New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-19
THE FABULATED RETURNs---DID MEssRs.
TODD AND HUESAKER CERTIFY THEM7

l line explosion OF the !ate aulance lS
like most other combinations of sulphu,
and nitre, fearful. It will fan the moral
sensibilities of several continents. The
force of Senator Carpenters advice, O,
which, perhaps, he might have taken a
little to himself, is now visible. The ter.
rible exposures of Louisiana elections,
with the increased pay and Mobilier, con-
stitutes what may properly be called "the
ID politics" 1t is probable that
those most conspicuous in these adroit
infamies will be damned beyond political
redemption.
! With the strife OF the allies we have
little to do except to point the moral.
The confusion press is in terrible dilem'
ma. 1t is afraid to defend its friends and
ashamed to yindicate its allies. So one
part Of that press shoots off abusive cpl
thets, while another sets up an insufficient
breastwork of counter afidavits. From
our position of perfect impartiality be-
tween the conflicting allies. we offer few
observations.
There seems no refutation by Messrs.
| Forman and Mitchell of the statements
Of Messrs. Hunsakef and Todd. There
does not appear to our minds even the
''contradiction" claimed in the heading
of the Formau statement" II may here
be remembered that the affidavit Of Hun.
saker and Todd is, whether true or false,
! delivered under the solemnities and pen.
/ alties Of q judicial oath. The statement
in reply does not appeal 30 Involve the
! same legal obligations.
As Judicial duty we proceed 20 elimi.
nate all The points upon which the parties
agree. OF which arc not disputed by
either:
I. That Hinsaker and Todd left the
Senate at Mechanics Institute, and were
admitted into the body called the Senate
at Odd Fellows Hall.
g. That this body elected returning
board. which, on or about the tenth Of De.
cember, 1872, proceeded to elect as presi-
dent of the board the afiant, Hunsaker.
3. That with the original election returns
was elected returning board, which held
session on OF about the eleventh Of De.
cember, 1872, at which the affant, Hun.
saker, was elected president. and to
which certain election returns were deliv.
cred by one o. D. Bragdon.
We note slight discrepancy at this
point, Hunsaker says:
That said returns had been opened, com.
piled and canvassed before they came into
the possession of said depopents and other
members of the board.
Forman e. Co. state the returns ''we1e
in good order. and bore no evidence what
ever Of having been altered o, tampered
with in any manner"
Up to this point there Is agreement. or
no material discrepancy, between the
statements. Here. however. we regret to
say they separate and become inconsis.
tent with, if not antagonistic TO, each
other. The Forman statement says that
on the eleventh Of Decembes. 1872, the
board met in session, the afiant, Hun
saker, in the chair. and proceeded to ex-
anime the calculated compilation" that
Todd. becoming fatigued with figures.
went to bed. and Hunsaker soon followed
him; that q quorum remained and finished
up the comparison and addition. It is
said:
No vote was had on the rejection of the |
vote of any ward or parish in the absence
of Todd and Hunsaker, and nothing was |
done to which they did not expressly assent |
as just, fair and impartial
From this 10 would seem that some |
tine must have elapsed between the de-
parture of Todd and Hunsaker and the
Of the additions of figures;
yes i: is said that ''uothing was done to
which they did not expressly assent"
This. we presume. means that this assent
was implied in the publication Of their
signatures to thu board report. So: tie |
atlantis. Todd and Hunsaker. expressly
swear that ''the returns from the follow.
ing parishes are shown to have been
entirely thrown out, to wit: st. Martin,
Iberia, Terrebonne, Iberville and St.
James, and that there was no sufficient
proof or good reason why said parishes
should have been omitted" This GER
tainly does not show an express con-
sent"
The statement proceeds: /
~. - 4 A. /
Senate Chamber, where Todd and Hun
,aker were, and procure their signatures.
1t is subsequently said:
The whole was published the next morn
ng and they never denied or disavowed
heir signatures.
They now disavow and deny these sig.
natures under oath.
To this intimation that Mr.. Thomas did
procure their signatures, Messrs. Todd
md Hunsaker swear:
l. Said Opponents further state that by
he pretended canvass OF said returns as
without the consent of said de-
,onents. Ia
Q Neither did they or either of them at
my time consent or agree that said pur
ported canvass was or is correct, or author
re the publication of the same in any man {
Ter whatsoever.
3. Yet said deponents neither Jointly or
eparately nor in any way whatever, signed
II authorized any person to sign for them {
he purported canvass of returns.
And in conclusion to contradict sepa. I,
ately and in gross the allegations of the
tatement the atlantis swear
That soon after the meeting of said board >
f canvassers above referred to, one of |
Il /