The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-09-26

DepOnent further says that he be-
GeVes, and has reason to believe, and
knows that had not the fraudulent prac-
tices as above recited been resOrted to
and made use of by persons in the in
terest of the Fusion party, and for the
benefit and advantage Of said Fusion
party as hereinbefore set forth, and had
the election returns been properly and
fairly made by the supervisors through
out the State, and HAD the large Repub-
lican parishes which were thrown out,
unjustly, and for the purpose of reduc-
ing the Republican vote, been counted,
as they should have been, the candi-
dates for Presidential Electors, mem
bers of Congress, and State officers up
on the Republican national and State
tickets would have shown to have been
elected by large majority of votes cast
in the State at the election held on the
fourth of November, 1879. And deDo-
nent further says that he believes, mas
reason to believe, and knows that the
Republican national and State tickets
received considerable majority of the
votes actually cast at the election held
on the fourth of November, 1872, in the
State of Louisiana. ,.- ....
nEIE RETURNING OFFICERS TAKE THE
Fl. SIANDs ..--5
Samuel NJ. Todd and Oscar F. Hun
saker depOse, that they were members
of the State Senate of the State Of Lou
isiana, sitting in the Mechanics Insti-
tute on the ninth day of December, 1872,
said depOnents left the Senate sitting at
the Mechanics Institute, and united
with the assemblage known as the Nc
Emery Senate, sitting at Lyceum Hall, in
the City Hall building of the city of
New Orleans; that the Senate Of the
said McEnery assemblage proceeded
to organize, and that ON or about the
date last named said Senate proceeded
to elect returning board or board of
canyassers, who We're to correct, canvass
and compile the returns of election for
State officers, Presidential Electors, ETC.,
under the act approved by III. G.. War
moth, November 90, 1879: and said de-
ponents, to-Wit: S. NJ. Todd and O. F.
Hunsaker, together with S. NJ. Thomas,
B. r. Foreman and Archibald Mitchell
were elected as said board; that the
said board proceeded to organize by the
election of Q. T. Hunsaker, one of the
said deponents, president thereof that
the said returns were then produced
from trunks and carpet bags In q small
room on an upper floor of the st. Charles
| Hotel tnat said returns were brought
to said room by one @. D. Bragdon
who appeared to be in possession of the
same that said returns had been
opened, compiled and canyassed before
they came into the possession of said
depOnents and other members of the
board that, although said deponents die
carefully examine said returns, anC
made themselves cognizant of the ma
ture of the same, and the mode anC
manner in which said returns Wert
compiled and the result sought to b.
shown, yet said deponents neither Joint
ly nor separately nor in any way what
ever, signed or authorized any person t,
sign for them the purported canvass O
returns known in the congressional re
port on Louisiana affairs as the 'sF FOrmal
returns dated December II, 1872, b,
which returns it was to appear tina
John McEnery was elected Governor
and that the Fusion State ticket wa
elected neither did they or either o
) them at any time consent or agree tha
said purported canvass was or is cor
rect, or authorize the publication 0
the same IN any manner whatsoever
that soon after the meeting of sal
board OF canvassers above referred tt
one Of said board, t0-Wit, s. NJ. Thorn
as, left the city, and il he ever resigne
as o member Of the said returning board
, it was not known to either of said de
ponents, nor did said o. F. Hunsakel
as president of said board, ever at an
time receive any indication or any CON
: municatiOn of the resignation or with
, drawal of said s. NJ. Thomas from th
said board Of canvassers; and that Meth
! er of said deponents ever met or PAL
7 ticipated In any canvass of returns of
ter the said S. NJ. Thomas left the cit
: nor did they ever cOmDlete the canvas
!, of said returns, nor did they ever al
thorize any person or persons to dc {
2 for them. Said deponents further stai
: : that, by the pretended canvass of sal
1 returns as published without the col
5 sent of said deponents, the returns fro
I the following parishes are shown /
Q have been entirely thrown out, to-vi
7 st. Martin, Iberia, Terrebonne, Ibervil
Il and st. James; that the said parish,
g were and are well known to be large
Republican, the two parishes of
James and Iberville alone giving mo-
q | than 2I0O Renublican u1aioritv. fh;