The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-24
Gard to the Public
From the Lake Charles Echo.

The New Orleans Weekly PiceNune
Of the 10th inst. copies from the Far
mersville (UniOn parish) RecOrda letter
from Hon, c. II. Morrison, giving the
details of an interview between Nh.
MORRISON and Charles T. Howard of
New Orleans, relative to the alleged
bribery OF certain members of the
House of Representatives. Mr.. MOrri-
son says that Mr.. Howard showed him
a piece OF paper containing the sigma
lures of tifty-nine members Of the House
of Representatives., with a blank space
above the signatures, and that Mr..
Howard told him that piece of paper
was intended as the receipt of those
members for the sum of one thousand
dollars each for their vote and ~sevices
in passing the levee bill. lie says on
his telling Mr.. Howard that was no re-
ceipt, Mr.. Howard told him that the
blank space at the top Of hat paper
was intended to be filled up with a re-
ceipt, but that it had not been done,
and that Mr.. Howard told him further.
" You are authorized to say, as coming
" from me, that the sum of one thou
" sand dollars was paid in cash to each
" Of those members for their vote and
" services i'll passing the levee bill, they
" will not deny it if they do, refer
" them to me-"
AS my name appears as one of those
fifty-nine members, | make the follow
ing statement, for the benefit of whom
it may concern
| deny emphatically that ! ever re-
ceiyed n thousand dollars Orany Other
consideration Of any kind, for having
voted, or to induce me to vote, fol
the levee bill, or for any other bill pre-
scented to the House of Representatives..
acknowledge thatlateinJanuary 1871,
after the passage Of thelevee bill, while
in n of the rooms of the Mechanics
Institute, One of two entire strangers to
me presented me with one thousand
dollars, saying merely "This is for YOU
| inquired" What is this for?n He an
swered " Are yOu not a member Of the
Cor a. ring i'll the Legislature ? | re-
piled ono. | am a Democrat, and
meet the Democratic members in eau
Gus" He reiOined Well, this is fOl
yOu.n | suspected of course, that the
money was intended for some corrupt
purpose, but as the purpose was moi
even limited at, and us | reflected that ]
might use the money for a good pur-
pose, and that not for my own benefit
| determined to accept it, and did so
He then presented me a piece of paper
with a blank space at the top, and re.
Quested me to sign it. I did so, anC
we separated. A few days afterward
met one of those men and told hin
that if that money was intended as
consideration for my vote or support OF
amy bill in the legislature it was erro,
neOusly given to me, as ] had not sup.
ported any bill for any consideration
whatever. He assured me that it was
not so intended, and said, "WeOnly want
to make friends in the legislature"
While attending the Democratic Con
vention in New Orleans last June, (1S72,
| ascertained for the first time, thai
Charles t. Howard was II of those
two men whom | met, as above stated
in the Mechanics Institute. and the
one whom | met a few days afterwards
/ went to him and reminded him OF
what [ had said on those two occasions
/ and he assured me he would cOrrObOratt
what [ have above stated if it ever be.
came necessary. A few days after my
return home from that Convention, al
my books and vouchers will show. I do
mated that money Zone thousand dol
lars) to the public school fund of thil
parish.
| am aware that even from this state,
ment Of the actual facts in this matter
those who are so disposed can fine
much to misconstrue, and misc0nstruinE
to censure :; but | appeal with conf
dence to those who have kown me al
my life for Judgment upon my con,
duct in the premises. j.. W. BRYAN.
Lake Charles, August II, 1872.