The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-31
CONGRESSIONAL INyESTIGA.
TION.
The Committee at Work.
They Tackle the Returning Board,
and Are in a Fair Way of
Learning a Thing or
Two.
Evening Session at the St. Charles.

Evening Session at the st. Charles.
1t was at first intended by the COMPRESSION
al Committee to hold only a preliminary
meeting yesterday during the afternoon, in
order to determine upon course of action,
but this plan was subsequently discarded, and
the committee entered directly upon an in
vestigation, summoning before them first two
members of the Returning Board, Mr.. Arroyo
and Mr.. Anderson, and then two of the coun-
sci, Mr.. Zacharie and Mr.. Ray, who had been
in attendance during the session of that
body.
The Committee assembled in the United
States Circuit Court room in the Custom
House and proceeded to business by calling
Mr. Anderson to the stand, who explained, or
rather made an effort to explain, the manner
in which the Board had arrived at the con-
illusions it did regarding the votes cast in the
late election.
Mr.. Arroyo gave an explicit statement OF
the way matters had been adjusted to the sat-
isfaction of Wells and Anderson, with which
the public is doubtless quite familiar.
Judge Dibble made Fourth Of July ora.
ton before the committee, touching the con-
dition Of affairs political, affirming that there
are about 16, 900 more negroes than whites in
the State, and as it was an incontrovertible
fact that every negro in the land is Republic
can, it is but fair conclusion that the State
should have been carried by 10000 Republi-
can majority.
The committee thereafter adjourned to as
semble again at half-past 8 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
Charles Hotel, and was called to order at
o'clock, by the Hon. Mr.. Foster
Mr.. c. C.. Packard was called to the wit
ness stand, and asked by the chairman if he
could give any information relative to the &C.
ton of the Returning Board Mr.. Packard
replied that he could give but very little, as
far as his personal knowledge went. :
Mr.. Potter said he did not care exactly to
hear what MI. Packard had to say, if his
knowledge was second-handed, and altogether
from Republican sources.
Mr.. Phelps said he would listen to anything
that Mr.. P. had to say, and accordingly the
witness proceeded and gave what he knew
about matters, touching principally, at first,
upon the matter of registration, which he
affirmed was, through Republican sources and
to Republicans, quite satisfactory, with GER
tain exceptional cases. The exceptions men,
toned were the parishes Of Red River, St.
Martin and few others. He affirmed that
intimidation had been carried to such an ex-
tent on the part of the whites against negroes
that but few of the latter were registered.
Touching the Fourth Congressional Dis
trict, which was carried in the recent election
by the Democrats, gave in the election of 1870
about 5000 Republican majority, but in 1872,
and in the last election it went Democratic by
small majority, owing wholly, the witness
claimed, to fraud in 1872, and intimidation in
1874. When questioned by Mr.. Phelps and
Mr.. Potter, in regard to the appearance Of
Deputy U. S. Marshals in the parishes Of
Natchitoches, Red River, .Rapides, and St.
Martin parishes, he replied that these depu-
ties arrested persons on the charge of murder,
and not with any intention of keeping these
persons from voting.
MI. Potter-You said the Republicans were
quite satisfied with the registration; how was
it with the Democrats?
Packard-I suppose they were satisfied also,
as they registered all their men, and a few
more. The White League he said, kept many
Republicans from using their right Of suf
fage.
He thought, and the best informed Repub-
licans commended that the Democrats were
beaten by not less than 10000 votes in the
State.
On being asked if the Democratic party
had representative at every poll throughout
the State, he replied in the affirmative, "te
the best of his knowledge" and asserted thai
at many polls the commissioners and super
yisors were all Democrats.
MIR. Phelps-I want to ask Mr.. Packard
what he knows about the White League.
Nj. Packard-It was apparent to every one
that some such organization existed. During
the months Of July and August they wer'
accustomed to drill during the evenings
Did not drill in the day time. had repor
sent to me every morning by the Chief o
Police of the number of men who were seer
drilling and where. After September 14th
the organization was largely augmented
nearly or quite doubled, he thought Dit
not know the numerical strength Of tn