The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-01-04
Louisiana Investigating Committee

the Custom House. Charles Sable, Sec
retary of the Returning Board, was the
first witness called: Was elected Secre-
tary at the third meeting of the Board;
duties were to keep the minutes, and to
produce such documents as the Board
might require; he, the Secretary, having
charge OF them ALL papers with the e1,
ception of the minutes, were handed
over TO the Secretary of State; on the
adjournment of the Board, all evidence,
taken by the Board was written; is found
filed with the papers in each case, when
come up before the Board can produce
the minutes; no papers sent the Board
disappeared, to best of witnesses knoWl-
edge. =,
Mr.. Phelps-What was the action OF
the Board when protests were presented
before the Board.
Abell-The Board generally counted
the returns to which such protests had
reference, and then left them tor con-
sideration papers were rejected
without any entry being made on the
migutes, nor was there any mention
made in the minutes of such charges rs
were made in the returns by the Board.
The conclusions and decisions arrived st
| in the extra session were not placed on
the minutes. There are no records extant
showing these changes, the only way to
arrive at it being to compare the original
returns made by the Supervisors witrthe
statements published or promulgated
by the Board, There was evidence filed
in the case of the parish of Rspides at
the suggestion of the committee. 1t was
agreed to produce the tally sheets and
Supervisors returns and all the papers in
the cases of the parishes Of Iberia and
Rapides; also the journal wherein COM
piled statements were promulgated.
CoIored Clubs.
Charles Provoste testiied-This wit
ness was produced to prove the existence
of colored clubs, who took action against
the Republican party in the late election.
There was a large club in the Second
ward, all colored who co-operatcd with
the Conservatives, because they
were tired of the existing
evil, the Club voted the Conservative
ticket to nearly their full strength, and
voted the ticket openly.
George Duprese testitied-Organized II
colored club In the Third Ward; at the
polls where this club voted, which was a
negro precinct exclusively. over 300
votes were cast, and the majority for the
Conservatives ut the election footed up
l27.
Thomas Sutfragans, laborer, one of the
White League, and captain OF compa-
nv, testified-The object Of the order was
to oppose such organizations as the Re
pubiicans had formed, to mcot the unlaw-
full aggressions of the Metropolitan Brig
sde, etc; the White League has made no
preparations to take action next Monday
l.. b. jerks testiiied-Was ut the Con-
vention at Baton Rouge; voted the fusion
ticket in 1872 with one exception, this
he voted for Kellogg instead of McEnery;
heard McEnery's speech at Baton Rouge,
which was extremely partizan; advocated
in the event of the people clecting their
candidate that they, the people, should
occupy the city and see that they got
their seats in the General Assembly: Nc
Emery also spoke, on one occasion, at the
Varieties Theatre in about the same
strain as he did at Baton Rouge;
Mr.. Morrel spoke at the Varieties
his speech was like that of McEnery's in
tone and temper.
j. w. Robson, news editor of the New
Orleans Republican, was brought forward
to testify to certain extracts published in
his paper, as being the genuine produc-
tions of those taken from certain country
exchanges. He agreed to make affidavit
to the required effect.
A. B. Devissee, deputy Recorder of
Caddo parish)-A man who votes the
Radical ticket in Caddo parish is ostra-
cised He WAS asked by Mr.. Potter if he
was elected to the legislature to which he
replied: was returned member by the
Returning Board but not by the popular
vote.
l.. w. Baker testifed-Reside in Ros
sier parish, as Parish Judge; Republicans
have been ostracsed, socially, TO great
extent.
Joseph Bowling testifed-Resides in
New Orleans; is a merchant. and NOM
Der of the firm of Peel, Yale & Bowling;
touching the commercial condition Of
New Orleans said it was much depressed;
persons were afraid to enter upon any
character of enterprise; attributed this to
the exorbtant taxes that have existed;
this is evident from the great number of
business houses are now offered for rent;
some houses are offered by the owners to
such persons as will take them, pay the
taxes and keep the houses in repair, and
frequently there are no takers even on
these terms; was here on the l4th of Sep
tember. and the feeling of the business
community after that event, that is when
it was supposed that the peoples govern
ment had been established, was buoyant,
and revival of business was anticipated;
there is an extended desire on the part of
the people to leave Louisiana because of
the existing state of affairs.
Mr.. Foster desired to know fthe mur-
derers were generally condemned by the
community and dealt with according to
law by the courts. Also, il this general
immunity from the punishment of these
murderers has the effect of preventing,
in large measure, emigration to this
State?
Generally, any murder perpetrated in
the city is largely condemned IL Ihe per-
sons are not arrested; in some instances,
as in that which occurred Thursday night
to which Mr.. Foster referred, it was
mainly attributed to the inetticiency OF
the police; did not know whether 1t ef-
fected emigration or not.
Mr.. Potter wanted to know If Cover
nor Kellogg had not been in habit of
pardoning criminals by whole
sale, and if murders elsewhere
perpetrated and lawlessness existed; if
this wholesale pardoning was not to some
extent the cause of it; witness heard 1t re-
ported and seen it IN the newspapers that
many criminals had been pardoned, and
thought that the pardoning had ten
dency to encourage crime.
Letter from Kellogg.
The following letter from Governor
Kellogg to the Congressional Committee,
was delivered this evening:
New ORLEANS, January |.
To Hon. Caas. Foster, Chairman Of Sub