ryan, of the Parish of
Rapides, who claims seat in the 4lst
Congress from the Fourth Congression-
al District of Louisiana. l knew him
before the war; l have been and am
intimately acquainted with him. Dul-
ing the war 1 understood from others
that his sympathies were with th6 Con-
federates, but did not know this to be
so myself
As to my stating to this officer that l
had heard Judge Ryan make an ad-
dress to company of Confederate SOL
diers just about to leave for the war, is
most positively false, for he asked this
very question two or three times over,
and 1 told him that I did not hear
Judge Ryan make a speech to any Con-
federate soldiers at any time. He then
dismissed me from the office. I then
wrote to Judge Ryan, enclosing to him
the statement, eff which the above is a
true copy, and explained it all to him.
As he well knows that used all pro-
per exertion in my power during the
campaign to secure his election, and !!
would do the same for him tomorrow
were he candidate, knowing him to
have been fairly elected and would
faithfully represent the people of the
Fourth Congressional District.
Very Respectfully,
II. G. CARNAL.