New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-24
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS
THE SECOND DAYS SESSION


room yesterday morning, all the members
present.
The experiences of the last congressional
committee having been made known to this
one, persons not having business with the
committee we're not permitted in the room
Press reporters and correspondents we're
furnished with every facility consequently,
interested persons must wait until they see
the newspapers.
Judge Hoar and the other members, all
being lawyers, considered that it were best
to confne both sides to one spokesman.
Mr. Zacharie was chosen by the Copserva-
tives, and Colonel Field by the Repub
licans.
Mr.. Charles Cavanac was the first witness
called, and testified about as follows:
/ was Conservative attorney or commit
teeman before the Returning Board; was
there from Trst to last; they began by
canvassing the first ward of this city
WITNESS related the general manner OF the
working of the Returning Board, and the
manner of holding elections and making
returnsl; some of the returns had protests
with them; the first fraudulent returns
that came under my notice were from the
PARISH Ol UdLu6SS Ou6 man was arrested
for il; / was requested by them to remain
silent, and Democrat should be returned: :
in the parish of St. Helena, poll three,
found the Democratic candidate had 1863
votes, and the Republican 1872 votes; the
returns had been changed so as to
elect the Republican,; also found alter
ations at other polls of this parish; l
saw the erasures ON the tally sheets;
the supervisor and other witnesses OF that
parish were found when it was definitely
learned that alterations had been made; in
canvassing the parish of Sabine discovered
that changes had been made at poll four;
Smith and Selph were the candidates; the
returns from that poll were changed; one
of the papers or returns from Sabine had
forged signatures to it; one poll was thrown
out by the Returning Board; in the parish
of Carroll we could not obtain properly
certified returnsi proceedings in the parish
of De Soto were irregular; the Returning
Board decided that it could not canvass
such returns as had not reached them
through the proper channels; in the parishes
OF Latourche and NatchitOches there were
informalities and after the returns had
been made certain evidence was abstracted:
decisions OF the Returning Beard had the
effect TO change the result of the election.
Witness further repeated statements
which have been published so often that all
are familiar with them; these related en-
tirely to the Returning Board proceedings
and actions of parties in the country on
election day.
To Mr.. Frye-I can not say what the
number of white votes is in the State and
can not say how many colOred there are;
40 not know whether the entire vote cast
exceeded the registration or not; the Re-
turning Board in some instances had access
to printed lists; in Lincoln parish colOred
men, thirty OF 1orty, made atidavits that
they had been prevented voting; ten of
| those names it was atterward discovered
we're checked on the poll list; the vote in
| TerrebOnne parish stood, for Wright, Re.
| publican, l474; for Cullom, Democrat, over
| 1900; the Returning Board threw cut some
of the polls, changing the above, thus chang.
ing the entire parish vote.
Direct examinatiOn-In the parish OF
| Rapides some polls we're thrown out, alter.
| ing the result as sent in by the supervisor
| Mr.. Ray gave the board notice that he
would file protests in this parish case, but
we did not have an opportunity to furnish
rebutting testimony; Governor Wells told
| us we should have an oppOTtu nifty to otfel
] evidence, but one of our affidavits was
returned to us and it was not filed by the
| board; the affidavit was made by Mr.. Dur
| kin; these things are not known to me per
sOnally; my information was obtained from
documents or records on file; the Returning
| Board did not in every case decide accord.
| ing to the evidence, according to my views
P. G.. DeslOnde-Am Secretary of State;
have brought with me the afidavits for the
| different parishes in election cases. These
documents were filed for the use Of the com
| mittee,
Mr.. Deslonde was instructed to produce
all the papers in reference to contested
election cases, he having been at first in
structed to bring only certain papers.
Mr.. Zacharie made an informal statement
| under oath, reading the laws relating tC
| elections in this State, and further explain
ing the recent situation as he had under
stood it, as it occurred before the Returning
Board. He stated that while papers wert
before the Returning Board they were mu
tilated, and some of them distracted.
Mr.. Hoar informed him that one counse
for each side should be permitted to examine
the documents referred to above before til,
clerk of this committee. Mr.. Ray wa
named for the Republicans, and Mr. Zach
| arief or the Conservatives.
Mr.. zacharie proposed to the committe
that they take all the documentary evi
dence introduced and canvass it in seere
meeting. He also stated that he had pre-
tested against some proceedings of tn
board because of the unconstitutionality o
the law empowering that body to act; ur
constitutional because the law gave tn
board judicial powers not permitted by tn
constitution. He stated there were no Re
publican votes cast in Benv1lle parish, bu
out of 1872 registered voters there were n
Democratic votes cast; there was no Repul
lean parish ticket; the Returning Boar
threw ont this parish; in Caddo parish ther
is large majority of colored voters; ther
are a number of afidavits fleG with tn
returns of Caddo parish.
Mr.. Zacharie read the following from Nj
L. A. Wilt:
Resolved by this House, composed of tn
Conservative members returned by til
Returning Board and those claiming [
have been undoubtedly elected but dJ
frauded by said board, That, desiring in tn
interest of our afflicted State to have a 81
luton of our political troubles, and relyin
in the integrity and fairness of the fOu
i gentlemen members of the esngressiOus
committee now in New Orleans, and in aC
vance of any investigation on their par
We, as body, hereby ask them lif the tas
is not considered too OneFOus) TO take th
returns of the election of 1874, tOgethe
with all fair and relevant testimony, an
on such returns and evidence declare whs
members we're fairly elected.
Res0tUed, That Hon. l.. A. Wiltz, SpeakC
of the House, be requested to wait on sal
gentlemen and present to them a copy
! this resolution.
Done in Conservative House caucus tn
twenty day of January. 1875.