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

weary months of obloquy and misrep-
resentation. Recently l telegraphed to
President Grant urging that committee
of Congress be sent here, believ-
ing that such committee being
upon the ground with power
to send for persons and papers, could as
certain the right Of the question. So far
as ], and the government | represent, are
concerned, l am intensely anxious, and l
think Justly so, that there should be some
solution of this difficulty. ! believe an
investigation that need not last many
days, would reasonably satisfy any i'm
partial mind whether | was elected in
1872, or not But even by taking gen.
eral view of the case, l think something
might be done to elucidate the question.
For instance, if the committee were to
take the returns of 1872, as made by both
Boards, and contrast them with the re-
turns of this year, as made by the Re-
turning Board, as claimed by the Demo-
Gratis, with such facts and details Us |
think could be readily obtained, | be-
lieve a right conclusion could be arrived
at. The census and relative registration Of
the whites and blacks, and relative vote
in 1872 and 1874, would throw much
light on the matter, and submit that the
returns from these Democratic parishes
where by fusion count OF the former
Board. we were allowed our reason
able minority vote in 1872; but
where no Republican vote, or scarcely
one was permitted to be cast this year,
might properly be considered; | have
had no opportunity to examine in detail
the return of 1872, as made by the Fusion
lists; those returns are probably accepta-
Bile, and their authenticity or genuine
ness is susceptible of proof; allow me to
suggest, us another mode likely to aid in
reaching conclusion, that the returns of
1872, as made by the Fusion Board, be
taken rs correct whenever they do not
widely differ from the returns of the
Lynch Board, and where they do so differ
let the returns from these same parishes
this year, as claimed by the Democratic
committee themselves, be taken as the
Republican vote of 1872; for instance,
take the twenty-eight parishes where
both boards returned some candidates to
the House and adopt the returns of the
former Board; then for the other parishes
where the two Boards differed widely,
take the vote this year as returned
by Dennis COnsr This will be to con-
slider the returns in which many
representatives were not credited with
their full votes actually cast, by means OF
fraudulent practices, rs can be easily
shown. These aspects of the case, with
other evidences procurablc, will, | be-
lieve, 90 very far to elucidate the rights
of this controversy. Believing the Com
mittee you represent has the confidence
of the country, |, speaking for myself, will
gladly abide by its decision. If it can be
consistently done, go into this much dis
puted question of the election of 1872,
with the facts and figures and other
proofs believed to be available. / feel
very strongly the necessity that this i'm
portant question should be determined in
some decisive manner, and as this is my
only only excuse for presuming to offer
these suggestions to your Committee,
permit me to add that ] trust tho opposi-
tion will be afforded full opportunity,
before your departure, to make good
some at least of the many allegations Of
mal-administration and corruption which
they have constantly sent abroad. With
regard to myself, the records of the State
are easy of access, and | will
cheerfully afford every possible ia
cility for enquiry both thorough
and complete to the end that it may be
known how bad my administration is,
and if justly chargeable with the many
evils complained of.
Very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, w. II. KELLOGG.
Great Interest in the Investigation
The interest in tho Congressional
committee investigation continues. The
rooms of the committee tonight are
crowded with attentive spectators, in
cluding many prominent business men,
besides the leading politicians of either
party. The city is very quiet tonight.
The indications are that the COnserya-
tives will lead in the organization of the
House on Monday. They had in the
caucus last night forty odd members who
were declared elected by the Board, and
Il number who were elected but thrown
out by the Board, were also present. If
the federal authorities do not interfere,
there will probably be n lively squabbIe
for chairs in the State House. Reports
are current tonight that number OF
Republican representatives who were
returned by the Board have been
spirited away. The report lacks
confirmation.
business Greatly Depressed.
James Graham, next examined, said
| was Auditor of the State at one timei
| have been n notary twenty-four years;
business is very much depressed; we have
no sales of real estate; property Is very
low, owing to bad government chiefly
people will not engage in new enter
priscs for want of confidence.
To Mr.. Foster-Taxation has been re.
duccd to six mills this year; the State
debt before the war was ten millions, 1t
is now forty millions; the city debt is
twenty-five, and was then about eleven;
| am still liberal Republican; corrup-
tion has been confined hitherto to mem-
bers of the Republican party; think
the State debt has been increased during
Governor Kellogg's administrations the
funding bill was an administration meas
urc, and the bill that was passed was not
one suggested by the Chamber of Com
merce.
John NJ. Seixas testifed-I have been
in business u years; think that the
future Of New Orleans is a political ques-
ton; there is shrinkage in all kinds OF
stocks, railroad, bank, insurance, real eS-
tate, etc. He gave an example of the
decrease in value of real estate. As to
the funding bill and the State securities,
| was opposed to this bill. Witness de-
scribed the condition of the State bonds.
Bank stocks have shrunk fifty per cent.
since 1872: stocks rose Immediately after
the election because the people thought
there was be change in the Legislature;
if there was any confidence felt by the
people of New York in the condition of
New Orleans, then they would take up
these bonds: this condition would exist if
the city government was uncontrolled by
the Legislature; city railroad stock is in