New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-04
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.


terday at ten o'clock, Hon Mr. Scofield in
the chair.
| 1t must be promised that the committee
are now proceeding to determine from day
to day the truth or falsity of the charges
against the Governor and his adherents by
Marshal Packard, in his testimony. A
vOluminOus roll of this evidence was offered
| by Marshal Packard, and strong demand
| made for their investigation. The names
| OF the witnesses were also offered who could
| prove these charges, which were made in
| answer to the question of what constituted
the antagonism between the Cnstomhouse
| party and the State House party, the mar
shal holding to the ground that these diff
ferences were solely due to the corrupt
practices Of his opponents, consisting in
bribery, election frauds, registration frauds
| and other specific bills.
In regard to the check presented at the
Louisiana Savings Bank, Mr.. Van Norden
testified lie knew very little about it more
than what had already been testified. 1t
was an unusual procedure for an indorser
to give such instructons-not extraord-
nary. He was asked why General Heron
had said not to pay the check. He replied
that he did not think the committee ought
to ask such questions; it was simply busi-
ness transaction of a business nature. He
did not recollect the reason given by Gen
eral Heron for telling him not to pay; he
believed he had told him to whom he had
given it.
Pressed by the members of the committee
to answer in regard to the private business
Of the bank-the amount on deposit to the
credit of General HerrOn-the frequency or
not of checks Of similar Characteristic wit
ness declined to state, except to say that at
the time the check was drawn there was
credit to General Heron Of about $1,000.
1t was asserted that the Governors party
had used bribery through checks on this
bank, and the committee probed to find
this out, Mr.. Van Norden answering that he
was unconnected with the political quarrel,
and went out Of his way in answering mere
ly to satisfy the examiners that he had no
interest whatever in the result of the strug-
gle. The only office he had ever held was
president Of a school board from which
office he had been turned ont. Colonel
Shackelford was called merely to prove the
identity of the lady who had been the bearer
of the check. He answered that Colonel
Field told him the bearer was Mrs. jerks
not the wife of member Of the Legislature.
In regard to-the visit of the crowd to the
Office of General Emory. the historical visit.
Mr.. j. r. Alces Gauthreaux testified that,
on the refusal of committee of conference
between the outside and the inside House
to agree, speeches were made by Messrs.
Carter, Moncure and others. Then a COM
mittee was appointed to wait on General
Emory, and they were followed by about
two thousand citizens to his house. On
reaching the house those bearing the flag
went into the hall of the house, thinking of
meeting the General. He was absent, and
they came out. After few minutes Gen
eral Emory came up and said, as he as
cended the steps, What i'll the hell is this
crowd doing here. want you to disperse."
Some one stated that the crowd came up to
ask his assistance, or something to that eff
feet He then said. II refuse to communicate
with such crowd, and, God d-n you. if
you don't disperse I'll disperse you with
grape shot, Some one cried out from the
crowd, Give us martial law" The Gen
eral answered, I'll give you grape and
canister; you can't intimdate me; you
would not go to your own General in this
way. / am unarmed and alone, but you
can't intimidate me-" Mr.. Gauthreaux
justified the visit of the crowd to the head
quarters Of General Emory on the ground
of taking any measures to rid the people of
their burdens. The crowd was peaceable,
and, as an evidence that there was no in
tention to intimidate the General. cheered
him as he appeared. The witness went on
to say he had left in utter disgust
K. V. Herwig, Senator, at one time on
board the Wilderness, testified that he
knew OF no mattresses sent on board the
vessel having been taken from a vessel
under seizure. nor of any .CustomhOuse
used in the business. He had
right to command the craft, but did not
exercise it. Captain Barr had left on the
second day. In regard to the assertions
made by the friends Of Mr. Carr, that there
was an agreement made between the Sena-
tors on board the Wilderness and the mem
bers who remained away from the House to
inpeach the Governor, the Senator an
swered that he knew of no such agreement.
Questioned closely if there was no other
agreement, Mr.. Herwig submitted a copy
of the understanding settled upon-for-
merly published. 1t related to '.vOting as
a unit and standing firm on confrmations
Senators lngraham, Coupland and O'Hara
were all federal employees, and they had
signed; and they were appointed since
they were elected. Other members of the
Legislature had been in office before they
were elected. Mr.. Herwig drew no salary
from his office while in the Senate and per-
forming its duties; nor did he know of
bribes or offers of bribes to Senators. nor
Of any Improper influences used
1t having been testified that the real
cause of difference between Governor War
moth and Collector Casey was that the |
Governor would not lend his influence to |
see the latter elected United States Senator, |
Mr. Herwig, examined on this point. failed |
to recollect whether Colonel Casey had |
united with the Governor in the election of |
General West or not, and it was at this time |
were made on Customhouse |