Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-03
NEW ORLEANS.
How the Returning Board Grinds
Out Republican Legislators.
The Man who was OstracIsed,
but Counted In."
Commercial Depression in New
Orleans, and the Cause1Of 1t.
A Letter from the VirtuOus Kel-
lOgg, WhOyB Begs to be
Investigated.
Interesting Testimony Dy the
Venerable Bishop Wilmer.
Probability of the Conservatives
Getting Control Of the
House.

Getting Control OF the
House.
Testimony Of the Secretary Of the Re
turning Beard.
NEwiORLEANs, Jan. 2.-Charles 5. Ab-
bell, Secretary Of the Returning Board, tes.
| tined as to the manner Of conducting bust
ness by the Board.
Mr.. Phelps-What wa the action Of the
Board when protests were presented before
| the BOard2
Answer-The Board generally counted
the returns to which such protests had ref
erence, and then left them for consideration.
The papers were rejected without any en-
try being made on the minutes, nor was
there any mention made in the minutes of
such changes Of the returns. The Boards
conclusions and decisions were arrived at
in executive session, and were not placed
on the minutes. There is no record extant
showing these changes, the only way 70 ar
rive at it being to compare the original re-
returns made by the supervisors with the
statements published or promulgated by the
Board. There was evidence filed in the
case of the parish Of Rapides.
At the suggestion of the committee, it
was agreed to procure the tally sheets and
supervisors returns and all papers in the
cases of the parishes of Iberia and Rapides;
also the Journal wherein compiled state
ments were promulgated.
OOIOred Conservative Clubs.
Charles PIoyOste was produced to prove
the existence Of cOlOred clubs who took &C
ton against the Republican party in the
late election. There was q large club in
the Second Ward, all cOiOred, who cooper
ated with the Conservatives because they
were tired of the existing evils. This club
voted the Conservative ticket 10 nearly its
fall strength, and voted the ticket openly.
George Duprez testified that an organized
colored club existed in the Third Ward.
At the poll where this club voted, a negro
precinct exclusively, over three hundred
votes wcre cast. The majority at the cleo
tion for the Conservatives footed up one
hundred and twenty-seven.
The Kind Of Men Who Talk Of Osfra-
eism.
A.B. LevisSee testified that he resided in
CaddO parish. A man who votes the Rad
ical ticket in Caddo parish is ostracized. He
was asked by Mr.. Potter if he was elected
to the Legislature, to which he replied, 81
was returned a member by the Returning
Board, but not by popular vote"
Cause Of the Commercial Depression
In New Orleans.
Joseph Bowling, member Of the firm Of
Peet, Yale & Bowling, testified touching
the commercial condition Of New Orleans.
He said:
It was much depressed. Persons were
afraid to enter upon any character Of enter
prise. He attributed this to the exOrbitant
taxes that have existed. This depression
is evident in one particular, by the great
number Of business houses now offered for
rent. Some houses are offered to such
persons as viii take them and pay the
taxes and keep the houses in repair, and
frequently there are no takers even on
these terms. Was here on the 14th OF sep
tember. The feeling of the business COM
munity after that event, that IS, when 1t
was supposed the peoples government had
been established, was buOyaDt. A revival
Of business was anticipated. I ere 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 if murderers
were generally condemned by the cOmmu-
nity and dealt with according to law by
the courts; also, if the general immunity |
from punishment of these murderers has !
the effect Of preventing in large measure |
immigration to this State.
Mr.. Bowling replied that generally any |
murder perpetrated in the city is largely |
If persons are not arrested in |
some instances, as in that which occurred |
Thursday night, to which Mr.. Foster re-
rerred, it was mainly attributed to the in |
of the police. The Republican |
police did not know whether it affected iTl- |
migration or not.
Mr.. Potter wanted to know If Gov. Kel-
Ogg was not in the habit Of pardoning /
criminals by the wholesale, and if murders, |
Etc, were perpetrated aad lawlessness ex-
isted. if this wholesale pardoning was not, /
% some extent, the cause Of it. The Wit /
ness had heard il reported, had seen it in
he newspapers, that many criminals had /
been pardoned. He thought the pardon
ng had a tendency to encourage crime in
New Orleans.
Letter From Gov. Kellogg.
The following letter from Gov. kellogg
% the Congressional Committee was de-
iFered this evening:
Nelr Orleans, jan Hon. Chas. Foster,
Of subcommittee on louisiana
Affairs: Sir: 1 have been Informed by one
Of the counsel engaged in the investiga-
ion now taking place before your COM
nittee, that You have determined not to
include the election of 1872 within the
scope Of your investigation. Permit me,
TO suggest that the question
whether or not Louisiana was carried by the
party in the election Of 1872,
nad been the principal disputed point
which for two years has agitated the State.
that was elected By majority
Of the votes actually cast at The election,
[ have struggled to discharge the
duties of my Office amidst difficulties
such as few men have been called upon to
Nothing but seasC Of duty
has kept me at my post during all these
weary months Of OblOOIy and misrepreSen-
.ation. Recently 1 telegTaphed to the
President urging thai a committee Of Con-
ness be sent here, believing that such com
nittee, being upon tie ground, with power
10 send for persons AID papers, could ascer-
tain the right of the qsestiOn. So far as !
ana the government l represent are con-
cerned, l am intensely anxious, and think
Justly so, that there should be some solution
Of this difficulty. I believe an inyestiga-
lion that need not last many days, would
satisfy any impartial mind
whether was elected in 1872 or not. But
even by taking a general view, 1 think
might be done to eluci-
late the question. For instance, if the
committee were to taGe the returns Of 1872,
as made by both boa 'ds, and contrast them
With the returns c. this year as claimed by
he Democratic party, with such facts and
details as l think could be readily obtained,
believe righteous conclusion could be |
arrived at. The census and relative regis
ration of whites and blacks and the rela-
i've vote in 1872 and 1874, would throw
much light on the matter, and submit that
'stuPns from these Democratic parishes
where, by the fusion count Of the former
BOARD. we were allowed our reasonable
minority vote in 1872, but where no Re
publican vote, or scarcely one, was per-
nitted to be cast this year,
might properly be considered. have /
lad no opportunity to examine in detail