Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-17
here Friday, having left New Orleans on Tuesday

morning. 10ey tooE tesuMony up 10 Monoay
night, and they have therefore had no time to
compare their views and agree upon report. No
conference whatever has yet been had, nor have
the members generally disclosed their ideas to
each other. Mr.Frye has drawn out the heads Of
what he considered ought to be the report Of the
majority, and Mr.. Wheeler generally concurs in
his views as thus expressed A meeting Of the
Subcommittee is called for tomorrow night,
when it is expected an understanding will be
reached.
Mr.. Frye was on the floor Of the House for
short time yesterday and talked freely with Mem
bers. He gave them to understand that the con-
dition of affairs in New Orleans and throughout
the State is desperate, and he could see no way
out that was likely to be adopted. He said every
thing was ia an unsettled condition, business Ian
gushing, and general Generalization surrounding
everything. Most of the best people have lost all
hone of settled and peaceful condition ofsccety,
and despair of any improvement in public af-
fairs. He thinks New Orleans is cursed by some
of the worst classes that are to be found in the
United States that these classes exercise terror
ism over the better class Of people who are dis
posed to be conservative. These former are of
the most desperate aad reckless character; they
have no standing no property, and nothing what
ever at stake. They are not ex-Confederates, but
mostly those who were too young during the war
to enter the army, and are now without occupa-
ton. Mr.. Frye thinks the Conservatives are by
far the better people in New Orleans, for they rep
resent the culture the wealth, and the business of
the city. They generally seek to avoid politics,
and the parties there are as consequence, made
up on each side CT the worst elements of society.
Mr.. Frye spoke with great freedom with his
collegians. He said the subject ought to be above
party, and that the unhappy condition OF the peo-
pie touched him most keenly. He believes in
the existence of the White League, and says that
nobody denies that it is an armed organization.
Gen. Sheridan has seen companies Of the league
drilling with arms. He also believes that intimi-
dation was practiced to an alarming degree in va
rious parts of the States. One of the members
asked him how he reconcicd his statement with
the report of Messrs. Phelps, Foster, and Potter
who had also looked into the subject. Mr.. Frye
replied that those gentlemen confined their M
auiries to intimidation the day Of election. He
said, of course there was none on such days; that
his Committee would report as much as that
But be said that intimidation in a dozen differ
emit ways was practiced, and practiced most ef-
fectively, before the days Of election. His Com
mittee weuld show that. 1t was very evident to
members with whom Mr.. Frye conversed that he
comes back with as much of the radical fire in his
eve as the most radical could desire. He denounces
with unsparing phrase the masses of the opposition
whose present disloyalty to the General Govern
ment and to the peace of society, he thinks, is
more venemous than during the war, and there is
nothing he would not do legally and properly to
put them down. He said 1t was no uncommon thing
for Gen. Sheridan to be Kissed at in the street and
at his hotel and that that could be done
to humiliate and annoy him had been resorted
TO. He is insulted at the table; he constantly
receives anonymous letters abusing him in the
vilest language and threatening his life. lie
is treated with sneers by some Of the ladies, and
even ct the table he is forced to listen to abusive
talk not addressed to him but carrd on in 80 loud
KEY as to indicate that it is meant for him. The
Conservatives are not guilty of any Improperly,
and according to Mr.. Frye are made up of the best
of people in the city and State They are as
poweress to control the wicked element that seems
to have the mastery, as the Kellogg Government
As to the Returning Board, Mr.. Frye thinks there
is no evidence Of fraud. He thinks the Board
made a mistake in the construction OF the law,
but that there was no fraud committed. He thinks
the protest against the counting of the vote any
parish should be signed by the Supervisor or Com
missioner of Election or BY three citizens, making
oath, &c. He is satisfied that the evidence will
show that there was sufficient intimidation to pre-
vent republican majority, otherwise sure, in the
State in 1874. He openly declared that he thought
| the Conservatives ought to have majority in the
Legislature, and that they are entitled to the or.
ganizaton. He thinks they ought to stop quar-:
reling, and compromise among themselves, and
recognize Kellogg as the de tacto Governor He
does not see what the General Government can dc
in the premises, but he will confer with his col
leagues in the Committee. He said the Commit:
tee tried to effect compromise which was agreed
to BY the Conservatives and also bv Kellogg, and
both Speakers who promised to resign if the Con.
seryatives would come back. This arrangement
was defeated by the same wicked element which
has made all the trouble.